looking for a 7' medium action spinning blank for shakey head fishing mostly. 8-12# line
any suggestions.
saw something i thought would work but customer don't want to go the st. croix prices.

Jim,

Would your customer be interested in something like the Mud Hole Custom Builder Blanks? They are very inexpensive and are of great quality. I just built two muskie rods on their IS701H and I have been very pleased with them. They have a IS701L that may be worth looking at. It's rated for 8-12 lb line.

jeremy

Where I live we do a ton of shaky head fishing. The best blanks that I have built on yet are the Lamiglas XMG 50 popping blanks either LP843 or LP844. These blanks have absolutely nothing in common with what is normally considered a popping blank, they are extremely fast action with very thin light tips, they are very light and still have lots of power in the butts. For shaky head fishing I like the fastest actions that I can find to get a light enough tip to cast light weights, sometime when you are around docks or such you can only make a tiny little flip cast, but still have enough power in the butt to be able to get a good hook set and get them away from any cover they may be around.

These blanks are also quite reasonably priced, I have an LP843 with LSG3.5 running guides that is my new favorite spinning rod.

Ummm, forgive my ignorance, but what is shaky head fishing?

Shaky Head fishing uses a jig head and plastic combination. Some of the Shaky Head jigs are small and light and others are 1/2 oz. Plastic can range from anything like a small flick worm to a full sized worm or creature bait. I catch lots of big bass on a 1/16 oz jig head with a 6.5 inch Yamamoto Kut Tail worm. It's a deadly combination. In fact, I lost one the looked like it would go over 10 on Tuesday and caught an 8 on my Shaky Head rig. I throw mine on a fast or extra fast 7' rod with a very soft tip.

Sweet, now I think I understand. Thanks guys

The IS701L might be a little soft too soft. I have some of those blanks in the shop. Most shaky head baits are texposed and you need a little more backbone than exposed hook applications. I have been collecting data from various places and these blanks were mentioned as shaky head blanks. I use an ISJ781 or an ISB822.5 and both are a bit too light IMHO, but I am not a shaky head expert by any stretch. I plan on making myself a Lamiglas XMG LP843 to try.

3C68MXF
RX8+823
ISB802.75
Loomis SB 811
3C69MLXF
LAMI XMG LP843
LAMI XMG LP844

I have all of the above EXCEPT the Batson blanks (2nd and 3rd) ... the first is my favorite, by a long shot.