Hi
I'm getting ready to build my first rod. I need suggestions for 7'6" medium action 3 wt blanks in the $30-40 range. I like to fish from canoes and am new at fly fishing-absolutely love it! I think eventually I will want to build a rod with Steffen Bros glass. My favorite haunts are sheltered smaller bodies of water with 35-40 ft casts the max. Any suggestions in that price range and action to learn on?
Thanks
Dave

call neal at neals fishing products. the tiger eye boank may be what you are looking for and the price is in your ballpark.

The 2003 Forecast blanks at Schneider's are cheap enough that you could buy two and pay shipping, or one and the rest of a kit.

I've built 7'6" 4wt rods with both forecast and tiger eye blanks. I like them both but think the tigereye to be a bit smoother and better up close. I would not consider either medium (moderate?) action blanks. The forecast is fast action and a little stiff but can really get the line out there. The tigereye is med/fast and maybe a litte softer in the tip. I also prefer the tigereye brown over the forecast blue.

I don't find fly casting from a canoe to be an easy task. Though I really like 7 1/2' rods, from a canoe I prefer an 8 1/2' rod.

Tony

I just completed my first rod which was a Hook & Hackle 3wt 7'6" rod. The kits are cheap on the H&H special page. I haven't fished the rod yet but in practicing in the yard it has a nice moderate action that throws a good distance with a nice presentation.

I haven't cast the 3 weights, but I've built 3 or 4 rods on 7 1/2 and 8 foot 4 weight Forecast blanks. I really like the blanks, and wouldn't hesitate to recommend them, especially for beginners. Don't get me wrong, though. They are a terrific blank, especially considering the cost involved.

I think the 7'9" 3wt is a "sweet spot" in the Forecast line up. It is a little faster action than moderate, but I think the faster action for line pick-up and the potential for smaller loops and the little extra length would help when fishing out of a canoe. imo, a nice thing about Forecasts, and Tiger Eyes, is their quality at their prices allows room in your budget for you to "splurge" on the components - eg, using your favorite brand of ceramic guides and tip top.

Steve Rushing Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I think the 7'9" 3wt is a "sweet spot" in the
> Forecast line up. It is a little faster action
> than moderate, but I think the faster action for
> line pick-up and the potential for smaller loops
> and the little extra length would help when
> fishing out of a canoe. imo, a nice thing about
> Forecasts, and Tiger Eyes, is their quality at
> their prices allows room in your budget for you to
> "splurge" on the components - eg, using your
> favorite brand of ceramic guides and tip top.

Thanks everyone for the replies!. But I have a question for Steve Rushing. I see that Forcast makes the 7'9" in both in RX6 and RX7. Which one were you refering to? I'm really interested in this one.
Thanks
Dave

I was referring to the RX6. What I grew use to calling Forecast versus Rainshadow RX7. I built a lot on the old teal color & liked them a lot (after recoloring them), the new dark blue from the new source is imo even better. I know several sponsors carry them and will be priced in the low $20. I've also built several rods in the RX7 series in heavier wts. I think they build into great rods too. This is a personal opinion: in the lighter power rods, 3 wts and down, I do not think the "disadvantages" between the RX6 & RX7 series makes a whole lot of difference - for example the actual weight of the blank. I also actually like the usually slightly slower action of the inexpensive blanks (although the RX6 7'9" to me is on the fast side of medium fast, sorry I haven't CCed one). So I use a lot of "inexpensive" blanks for my light line wt rods, the RX6 (what I still want to call Forecast) being a favorite. The money I "save" is then available for the heavier line wt blanks where I think the differences between inexpensive and mid-price range blanks is a lot more noticeable.