Hi all,

Thinking of building a #7 switch rod using DC blank. Many people talked about FT1007 for the purpose but what about FRS V 9973. It's lighter and faster then FT.
Has anyone built the switch rod using FRS V blank? How does it perform?
Cheers
Martin

I'd go with the FT blank, you have to have a hardy, powerful blank to carry the spey line grams used today. Frankly if I was going to make another, I'd use one of R. B. Meiser's fine switch blanks, they are hands down nicer than the two you have selected.

I love the 997-3V, but it is not a good taper for a switch rod. The 10' FT is much better for that purpose.

I am curious, Spencer, why Bob Meiser himself was on this board raving about the FT's capability as a switcher about a year ago? I've cast a couple of Meiser rods and they are darn nice, but I don't think that "hands down better" is really an appropriate description of the differences between the two..



Scott Kinney
The Longest Cast Fly Rods
[www.thelongestcast.com]

Martin,

I can add my vote for the 1007FT, although I find I haven't used it two-handed all that often. One of the things that most impressed me about the rod was the time that I crashed a Comet into it in the midst of a (two handed) cast, and the blank suffered no ill effects. I've also landed steelies to nearly ten pounds on it on 4x tippet. Good luck!

Wayne