Need some opinions from the pros out there. I am looking to build a 6wt 9'

Best Fly Rod Blank Under $150

Best Fly Rod Blank Over $150

Thanks!

Some quick questions:

What is your preference for action? Fast? Slow? Extra Fast?

Is it for saltwater or fresh?

What type of rod are you looking for? Glass, Bamboo, Graphite?

How robust does the rod need to be? Banged around? Meticulously(sp) cared for?

What are you going to be tossing and into what type of cover?

How much line are you going to be carrying during the cast?

What type of line? Floating? 500 grain shooting head?


Chris Richer
Iroquois ON

Answers to the questions below
Moderate-Fast Action
Trout Fishing in NorthEast Georgia
Graphite
Banged around
Some cover Rhodadendren etc.
Nymphs, Dry, Streamers
Floating

Chris Richer Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Some quick questions:
>
> What is your preference for action? Fast? Slow?
> Extra Fast?
>
> Is it for saltwater or fresh?
>
> What type of rod are you looking for? Glass,
> Bamboo, Graphite?
>
> How robust does the rod need to be? Banged around?
> Meticulously(sp) cared for?
>
> What are you going to be tossing and into what
> type of cover?
>
> How much line are you going to be carrying during
> the cast?
>
> What type of line? Floating? 500 grain shooting
> head?
>
>
> Chris Richer
> Iroquois ON

Best trout blank...

Dan Craft Sig. V...8'4 4 wt. $90-100 or so, I think. Magic!

This weekend my 9 ft 7 wt Dan Craft FT gets the steelhead test, too. In test casting, though...it is way off the charts.

OK...Those are my two votes.

Kind of like the 12 guage and the 30.06. Armed with the combo above there isn't much you couldn't do.....FF'ing wise!

Keith

9' 6wt. is a darn big rod for mountain trout, in my opinion. I prefer something shorter for 4 or 5wt. line (7.5' to 8.5' depending on how much cover). For one that is going to get banged around, as you say, buy an IM6 or lower modulus graphite, such as PacBay, AmTak, Tiger Eye, or Rainshadow. The blank won't set you back but $60 tops and it will be tougher and less likely to get broken. And many of them are moderate-fast action. Hook and Hackle Company has kits on sale that should fit the bill and make beautiful rods you will be proud to fish with. And you can use the extra money for gas to get to the stream. If you want to spend $150, consider the St. Croix SCIV. Light, durable, and flat out fantastic. But, again, I wouldn't get the 906, I'd get the 804 or 864. But, if you already know you like 906, then that's that.

i ain't no pro.. but i'll ditto both steve and keith's suggestions, at least for under $150. i've built on forecast, rainforest (pac bay), tradition, and tiger eye. dan craft Sig. V. all nice values, tiger eye being my current favorite. dan craft being in a class by itself. check out the new FTLs soon to be released by dan.

in that price range, you should also consider a fiberglass if it's going to be "banged around." i think the diamondback diamondglass blanks are around $150.

eric
fresno, ca.

Guess you have never fished the Soque River.

Steve Kartalia Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> 9' 6wt. is a darn big rod for mountain trout, in
> my opinion. I prefer something shorter for 4 or
> 5wt. line (7.5' to 8.5' depending on how much
> cover). For one that is going to get banged
> around, as you say, buy an IM6 or lower modulus
> graphite, such as PacBay, AmTak, Tiger Eye, or
> Rainshadow. The blank won't set you back but $60
> tops and it will be tougher and less likely to get
> broken. And many of them are moderate-fast
> action. Hook and Hackle Company has kits on sale
> that should fit the bill and make beautiful rods
> you will be proud to fish with. And you can use
> the extra money for gas to get to the stream. If
> you want to spend $150, consider the St. Croix
> SCIV. Light, durable, and flat out fantastic.
> But, again, I wouldn't get the 906, I'd get the
> 804 or 864. But, if you already know you like
> 906, then that's that.

Correct and I didn't mean to be preachy about tackle recommendations. Obviously fish with whatever length and line you want. Some people like to use very long rods, even on streams where you are crawling on your belly under rhododendron to catch 6" fish. Or if it's a big river, you may use a long and powerful rod or a 6' 3wt. if that's what you like. It's all personal preference. But, everything else about my advice remains such as brands of IM6 blanks that you should consider as tough enough to get banged around. In your case, being guided by cost of blank may actually lead you to the wrong blank, since tougher blanks are often the less expensive ones.