Hello all,
I am looking to build a spinner rod for trout and smallmouth and noticed on another thread some comments about this blank. I looked it up on the Baston site and noticed that it weighed 2.45 oz. This seems kind of heavy for a rather short rod. Does anyone know how these blanks handle?
thanks,
Tom.

Hi Tom,

I was one of those posters.

I just built a 993. Exclusively for steelhead. I certainly don't find it heavy....with a blank through casting reel seat.

Batson calls it a salmon/steelhead rod.....and I think that would be it's best application. 8'3 doesn't seem short to me for a trout rod.....all mine are in the 6-6'6 range.

After one day of fishing with it...I think it handles very nicely. Sensitive, etc. I like it.

It is rated for 6-10 lb line.....I fish it with 10.

More rod than I would use for trout and smallies....but perhaps I catch little trout.

Keith

HI Tom,

I'm in the process of building three rods on this blank. The first one I finished is what you might expect. It's long so it will cast some distance. It has a fast tip which took some getting use to on a long spinning rod. I went with a rather long grip to make it easier to cast with two hands. It will cast some weight also. I used EVA grips and don't feel that the rod is noticeably heavy. The extra length does give the fish some extra leverage too. Any ways, just my thoughts on this blank.

Ed

Thanks for the information. I guess I should be more specific, I was planning on using it as a spinner rod for steelhead and river smallmouth.
Tom.

For that...it should be pretty dang good.

Keith