When it rains it pours. I got a request today to build a couple of 10' dipsy rods for a Ludington salmon charter captain. The catch is that he insists that the rods be fiberglass. Not e-glass, graphite/glass, etc... Can any one think of a maker of such a blank. I have found lots of close but no cookie blanks in my catalogues. This is the old school mind set of local charter captains. They feel adament that the new graphite or composite stuff won't weather well or survive the charter clients. Any thoughts or discussion on this? I would like to advise him otherwise, however I don't have any graphite or composite rods that length in service long enough to make a case that I am comfortable with.

Someone may know better than I do, but I believe that e-glass, s-glass, etc are all fiberglass - just having a differnt properties

E-glass is the time tested material for tough saltwater rods. It's tough, but somewhat heavy. S-glass is a higher modulus fiberglass and provides very good durability at a little less weight than the E-glass.


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I don't know anything about salmon fishing but I ran across these the other day on the Lamiglass site. You could extend the 9' an additional foot or trim the 10.5'

[www.lamiglas.com]

[www.batsonenterprises.com]

[www.fishpacbay.com]

Tony....your email is hidden....You did not state if you were interested in one or two piece....I do have some 1 piece Lamiglas blanks
in fiberglass that I will part with but I understand the shipping costs are "DIE-NO-MITE" email me [not hidden]

Tight Lines
Tight Wraps
Fishin'Stix by Fred

I like two piece basically because of price, ease of handling, and shipping. Again, the charter guys want one piece because they percieve that the two piece is not as strong. I think I can win them over on that issue. Is there any merit to their perception that the graphite/composites don't weather as well? They will say that when out in the sunlight every day all summer, they break down?? I think that they are making these arguments based on early attempts by blank manufacturing companies years ago with E-glass. What have you got in 10' and how much including shipping? I think I have my email un-hidden now. I think I may ask him to meet me half way. I will build a fiberglass and a graphite both. I will offer to eat the graphite if it fails or breaks down before the fiberglass. Anyone think I will get burned by this? The Charter captain is not the type to falsely accuse the rod of failure, in fact he allows me to ride along on charters to trial new stuff in my rods.

Tony