Good morning: I am about to embark on building three rods (one each for myself, my wife and my brother-in-law). We will use them for fishing salmon and redfish. Wife and I are good flyfishers will the brother-in-law is really good!) I have narrowed my choice to between the Dan Craft FT908-4 and the Rainshadow/Forecast XF908-4. I would appreciate any comments comparing/contrasting these two blanks. I am currently building a Dan Craft FT904-4 and really like it, but have no experience with the XF908-4 (or in fact any "no. 8" size rod. All comments appreciated. Thanks,
Harold

I don't have any personal experience with either, but I know that both blanks have their proponents. I doubt you'd go wrong with either. Perhaps buy one of each and that way you'd have a perfect situation where you could compare the two. You may find what you like might not be what your brother in law will like, or what your wife will like. This way, everybody can choose the one they want. Sort of.

..............

Tom: Good advice and I will do as you suggest. Thanks for responding.
Harold

Harold,
You probably noticed that your FT has quite a bit reserve power built into it, you'll get ther same with the 8 wt. The XF 908 will be built more conventionally powerwise.

Harold,
Without a doubt go with the Dan Craft - but not the 8wt. Go with the DC FT 9' 4pc 7wt. I use that rod with a 9wt Wulff int line or a 10 wt Wulff floater. It can throw a big deer hair diver 90 Ft with an unbelievable tight loop. This is Dan's favorite blank of his FT line. I have the FT rods from 5wt-10wt. The 7wt is amazing. I have 4 of them with different guide setups. If you have to throw an 8wt line go with his 5wt FT (skip the 6wt).
I use REC recoils for running guides and also REC recoil for tiptop.
Herb

Herb -

You have four Dan Craft FT's in 7 weight? I have two. You are my hero!

It's an interesting story, but I ended up with two - one having H&H snakes and the other, H&H single foots. I have not cast them both around the same time as to get an impression of any differences.

Given they are what I would call "tip action", do you see much difference at all in their actions, depending on the guides you used?

Tony