i'm looking for some ideas on good quality blanks that aren't available in Australia that you have experience with. The target species is Black Bream. The type of blanks i am looking for are 7 foot, 2-6lb or 4-8lb with a fast or very fast action similar to the loomis S842-2 blanks. I try and achieve the lightest rod possible, best yet is 4.5oz. In Australia i have used the loomis, Graphite USA and Samurai (Fuji) blanks.So i am looking at alternatives, cheaper or similar priced. If i can get hold of cheaper blanks with similar quality to the previously named brands i will be very happy. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Stuart Klose

Stuart,
You may want to start your search by using the "blank search" feature on MUDHOLE's site (to the left). I've built on Phenix blanks - very nice but maybe heavier than you are looking for. MUDHOLE also sells (and ships) St Croix , American Tackle, Lamiglas and other rod blanks that you might be interested in. You didn't say one piece or two piece so it's tough to tell. I would also have steered you to RAINSHADOW/FORECAST - but I believe they are available in Australia already.

Ken

That availability has changed drastically Ken. As far as I'm aware there is no active Batson distributor here in Oz anymore. A pity 'cos I really like the Batsons, and would definitely build more of them.

Stu, there are quite a few manufacturers that offer blanks suitable for bream fishing. To list all the series and models would take pages and pages. Best bet is to flip through the online catalogs of some of the sponsor suppliers (on the left). Mudhole is a good starting point: their blank search engine, once you work it out, does a very good job. You should be quite capable of putting a sub 4 oz rod together with something like a St. Croix SCIII.

Thanks Ted and Ken

Yeah looking for 1pce.

Ted i am just trying to narrow down some different blanks to try other than the usual suspects on offer in Australia and if i can produce a quality product for lower overheads that would be great. The specs on the American Tackle Classic Series looks good but whats the quality of the blanks like. Also looking at the Batson site i couldn't find anuthing that really match what i was after, only in a medium taper or am i blind?

Stuart
Likely Karry (Batson Enterprises) will also answer you but here are a few that likely fit what you're looking for

Rainshadow® Inshore Popping Rod Blanks Featuring RX7 Graphite
(Power Available: UL= Ultra Light, L = Light, ML = Medium Light, M = Medium, MH = Medium Heavy, H = Heavy) (Color Key: M = Matte Clear)
Model Color Length Sect Line Wt. Lure Wt. Butt Tip Action Power Blank Wt. MSRP
IP840 Matte Clear 7'0" 1 4-6lb. 1/32 - 3/16 oz. 0.380 5.0 Moderate-Fast Ultra-Light 1.11 oz. $38.82
IP841 Matte Clear 7'0" 1 4-10lb. 3/16 - 3/8 oz. 0.400 5.0 Moderate-Fast Light 1.55 oz. $43.36
IP842 Matte Clear 7'0" 1 6-12lb. 1/4 - 1/2 oz. 0.400 5.0 Moderate-Fast Medium-Light 1.71 oz. $44.59

Ted,
an excellent option would be the new Custom Builder Series from Mud Hole.

S841-MHX 7'0", Spinning, 2-6 lb., B.0.330, T4.0, MHX -Slate
SJ842-MHX 7'0", Spin Jig, 6-12 lb. B.0.526, T4.5, MHX- Slate

Custom Builder Inshore Series

ISP702 CRB Inshore 7' 1pc 6-10# T4.5 B0.47 clear gloss

Regards,

Todd

Regards,
Todd Vivian
Mud Hole Custom Tackle

todd@mudhole.com

If your looking for two piece blanks S842-2 the Rainshadow ISP series in RX7 is as close as we have. The Forecast three piece blanks are surprisingly the fastest I have seen in a multy piece blank and worth hard look if you can live with a three piece at regardless of its lower price they are quality blanks for sure.

ISP842F M 7’0” 2 6-10 lb. 1/16-5/16 oz. 0.360 5.0 Mod-Fast ML 1.47 oz.
ISP843F M 7’0” 2 6-12 lb. 1/8-3/8 oz. 0.375 5.0 Mod-Fast M 1.94 oz.

Forecast® Spin Bass 3 & 4 Piece Travel Rod Blanks Featuring RX6 Graphite
(Power Available: L = Light, ML = Medium Light, MH = Medium Heavy, XH = Extra Heavy) (Color Key: CG = Clear Gloss)
Model Color Length Sections Line Wt. Lure Wt. Butt Tip Action Power Blank Wt.
SB720-4 CG 6’0” 4 4-8 lb. 1/16-5/16 oz. 0.435 4.5 Fast L 1.40 oz.
SB781-3 CG 6’6” 3 6-12 lb. 1/8-3/8 oz. 0.500 5.0 Fast ML 1.89 oz.
SB783-3 CG 6’6” 3 10-17 lb. 5/16-3/4 oz. 0.535 5.5 Fast MH 2.19 oz.
SB841-3 CG 7’0” 3 6-12 lb. 1/8-3/8 oz. 0.605 5.5 Fast ML 2.20 oz.
SB843-3 CG 7’0” 3 10-17 lb. 5/16-3/4 oz. 0.635 6.0 Fast MH 2.33 oz.
SB845-3 CG 7’0” 3 12-25 lb. 3/8-1 1/4 oz. 0.600 7.0 Fast XH 3.04 oz.




We do have some serious interest from a few possible new Australian Distributors since Oz has disappeared but nothing has been set in stone as of yet. I have a few small shops there that I will list for you. Maybe swing by there shop and have a look at what they stock.

Nashy's Complete Angler in North Mackay Queensland
BJ's Pro Tackle in Meringandan Queensland

Karry Batson
Batson Enterprises Inc.
Ph: (877) 875-2381
Fax: (360) 683-3579
karry@batsonenterprises.com
www.batsonenterprises.com

Out of the Batson stable Karry and Ken have listed most of the bream suitable models. Narrowing it down to 1 piece rods, we have:

RX7
IS600, IS 660, IS720 : These are shorter 1 piece UL spin models that make good short range flickers. Extended, they also do very good at general light lure work, handling both light plastics/jigheads and hardbodies well. The 720 extended by a foot would probably make a nice flats stick. Very light blanks.

ISB 720, ISB 780 : Spin Bass tapers. They offer much more low down power, equal to about 1 power up in the regular spin series. Fast actions, fast, light tips, good for flicking light plastics and jigs into rougher country, with plenty of power to extract stubborn fish. Larger butt diameters, slightly heavier blanks.

ISJ 781 : 1 power spin jig. Similar light tips, but faster than the ISB's, and more low down power.

IP 840 and 841 : Very nice, long, light blanks with mod-fast to fast actions, light tips, plenty of power, but in a thinner, lighter blank. I have the 841, and it works very well for situations where you are faced with a lot of "breaming" bycatch, such as trevallies, flathead, jacks and even barramundi.

The same tapers, except the IP's are available in RX6 graphite. Also, something to keep an eye out for are the discontinued RX7 multi-purpose spins. The code number for one I found really appealing was the old IS602, rated 2-8 lb and 5' in length. Extended to 6', I'd expect that would be quite good in the same applications as the newer models.

St. Croix also have a pretty wide range in SC2 and SC3 that offer great value. SC4 and SC5 models are quite higher in price, and it looks like you're working to a budget.
Looking at SC2 and SC3, there's a long list: pretty much everything rated UL, L, ML, MLXF would fit some sort of application. The XF's are only available in SC3.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/19/2009 12:12AM by Ted Morgan.