G'Day,

I'm after (as the subject states) a 3 (or 4 piece) 9 to 10 ft spinning blank. I added fly blank simply because there aren't many 3 or more piece spinning blanks around.

I'll be primarily using it in the surf for Tailor (I think you guys call them Bluefish) and possible Jewfish (Mulloway - I'm not sure what this fish is called in the states).

The lures that I will typically be using range from 10g (3/8oz) to around 50g (1 3/4oz - round it to say 2oz).

I'll be using 20lb braided line on a 4500 size spinning reel.

The distances that I would need to cast it is up to around 80m at most.

I've tried searching and haven't really found anything that matches my criteria yet. I'm not after a super expensive blank either, so unsanded blanks are fine with me (which is what most of the Australian produced surf/rock blanks are anyway).

Thanks,
Mike.

Hi Mike:

I have on hand a St. Croix 3FT1008 4pc 10' , 8 weight blank that might be what you are looking for. It is from a special order where a customer bailed out on me, and it hasn't seen any interest since. I am motivated to move it off the floor, so please do not assume it is super expensive. I can't list prices on the board, but you can e-mail me at pmaltby@ackfishing.com, or call 860-656-6904 for more information, including the price, shipping to AU and all that business. Don't be alarmed by prices you may see elsewhere for this blank. I've been looking at it for too long sitting on the shelf.

If you think this may suit your needs please contact me. I've currently got about 5 other shipments going to Austrlia at the moment, and could certainly make a 6th.

Hope to hear from you, or good luck in your search.

Kind Regards,

Peter Maltby
[www.ackfishing.com]
860-656-6904
866-285-0673
02070784004 London
pmaltby@ackfishing.com

Sounds like your looking at at least a 15 wt fly blank. There is an article at www.mexfish.com about a 3 piece Graphite USA 18 wt blank built as a spinning rod that might be just what your looking for. He wasn't done playing with it yet, but he was in the 100 yd realm during initial testing with 2 oz. if I remember right.

Thanks for the replies guys.

Peter, I think an 8 weight would be too light for what I'm after (according to the general fly line weight/16 equation anyway).

Spencer, that article describes exactly what I'm after, except that in it, he states that the blank was custom made for him by GUSA, and theiroff the shelf blanks already cost a fortune, I'd hate to see how much that one off would cost me!

David, Your post might be removed automatically due to you not having a first and last name listed, so I've copied your reply here:


>> Michael,
>>
>> Have you considered finding a suitable 1 peice rod, cutting it into 3 peices and making your
>> own ferrules from fibreglass scrap?. I've made a few 3 peice rods this way. They work fine
>> and it can be a lot cheaper than purchasing 3 peice blanks. If you don't mind making the
>> ferrules yourself you' quickly find a lot more blanks that are suitable for the job. If you also
>> don't mind cuttiing or extending the blank you'll find even more suitable blanks.
>>
>> (One of my favourite rods is a 3 peice 7 footer that I built by extending a very cheap
>> blemished 6 foot 1 peice blank and then cutting it into 3 peices).
>>
>> Maybe a blank like an Australian 6110 will do the job? If you don't have any scrap fibreglass
>> to make the ferrules buy a 2nd 6110 and it will still be a lot less expensive than buying one 3
>> peice blank. You'll also have a lot of fibreglass left over to make other ferrules and extension
>> peices for other rods
>>
>> DavidM

I have actually thought about getting two of the same 1 piece blank and cutting them down to size, except I'm not confident of my own ferrule making abilities. In any case, from what I've read, can you use two identical blanks to make the ferrules? I thought the ferrule had to be made of a smaller blank thickness than the main blank due to the fact that the area would be overloaded otherwise?

Have you tried talking to CTS, they are developing some blanks for the US that aren't their norm, maybe they can come up with something. They have blanks now to 15 wt in a fast action the Salt Affinity S XF.

Hi Spencer,

Yes, they were one of the first I was looking at and the Salt Affinity S was the exact blank I was looking at also. Unfortunately they too are pretty expensive. I'm thinking at this stage I'm going to simply buy two of the same blank and make my own ferrules (it'll cost me only around $100 AUD to get a 3 piece blank in the configuration that I want rather than the $3-400+ AUD for these other custom ones).

Angler's Workshop in in the US has a travel salmon blank that (15 to 30 lb line) that looks like it would split the difference cost wise.

Thanks Spencer, that seems exactly what I'm after!