Hello,??I'm looking for two blanks that are 5' to 5'6" (maybe 6') long. Both fished under Penn 70's. One will be fished with 100# mono with a drag setting of 35# at strike. The second rod with 130# mono with a drag setting of 45# at strike. Both from a harness and both for fish in the 800 to 1400 pound range. Most fights have lasted 4 to 6 hours, I need something that will stand up to the stress of a long fight with out killing myself.??I'm looking at:??Calstar 7455xxh?Calstar 755xxh?Calstar 6455xxh?Calstar 655xxh?Calstar Baja Boomer?Seeker 6450xxh?Seeker 655xxh??Feel free to ad any that apply.??Other Questions:??1. Glass or Composite??2. Will going up to a 6' help or hurt (I'm 5'9" and 260#, 20% body fat, very active)?3. Can I use a short bent butt for this application? Will it hold up.?4. At the Longfin in Orange the other day I looked at a factory Calstar 655xxh and it had some monster looking Aftco roller guides on it. Where can I get a set of guides like that???Thanks to all that reply.?

Mike Matthews Wrote:
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> for fish in the 800 to 1400 pound range. Most fights have lasted 4 to 6 hours

Get teh heaviest 7; rod you can, then cut 2 feet off teh tip. Or just build the rod with teh but at the tip, and tip at teh butt., lol

I'm kidding, but I wonder why you would want to fight stand up for 6 hours? That's just nuts. All joking aside - Dennis Braid fish's for large fish like that stand up. Might want to try contacting him.

You need to keep basic physics in mind for doing something like this. Use the shortest rod you can, with a low butt fix and a high reel position. You cannot afford to give the fish any more of a leverage advantage than necesssary. To use a 6' rod for this type fishing is folly. Even a 5'6" is giving away far too much to the fish. No wonder it's taking 4 - 6 hours. Improper equipment is being employed.

Unless you need that length for the particular boat set-up, do yourself a big favor and use a shorter blank/rod.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/24/2005 05:06PM by Tom Kirkman.

ON THE GUIDE QUESTION, I USE EXCLUSIVELY AFTCO. IF THIS IS FOR YOUR PERSONAL USE AFTCO MAKES HEAVY DUTY ROLLERS WITH BALL BEARINGS IN THEM AND THEY ARE FLAWLESS AND REQUIRE VERY LITTLE MAINTENANCE BECAUSE THEY ARE SEALED. RIGHT NOW I BUY MINE FROM MUD HOLE. P/N BBSHD76 FOR THE COMPLETE SET OF 5 THIS IS THE P/N FOR THE CHROME ONES. THE TIPS ARE P/N ABB324. 24 BEING THE TIP SIZE. THEY ARE PRICY BUT WELL WORTH IT. I ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY BIG GAME FISH AND I LOVE THESE GUIDES. THEY ARE ON PAGE 81 OF THERE CATALOG. GOOD LUCK. SCOTT PARSONS

Hi Mike. The blanks you mentioned all have merrit in the use you have planned. I have built hundreds of stand up rods for long range fishermen here on the west coast. I could probably give you more hints if you would give me a call. 805 485 3089. If you call after 6pm and I dont answer that means I am probably on line. Email me and tell me you are trying to call(Yes I am still Dial UP). I could give you some pros and cons on what you are doing. There are many thoughts and each have merrit in certain circumstances.

Hay Doc

You need another phone line for the computer. I do it and have the dial-up also.

Tight lines [www.willierods.com]

I'd go over the IGFA specs and go as short as I could. Using a 6 foot rod on fish that size is just asking for the fish to give you a 'whuppin. The shorter the rod the more pressure you can put on the fish and the less he can put on you. I know there will be a practical length limit depending on what you have to clear on the gunwhale but for what you want to do, shorter is definitely better.

Calstar 655XXH, trimmed from the but to fit into an Aftco UB2SC unibutt. Rod will be just about 5'6" total length, but you have the couved butt to your advantage. Trim it a little shorter if you like. Aftco wind on guides and your set to go.

Thanks everyone for all the info. Just so you know, I have landed fish up to 700# (stand up, 100# mono, 5 hours) with my Calstar 760H. I know I need something a little shorter to take the stress of me and to put more on the fish. After looking at what rods Dennis Braid uses, I'm liking the 4'8" size for my 130# rig and a 5' blank for my 100# set-up. I still need to know what blanks I should be pulling on and how they should be cut down. I'm not sure if I can buy the blanks from Dennis. I'll have to look in to that. Thanks again everyone. Mike

Just some advice,

If you are fishing stand up fighting such large fish. Make sure the angle has one of those safety cutters hung around his neck with 15lb mono. This way if he gets pulled over he has a chance to pull it off his neck and cut the main line. You never know what can happen while fishing, a reel can lock up on a 1000+ marlin and pull you right over. Gonna be very hard to get out of that harness when its being pulled on. The $5 for the safety cutter is well worth it.