I'm pretty new to Rod Building and am looking for a 6'9" tops/tails blank for inshore fishing on the middle Texas coast. I've been looking around and can't find any blanks in the 6'9" length. Is this something I'll need to get custom made or do you guys know of anyone that carries this length? Thanks for the help.

St Croix has some very nice blanks that are 6'8" in SCIII, SCIV and SCV that are great for inshore. They are listed under the casting blanks, but you can most definitely build them as spinning. If you absolutely must be at exactly 6'9" - push the blank 1" into the butt grip and fill with rod bond, you will be fine.

Lamiglas has the XMG LP844 and IM700 IMP844 that are 7'0" in length, but you can cut 3" off the butt and have a super flats rod that will meet your length requirement.

Thanks for the information Jim.

Justin,
We have 6'9" blanks in the CTS lineup. Addiitonally ANY and ALL of the CTS tapers can be made into a 6'9" blank. So say for example you like the the CTS EBT843, which is a 7' blank, but want that exact taper in a 6'9" length...that's absolutely no problem. I do custom tapers for folks all the time for a (very) small upcharge. Having been an AllStar distributor prior to the Shakespeare buyout, I am very familiar with the Tops & Tails blank, and know exactly what it is you're looking for. At the moment we are also working with several guides here on the coast as well as a couple of FLW and Oberto RedFish Cup fishermen to firther refine the CTS series of inshore blanks.

Feel free to contact me with any questions you may have.

Best Regards,

Andy Dear
Lamar Fishing

Batson Enterprises - Rainshadow RX8+C812*SB = 6'9" 1pc, 8-14 lb test, 1/4 - 5/8 oz lure wt, Butt OD .465", Tip 5.5, Xtra fast action, Med power 1.85 oz blank Wt. MSRP = $160.00. This is a made in USA Ultra high Modulas blank w/ Carbon Fiber scrim. IMHO one of the finest blanks on the markert to date.. If this does not fit the bill look deeper into the Batson Enterprises line of blanks and you will find something. We have the largest selection of blanks under one label in the industry. We also will be around for generations to come. " The Vision Continues". Please conatct us if you ever have any questions.. Thank you all for your support of our US family owned and operated company...

Bill Batson
CEO
Batson Enterprises
Rainshadow/Forecast/ALPS product lines
877-875-2381
www.batsoneterprises.com
batson@batsonenterprises.com...

Justin,
The St Croix 3,4,5C68MXF and the Batson SB, ISB, RX8+ 822.5 are all good tops & tails blanks. The actions and power are almost exactly like the All Star Tops & Tails blanks that we can no longer get. There are some similar S Glass blanks also.

Thanks for all the input guys, I really appreciate it. I'm very new to this and need all the help I can get.

Justin,
Shoot me an email privately when you can. It sounds like you and I fish the exact same water (Rockport/Aransas Pass, and Upper Laguna). Maybe we can get together and you can personally fish some of the CTS blanks we've designed specifically for the Gulf Coast. I'll even buy you lunch!

Andy Dear
Lamar Fishing