I want something 6'6" to 7', light and fast. Not a noodle but fun with the smaller panfish.

It's hard to find UL blanks in the longer lengths. So what I'd suggest is that you buy one that has the power you like and extend it to the length you want. You can probably find a nice 6 footer with some fair power in the butt, but with a light tip, and then extend it out to 6'6 or so. That will make the action a tad faster and give the fish a little more leverage at the same time. Makes one heck of a fun UL rod.

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I have used the Batsons SP721-2 and extended the handle 6 inches worked good for me. However I usally only use the 6 foot ones which are long enough for my fishing.

Edwin Kime

Try looking into fly rod blanks. I've made several fly rod blanks into spinning rods and have been very happy with result. In general they're more expensive, but you get all the length you want. I fish bluegill and crappie with 5 to 8 wt fly rod blanks at 8 to 9 feet long and have a ball. Plus you can toss a tiny jig and float about a quarter mile if that's important on your water.

St Croix offers UL blanks in 6'6" and 7'0" in both the SC2 and SC3 series.

batson makes a 7 foot ul IP840, I've used it for pan fish (crappie) as well as trout those fish are a blast on it.

Go with Seth on the Batson IP840...its a great UL rod in 7 foot.
We have them in stock at Midwest Rod and Reel...lets us know if we can help you out

Bill@midwestrodandreel.com
www.midwestrodandreel.com

I have a St.Croix SCIII in a 6'UL 1pc and know they make a 6'6" and a 7' in the 1 pc and a two pc. Personally I was looking for a rod under 3oz. finished.That was my personal goal. I weighed it at the Post office when I finished and it weighed 2.91 oz but it was front heavy. I changed the guides and tip out and now it weighs 2.56oz. and the front heaviness has been eliminated. It is a great bluegill rod and have also caught bass up to 4 lbs on it.

I think the IP840 would be great. Tippy, quick recovery, soft enough in the tip and mid to have fun with smaller fish, but plenty of down low reserve strength for the surprise fish that love to snack on panfish size lures (and also eat hooked fish).

I have built several on the Batson IP840. I also like the SC III 3S70ULF. I personally use both for trout. I did catch a 4lb 10oz bass on an IP 840(4lb line-I got a picture to prove it).

Ed Smith
Flat Rock, NC

I second the 8-9ft 4wt fly rod. This also gives you the ability to have in a 4 pc as well.

i build alot of bluegill rods out of a 71/2' 4wt fly rod blanks, they make real nice ultra lite rods...i've been building them for about 30yrs or so

Some manufacturers will not warrenty there fly blanks if they are tied into a spinning rods.
watch out Joe

Check out the latest issue of In Fisherman for an article in which a 1 weight fly rod blank is used for a spinning rod. It really intrigued me, and I've been planning a rod similar for a couple weeks. I've yet to find a 1 weight 7 foot blank, so have been considering using blanks like the AMF 662, 763, Batson IF662, and extending the 6 1/2 footers to 7 feet. It looks like any of these blanks could result in a rod under 3 oz. If you want it as light as possible, use micros and minimal transition guides (I would think that with 2-4 # mono you could get by with small and few transition guides), Pac Bay Minima reel seat (if not extending), little or no cork around the handle, minimal butt grip/split grip design. Some of the blanks that could work are pretty cheap, so I wouldn't think that warranty would be a big issue.

I'm not fully sure which way I'm going to go yet, but it will be with a fly blank.