I'm going to build my first fly rod & I currently have two GLX Loomis rods that I love, one is a 9' 9wt & the other is a 9' 7wt. I'm going to build a 9' 5wt and a want a blank that is light & has a similar action to the GLX blanks. I have been told that the Dan Craft blanks might fill my needs & wants, so as of right now that is my number one pick but I would love to hear more opinions good or bad about which other blanks I might want to look at. I do know that Loomis is making the blank I'm looking for but since this is my first rod I really do not feel like paying the Loomis price.

Thanks,
Tony

The St. Croix SCV have at least a similar action. But all of these are going to be a little different - they're each designed around slightly different parameters.

............

Tony,

IMHO Dan Craft blanks are as fine a blank as have ever been made, and they are much cheaper than the Loomis blanks. (Think about what you're paying for with nationally-advertised blanks.) I have built rods from both, and I think that Dan's are superior. His Signature V series and his FT series are fantastic, and I'm sure that you will not going wrong buying a blank from Dan. He's also listed on the left. Make sure to give him a call, as he gives excellent advice about which blanks to choose, and he is a very nice guy.

Jim

I would also look at the CTS Affinity Blank series. Maybe a bit pricey. But, great technology.

Thanks,

Todd

I owned and used GLX rods prior to the time I became addicted to rod building. I no longer have any but I have not found an exact replacement either. The Dan Craft Sig V blanks are similar in weight and crispness but are tapered a be a bit slower in action than the Loomis GLX. The Dan Craft FT series are a bit heavier but have a fast action similar to the GLX and in my experience are less fragile. Of the blanks I have built on and fished with lately they fit my needs very well. I think Tom is right in saying that, "all of these are going to be a little different". I also have found that I have been able to build rods that, while not just like the GLX line, give me great pleasure and performance.

Stan Grace
Helena, MT
"Our best is none too good"

Tony,

Am I missing something?

Can't you just buy the Loomis blank?

Did Gary stop selling them?

I've never liked them at all, but I know they used to be for sale...If you want a GLX, then if it's out there....

Good Luck!

Buddy Sanders

Look at the last sentence in my post. This is my first rod and I'm not looking to spend $300+ on a blank until I have some basic skills under my belt. Also from reading the posts on this board there seems to be some other options that will get me close to what I'm looking for without breaking the bank right out of the gate.

Thanks,
Tony

The only problem with the Sig V blanks are that the variety isn't there anymore. The last email I had from Dan was that he had a 8' 9" 6 wt, and that the only others he would be carrying for the remainder of the year was the 10 ft 7 & 8 wts and the 9 ft 9 & 10 wts.