Hello Chaps
I wonder if I could enlist your help on finding the following blank.
I'm looking for a 6 foot, 1piece composite blank casting upto around 4/5 oz.
If possible I'd prefer a stiffish 'throughish' rather than a 'fast' action and with shedloads of power in the butt. Rod needs to be stiff so I can get that 'walk-the-dog' action on my 'stickbaits'.
Apart from the odd pike jerkbaiting/heavy soft plastic session I would be using this rod for chucking heavy stickbaits, eg Odessy Pigs, at tropical, reef dwelling thugs like GT.
Casting distance isn't usually too critical but having a short, nicely balanced rod that tucks under your arm is key (IMO) to getting good lure action and rythym going.
Please note I'm a UK based Brit.
I really would appreciate your help as the UK is a little short on this kind of stuff.
regards
Jeremy

[www.rodbuilding.org]

6 foot? You may have to enlist the aid of some saltwater guys there. I can't think of any 6' Muskie blanks off the top of my head. So the selection may be very limited. Long is the norm and even 6'6" is a pretty short rod. You can't effectively figure-8 with a short rod. You may have to get a 6'6" model and cut it down.

Check the St. Croix Premier line. I know they've got a pretty wide range of blanks in that line. Forecast might be one to check too. Seems as though when I've been looking for Muskie blanks I've felt that the models that looked interesting to me from them were too short. But then again I'm typically looking for 7' and up.

Better to have and not need than to need and not have.

Biil and Matt
Thanks for the replies.
I did a little searching on various blankmakers websites and longer is definately the trend at the moment.
I like the sound of the 'Rainshadow' blank at x-heavy and 6'3" but can anybody tell me a little more about the firm?
One question is do there blanks have a reputation for 'toughness' under fire as this is a major requirement in this form of fishing - GT take NO prisoners If I tell you my other 2 GT/tropical rods are built on Lamiglass Tri-Flex blanks you'll maybe egt an idea of the sort of thing I'm looking for.
The main duty of these rods is to work and cast heavy stickbaits and fight Gt on pretty heavy drags and a fair amount of clamping down.
Matt: I have to say figure-8ing a GT sounds like a REAL rush - seriously cool - but in practice the opportunity will not arise often.
The fishing scenario is to have 2 rods set-up - one an 8.5' rod with a Stella 20000 fixed spool and a popper type lure plus another shorter rod with a big 'walk-the-dog' type stickbait or maybe a large soft plastic grub/swimbait.
regards again
Jeremy

Look for there phone number on there site and give them a call. They will give you suggestions on a blank to use., nice people.

www.FISHSTICKS4U.com
BATSON ENTERPRISES DEALER
RAINSHADOW SURF RODS
FORECAST BOAT RODS

Jeremy - right now, Robert Tignor at FS4U has several Close-Out pricing sales going on, at ~30% off his already very fair prices. Take a look for yourself. I don't know about overseas shipping, but the 30% off sale should take a big bite out of that cost for you. There are several nice MUSKY / SALTWATER Models on sale in an "Olive-Green" finish. I am not completly sure about this, but from the color sample in the Catalog, the color looks closer to a nice rich emerald green than a sallow yellowish olive, and seems to have a hard clear glossy overcoat, which must look great if the sample square is accurate. RS has a reputation for strength & performance at a value price. • Limited Lifetime Warranty

Rainshadow RX7 Musky / Saltwater Rod Blanks (Olive Green) [www.fishsticks4u.com]

RainShadow RS-RX7 Graphite: IMU827G ... IMU-82"-7-G : Olive Green
6'10" 1-pc 25-50lb. ... 1-5oz. ... 0.760" ... 9.0 / 64ths
Fast ... Hvy ... 3.70oz. ... US-$65.00 less 30% = ~$46 (at FS4U)

FS4U also has AMERICAN TACKLE Products in addition to the entire line of Batson, so those TITAN Guides (Turbo, NIA, NIV, NIC and NIF) are worth looking at as well. Good luck, -Cliff Hall+++, Gainesville, FL-USA*****

www.FISHSTICKS4U.com
www.fishsticks4u.com
Owner: Robert TIGNOR
Partner: Captain Ray BROWN
Associate: Kevin P. SMITH

Robert Tignor ... (804) 746-0053 ...
Best Bet / Home Office: (804) 746-9711 ...

Robert Tignor
Fishsticks, Inc.
7268 Arrow Stone Road
Mechanicsville, VA 23111
(804) 746-0053

Thanks chaps
I get in touch with this guy
regards
Jeremy