Dear all,

looking for a 10'6 long blank for baitcasting and need some recommendations from your side.

My application: Fishing at the shore of the Baltic Sea, most of the time wading. Main species are seatrouts which are comparable with your steelheads. A good sized fish will have a length of around 22 inches, really big ones are going up to 30 - 35 inches. Sometimes I have to give the fish a strike while lots of line is out, directly after the lure touched the water. So I would prefer a blank with moderate/fast action, slow action would not be good to converte these attacks into a hooked fish.

I' am using frequently my Ambassadeur baitcasters in sizes 3600, 3004 and 3006, monofil lines with a 12 pounds (5kg) test. Most common lure wait: 0,6 - 0,8 ounces (18 - 22g)

Up to now I have a 9'6 rod which I feel in some situations too short and a 11'0 rod with a casting weight which is too high for my regular lures, it casts best with a little more than one ounce.

Any recommendations? Please let me know your opinion.


RGDS,
Ole




Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/24/2005 06:33PM by Jan-Ole Willers.

I really liked my IST 1264 from Batson enterprises. It sounds like it falls right in to what you are looking for.
specs are here [www.batsonenterprises.com]
then click on the steelhead/salmon and scroll down to see the 1264F
It would do well I think - but my personal experience is quite limited.

David A.

Jon-Ole,
Definitely check thru the specs of Batson's Rainshadow rods. You'll probably find what you require.
Stan

No doubt RAINSHADOW 1264's (and I still miss the even lighter 1262's which are out of production).

Dear David, Stan, Ken,

many thanks for your swift answers, checked the Rainshadow/Batson homepage and found there four different casting weights listed in the correct length. Based on that it seems they must have a vast experience in that specific range of blanks/applications (Nobody would build in the long term what he cannot sell).

Also I found in the web blanks which might suit from St. Croix, Pacific Bay, Lamiglas and even Sage seemes to have something what. Does anybody have experience with the last mentioned blanks or can even say something in comparision to the Rainshadow or one of the other named brands, escpecially when it comes to rod action ? Also durability is an issue for me, I donot like these super super duper high tech tackle which breaks suddenly with or without reason.

Please keep keep this thread alive, it is the only way for me to learn something more before I will order "my" blank.

>>>>> IS THERE SOMEBODY WHO OFFERS 3 PIECE BLANKS IN THE REQUESTED LENGTH?

Regards from Hamburg,
Ole



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/25/2005 03:14PM by Jan-Ole Willers.