Hello fella's


Anyone built on these yet and any thoughts im thinking about getting the 9''6 model # xst 1143 f seems like an ideal small river spin rod for floats and jigs in the great lakes .......................any info is appreciated ..................Rob

Robert,
I have not built any of the XST1143 yet but have built numerous IST1143 and recently built two XST1084. I liked the IST1084 a lot as a light to medium Steelhead drift rod but I like the XST1084 even better and I anticipate that I will like the XST1143 even better than the IST1143. I think that the XST blanks, at least the ones that I have seen, really are outstanding. Plus the concept of using different modulus material in different sections of the rod makes a great deal of sense to me.
By the way they also have a very attractive finish. It appears to be almost exactly the same color as some pieces of titanium that I have.

I've been debating picking one of these blanks up, just wish they were shorter. What do you guys use 9'6 steelhead blanks for? Using slip floats on rivers?

The 9 ft 6 in blamk is a pretty good compromise the an all around rod length for many presentations for salmon and steelhead. When drift fishing keeping as much of you line out of the river as you can gives you a more natural drift, it also makes mending easier. Same reason bobber and jig rods are long, you want to reduce the amount of line on the water between you and the bobber so the river current doesn't mess up your presentation due to line drag. It's also about as long as I like to go if throwing spinners or spoons. Than there is the weight and balance of the longer rods, usually over 10 ft 6in and I'm not smiling as much all day.

Hello Phil Spencer is right a 9''6 rod suits best for an all around rod here the only time i would go longer is with a centerpin rod and this rods primary use would be for floats and jigs with a spinning reel for smaller water .........i built a 11''6 last year and hated it..its amazing what a 2 foot will change for my personal use anyway to each there own i guess. that and i had a hard time landing fish from banks by myself some strecthes you can only have small handled wading nets and if you cant beach the fish that @#$%&............

I'm starting to feel old. Everybody used 8' - 8 1/2' blanks for steelhead when I started. I still build mostly that size. The XST 1025 is a perfect fit for me. I was lucky enough to get one of the first available and it made a beautiful steelhead rod. The next one will be longer and just for fishing floats. As Emory mentioned, they are a great color and look super with TI guides and graphite tube grips.

I hear you Grant, I used the8 ft 3 in Fenglass rod for many years with great results, problem is there aren't as many fish in the water as there used to be and many times more anglers on the water after those same fish. You have to try for any advantage you can get, I bring multiple rods now like the bass angler's for different presentations and fish a lot harder than I used to. The 1025 blanks both in RX7 and RX8 are great blanks that have actions much like those old rods, light tips and heavy butts. I built my Mom's rod on the RX7 blank ,it's her "go to" rod and it done her great service over the last few years.