I'm thinking of building a new 10' #4 rod for myself to replace my 10' #4 Sage XP. I find the XP a bit too soft for my taste so I'm looking for a bit beefier action. Dan Craft FT 10' #4 and CTS Affinity Plus/Plus XF seems like solid choices in every aspects - FT has the edge in price though. ;) The rod would be used mostly at lakes to fish whitefish, brown trout and rainbow trout. I'd be using clear intermediate and floating lines and fish from 10-25m range. I like the Recoils and will probably set up the rod with single foot ones. Help and ideas concerning the guide sizes, types and placement would be appreciated.

Cheers!

Mikko,

I like the Dan Craft FT but it isn't as fast in the 10' rods as in the 9' rods. The 9' FT's are a bit faster than the XP's but the 10' FT's are slower than the XP's accordin to the limited available data shown on the CCS Data Site. I do believe however that the FT has more power in the butt section. It appears to me that you are on the right track with your choices. If you go with the FT I'm certain that Dan can recommend a starting point for guide spacing.

Stan Grace

Stan Grace
Helena, MT
"Our best is none too good"

Yeah that's it Stan. 10' rods tend to have a lot "softer" action than the shorter models of the same line - quite misleading actually. With the XPs this is very apparent and just by looking at the curve at Sage's page one could be very surpriced about the difference.

The darn CCS web page wont open so I couldn't compare the datas. I find it pretty surpricing that the 10' FTs would be slower than XPs - though I must admit that I've never tried any of Dan's blanks, yet.

Dan Craft could you enlighten me about the difference in action between 9' and 10' FTs.?

Anyone?

Hi Mikko,

whatever you do, put at least a bit bigger guides than what Sage use.

The static guide placement might be the way to position them. The article is in the library section.
Straight link: [www.rodbuilding.org]

Cheers,
Sakari