I have received a request to build a rod for some friends. They have just purchased a boat and want a Halibut rod for their Grandkids to fish with. They have used rods on a charter before called "Whopper Stopper". It is a lot shorter than the common halibut rod, and eaiser for the little ones to handle. Is anyone familar with what they are talking about? If so what type blank is used for that rod. Any Help will be greatly appreciated

Kirk

Hi Kirk
These are very short fun rods made by Ed Robison here in california. I am not privey to what blanks he is using but I know he sell a heck of a lot of them at the Fred Hall Show. He may tell you if you email him at whopper@urs2.net but it may be a secret he wants to keep. All you can do is try. I have one and it is a real kick to fish with even for the big folks.

Fished a 3ft 6in rod for halibut in Sitka, what a kick. The Captain said he thought they were built on Calstar blanks

Ed's Whopper Stoppers are a special Calstar blank that nobody but him can get from Calstar and Ed won't sell just the blanks, I tried several years ago.

A least expensive way to build a kids Halibut Rod is to cut down a solid glass 130 pound blank and go from there. I have several I use on my boats in Ak and they love them. It is nearly indestrutable. Let me see if I have one around in the shop and I will mail you a pic. I find the longer foregrip you can get the better the kids and some smaller ladies can handle the fish. I usually set them up for just a 4.0 or 6.0 Penn. I use the KISS principle. I keep it simple becuase I am pretty stupid. I didn't know that there was a market for these stubby rods Doc.........Yall take care

Big John
Rio Hondo, Texas
Blessed are those who can give without remembering and take without forgetting

Just a thought but a heavy glass tube blank may be a lot lighter then the solid ones for kids to handle.

You are sure right Bill. If I made it for someone that is what I would use but on these six packs the equipment gets so much abuse I just try to make something that will hold together for the season.

Big John
Rio Hondo, Texas
Blessed are those who can give without remembering and take without forgetting

I literally tried to break a light solid blank a while back. Stuck the butt into a tree stump in the yard. Bent the tip even put a pipe over the tip, bent it as far as I could. That puppy would not break no mater how I tried

Just glad it did not spring back and catch my head ??

Thanks for all the input. It sounds like I will have to see if they are willing to take a chance on a cut down rod, or if they are willing to throw down the cash for a true "Whopper Stopper".