i've never built a rod for big catfish. i need a blank that can handle 60lbs cats using live bait. fiberglass maybe??

thanks.
stan

For shore or from boat?

I'd think about the Calstar or Seeker live bait rods either all glass or composite, depends on your preference, or possibly a light 7' muskie blank. I've used muskie blanks for sturgeon and they work well as good light tackle blanks. Some people like longer rods from shore.

Phil

Stan,
Built up a beauty using an 8 ft seeker live bait blank, split grip and cord wrapped in between. Try it, I think you'll like it.

Consider whacking a few inches off the tip-end of any of the Batson RainShadow "SWS" Series and you will have a nice fat-butt, stout-tip Rod Blank that is less than 6 oz in blank weight, and can handle such big cats and toss big baits. Or just use them as is, if current and bottom structure is not too much of an issue.

These are RX4-Graphite / FiberGlass Composite rods that are tough as nails, with a moderate-fast taper-action that can cast well and still have plenty of backbone to lead fish to gaff. Rod Lengths range from 6'6" to 7'10".

The longest and heaviest Model in the Batson
RainShadow RX4-FG "SWS" Series is the SWS-696 :

RS-RX4-FG Model # : "SWS-696" ...
"SWS-696" ... 7'10" ... 1-piece ... Matte Clear ...
20-40 lb. ... 1-4 oz. ... 0.903" ... 7.5 / 64ths ...
Moderate-Fast ... Heavy ... 6.06 oz. ... $60.00 - Add [FS4U]

RainShadow Saltwater Blanks (SWS / SW):
[www.fishsticks4u.com]
RainShadow RX4 SaltWater Rod Blanks (Matte Clear)
• RX4 graphite/fiberglass matrix
• Uncompromising strength yet light weight
• Moderate thru Fast-Action designs
• 3 Year Limited Warranty

For a less expensive range of rod blanks (but more blank weight), consider the Batson ForeCast "SWB" Series. These SWB rod blanks are ALL "E"- FIBERGLASS. There are ~ 6 models strong enough for your considerations, in Lengths from 7-foot to 8-foot.

FC-EFG Model # : "SWB-76-XH" ...
"SWB-76-XH" ... 7'6" ... 1-piece ... Gloss Black
25-50 lb. ... 1-1/2 -to- 5 oz. ... 0.875" ... 8.5 / 64ths ...
Moderate-Fast ... Xtra-Heavy ... 14.40 oz. ... $29.96 - Add [FS4U]

Forecast E-Glass Salt-Water Blanks (SWB)
[www.fishsticks4u.com]
• E-Glass construction for strength
• Tons of lifting power built into butt section of all models
• Moderate-Fast actions
• 18 models to choose from
• Gloss Black finish
• 2 Year Limited Warranty

i'll check those out. they seem like some good choices. i appreciate the help.
thanks.
stan

SC I GLASS CATFISH - Color: Midnight Blue Finish
1C66H SPIN/CAST 6'6" 1 H M-FAST 15-60 1-8 0.68 11 5.5 NO $44.62
1S70MH SPIN/CAST 7' 1 MH M-FAST 10-20 1⁄2 -11⁄2 0.665 7 4.3 NO

Found these St. Croix blanks while looking through Merrick's catalogue out of boredom. May be worth checking out.

Phil

The Forecast SWB76XH is an awesome big cat blank. I just built one for a customer in Kansas City and have three on the bench for myself.

The SWB80XH is another great blank, but very stiff. Much more power than the 76XH. Not great if fishing Circle hooks IMO - especially if fishing braid. I noticed a reduced hookup rate "after the bite" with that rod, though I "have" tackled a couple 50 pound blue cats, 69 pound Cobia and a couple HUGE Rays with it.

The 76XH is soft enough for circles (though I don't have first hand experience with it yet)

Fishsticks has 'em.

/Scott



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/26/2006 02:17AM by Scott Wood.

this will be fished out of a boat and the blank needs to have a very soft tip so as not to tear the bait when the boat rocks.

phil i looked on st. croix's site and couldn't find the blanks you listed, do you know if they still make them?

thanks again.
stan

stan mclean Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> this will be fished out of a boat and the blank
> needs to have a very soft tip so as not to tear
> the bait when the boat rocks.
>

I'm curious to know what mean by tearing the bait. Can you enlighten me?

/Scott

about tearing the bait, those are the customers wordd, not mine. i think he means that he wants the tip very very soft so the bait doesn't get pulled off the hook when jigged? he wants a very slow action rod.
thanks again.
stan