I have been asked to suggest & build a multi-piece travel rod to be used for steelhead and as an all around trout rod. I am asking the board for suggestions on a blank that I can use to fit this requirement.
Thx in advance,
Regards,
Kenneth Prager

Without knowing what steelheading technique will be used, it's a little tough. That said, it sounds like a 3 or 4 piece fly blank in the 8'6" to 9-foot, 6-7 wt. range, built as a spinning rod, would fit the bill. That rod could competently throw light spoons/spinners, bobber/jig, drift fish, or side-drift.

Nick Dazer
Portland, Oregon

Yep! I second Nicks comments!

Raymond Adams
Eventually, all things merge, and a river runs through it..

Dan Craft 9 ft 6 wt 4 piece FT blank would do it. It would give you a rod that will throw a little more accurately and a larger variety of presentations than the average fly blank due to the faster tip. Most fly blanks are only good at "hitting the water" sidearm casting, but don't work well in an overhead cast due to their tendency to lob cast in big high tree and brush catching arcs.

Thx for the suggestions
Regards,
Ken

If you're looking for a fly rod...Which your e-mail didn't specifically mention...that would cover steelhead AND trout situations....then Spencer's suggestion is right on. The 9 ft 6 wt Dan Craft FT would fill the bill nicely. For steelies alone....the 7 wt FT would be a better fit, I think.

If you're at a drift or spinning rod....look at the Rainshadow IST993.....8 ft 3 inches, rated for 6-10 lb line. I just built one just for steelhead...and I've very impressed so far.

Keith

Dan Craft built his FT based rod out of the 6 wt. Talking to the Batson boys they say the IST 993 isn't very popular, but I've built about a half dozen of them including one for the son (spin) and myself (cast). Really like the fast tip in the smaller streams and brush/logjam fishing with spinners.

Yes, Keith - was looking for a fly rod suggestion. I haven't built on any of the DC rods yet, but this will give me a chance to get started. It's hard to believe that only one blank fits the bill. Maybe every steelheader uses a specialty rod for their outings. I would have thought that someone out there has used an all around rod/blank for multi use
regards,
Ken

Hi Ken,

There are lots of blanks out there that will fill the roll your looking for it to.....

Almost any 9 ft 6 wt would work, for example. If the steelies were all small a 9 ft 5 wt would work.

But a lot of us really like the DC blanks.

I think the Rainshadow's are very nice, too....and the Forecasts I've built have been surprising...for very low cost.

But Dan's blanks stand out.

Good luck..

Keith

Kenneth
I like a 9'6" 6wt. 3 piece RX 7 Rainshadow from Batsons. The steelhead have worked this rod over. It has preformed very well. This is the rod I use for steelhead and trout the most.

Thx Russ & Keith. All the salmon steelhead rods I have built have been made for fishing the Salmon River in NY, and most were two-handers. I will evaluate the 6 wts available and give one a try. I'll let you two know how the customer likes the selection.
Regards and happy holidays,
Ken