Hello, what's up all! I wanted to ask a question about rod blanks. I love fishing jigs in shallow cover. I have a nice flipping stick that works well for this but I'm short on rods for now, so i need to build another rod just for jigs. I was thinking a 7' hvy. or ex. hvy. casting blank, in a ex. fast action. Should I get a hvy. or ex. hvy action? I fish in some pretty heavy stuff, like giant tule mats, huge laydowns, docks, heavy weeds. I was thinking a GUSA DHX (either C704DHX or C705DHX) with 20 lb. fourocarbon. Would these be good? Which one would you guys recommend?

I have a 664DHX and I don't think that blank has the guts for some of the heavy stuff I seen down south. Others that are worth looking at are the St Croix 4C73XHF which a buddy of mine said is heavy enough that he uses it as a crossover pike/musky stick also. A discountinued Lamiglas Certified Pro blank with warranty is at Mudhole, the XC86H, a blank that also gets used for saltwater bass deep jigging SW USA. The IMB846 Rainshadow looks like it would be up to the task also.

Here yo go:
Lamiglas GC90HT
St Croix: 3C70MHXF (tougher than you'd think), and like above 4C73XHF

Ask Andy Dear at Lamar if he has any BAST907 left, very light very tough, my favorite and I'm po'd they are no longer available, Also All Star has a 6'10" pitchin' blank that is also very light and tough; BAST827. Andy should have some of these left if not I have a couple I could spare and will sell them to you at the same price as Andy. Bryan.

Thanks guys. But I definitely need something heavier than a MH, so I was thinking a ST. Croix 3C70HF. It's 7' hvy. with a fast action. Didn't realize the ex. fast actions usually presented smaller baits better (I know, stupid mistake) I'll definitely need somelarger baits bcz most of the tule mats I'm fishing require @ least 1/2 oz. in weight to get through. The larger mats usually require more like a 3/4 oz. So, I'm using the bigger jigs most of the time. Do you think this blank would be a good choice?

I'll second the 3C70MHXF. Also, the 3C70MHF is nice for jigs. Granted, I don't fish any of the mats that you're talking about, but I think that either of these blanks would likely do the trick. Go with the 3C70MHXF if you just occasionally fish the matted grass. But, if most of your fishing is matted grass, then go with the 3C70MHF. The XF rod is, IMO, better for jig fishing, as it's easy to use that XF tip and just shake the jig in place.