was looking into making a steelhead rod, since i am a new builder i am going progress my way up to the more high end blanks, but want the pratice so i wont mess them up when i get the skill i need


they look good for the price


anyone use them?

I use them and LOVE them.
Price does not always indcate quality! Rainshadow/Forecast products are a GREAT value!

Raymond Adams
Eventually, all things merge, and a river runs through it..

thanks, it just seems forecast is the lower end stuff of rainshowdow is all, thats why i was curious

A very good blank! Price doesn't always equate to quality

Mike (Southgate, MI)
If I don't want to, I don't have to and nobody can make me (except my wife) cuz I'm RETIRED!!

John,
I have built a lot of Steelhead rods from the Forecast and Rainshadow blanks. The main difference is that the Forecast blanks are made of standard modulus graphite while the Rainshadow RX7 are intermediate modulus graphite. The Batsons have also just introduced some new mixed high and intermediate modulus graphite blanks that I think are just plain outstanding but they are naturally more expensive.
The Forecast blanks will be slightly heavier for any given power but they will also be a little tougher or less brittle than the higher modulus blanks and naturally quite a bit less expensive.
Where are you located and what sort of Steelhead rod are you planning?

i may just have to order the 9 ft 6-10 pound blank then for steelhead


thanks for the help guys telling me there a good blank

John,
Take a look at the Forecast SH1084. It is a fast action 9' blank and is rated 8 to 12 pounds but it is a very light 8 to 12 pounds. It makes a very nice Steelhead drift rod for smaller water and lighter weights. Are you located anywhere close to Portland? I have a number of the blanks here that I could show you and also have a few made up into rods to give you an idea and help you with what you order.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/21/2006 08:45PM by Emory Harry.

i am in seattle, i am still debating on what blank

This is just my opinion..... I use a lot of Rainshadow blanks......IN MY OPINION......they are 85 to 90% as good as G. Loomis at 1/3 the price......Just my 2 cents.

Steve Buchanan

Steve's Custom Rods

John,

I agree with the folks above...But I may take it one step further-the best bang for your buck rod blank. I use them hard, we over-flexed them, high-sticked them and overlined them on the big Chinooks and Coho's up here. And I have to tell ya not one breakage yet. I have 2 turning right now on the drying rack. Another incredible thing about them is the strength of the finish. I have spilled gas, acetone, and other bad things on them. They keep on tickin!

Good luck, and you will not be disapointed.

Paul

Wow Paul spilled gas and acetone on them? Now how did you do that? Just when I thought I have heard it all. LOL Thanks for the support!!

Steve Buchanan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> This is just my opinion..... I use a lot of
> Rainshadow blanks......IN MY OPINION......they are
> 85 to 90% as good as G. Loomis at 1/3 the
> price......Just my 2 cents.

Steve, I couldn't agree more. It's getting very difficult to justify the extra money on a Loomis (or St. Croix, etc) blank when I can get an equal or near equal quality blank with better service from Batson.

Long story Kerry, you have to come back up here so we can fish again...

Paul

and, Loomis blanks look like boomerangs compared to Batson's. Nice and straight!