I was wondering if any one has trimmed a, say 6' graphite blank to come up with a 5'6" fast action MH rod? Got a guy wants a casting rod but this size is hard to find. Found several on ST Croix. Guy wants stiff for jerking baits

Or how stiff is the St Croix 3C56MF Good heavy bass rod? Plus it's got a warranty.
Thanks guys

hey bill i deal with a lot of st.croix rods the sc3 is a very good line imo lots of back bone....but havent built a 5''6 but 6 footers i have and shouldent be much differnt..

Thanks Robert. I know there quality but never found any one wanting a short bass rod. They seem to be the only one that makes weird sizes

ya got that right if all else fails open a st.croix catalog they got just about any size needed

Is it different then on there web site ? Don't know if I can even find the catolog ??

if i remember right its like the online catolog but if you want a book call up st.croix tell them you want there rod builders catolog..there usually pretty fast to get em to ya.

I'm probably better off with the site. I will lose the catolog, there are to small.

BB48 - If you trim 6 inches off a 6-foot (72 inch) rod blank, you could dramatically change, if not ruin, the action, if you are not careful. And if you trim it, void the warranty. If you want a shorter version of this 72-incher, consider taking all of the 6 inches off the BUTT end. If you want to stiffen it a bit, consider 1-inch off the tip and 5-inches off the butt end. If you take much more off the tip than 1 inch, you may increase the lower end of the Lure & Line rating above what he wants. And TOTALLY alter it's "fast" action, and render it so stiff, it may as well be a different rod blank to begin with. (Maybe that's what this particular customer wants; only you can tell.)

Go to the "Table of Effects of TRIMMING or EXTENDING a ROD BLANK" [www.rodbuilding.org] to help keep these effects straight in your mind, as you consider what to do.

From the specifications for the St. Croix SC-III "AC-__-_-_" Series, the
AC-56-M-F model and the AC-60-M-F model have EXACTLY same Line and Lure Rating (10-17# test; 1/4 - 3/4 oz), and the same Taper-Action (FAST) and Power (MEDIUM) Rating. The tip-top tube size is the same (5.5 / 64ths). Only in the two blank's Butt OD and Blank Weight are they different. The AC-56-M-F is 0.490" and weighs 1.35oz. The AC-60-M-F is 0.505" and weighs 1.60oz. SInce the shorter rod has a smaller Butt OD, and the same tip size, and a lower blank weight, it looks like St.Croix has already trimmed down the 6'0" blank to a 5'6" version for you. [All this information I got from the hard-copy of the MudHole 2005 Catalog, page 32. The MudHole Catalog #s are "3C-__-_-_", while the ST-CROIX Model #s are "AC-__-_-_", in case that was confusing.]

Bill, did you ever find out exactly why this customer wants a shorter casting rod? ... If you go the route of trimming a blank you have on-hand, then consider a combination of alterations to achieve this shortening effect. Trim mostly off the butt end, if you have to. Maybe trim a little bit off the tip to stiffen it. Move the reel seat back (shorten rear grip) and re-configure the handle and rod balance, if you have to. ... Whatever it takes to get it right. Otherwise, this may be a customer who throws the hook. LOL, -Cliff Hall+++

I'm shooting you an Email Cliff.