Hello, I'm new to this forum and hope that someone can give me some help. I fish for salmon here in Ireland and I've decided to bite the bullet and build my first rod. I'm looking for advice on where to purchase a Sage Zaxis 14'3" blank as cheap as possible. I have been unable to locate a blank here and in the UK they are looking for crazy money, hence looking to purchase from the USA. Any advice would be greatly appreciated, thanks, Damien.

I'll tell you where you can find one IF you give me your Lucky Charms!! :) Just Kidding Damien. If you look on the left side of this forum you will see all of the sponsors. I don't know which specific sponsor is going to sell that particular Sage blank, but if they were criminals or unethical, then they wouldn't be allowed to be sponsors of this forum. I've heard nothing but good things from all of them. Just click on their links as you get time and see what they have in stock. Good luck!

Justin

Thanks for the reply Justin, I'll have a look at the weekend.

Damien.

Sage has agreements with all their dealers that set the minimum price for a Sage blank. @#$%&, Angler's Workshop, Mudhole and I'm sure others handle international orders all the time.

Damien -- Spencer has nailed the situation. We will be glad to work with you, as we ship International orders every day. We do carry the full line of Sage blanks. If I am not mistaken, the model number of the blank you are speaking of is - 9143-4 ZX.

Bob McKamey
bobm@mudhole.com

Bob and Spencer, thanks for your replies. Bob, that is correct , what sort of price would it be for the blank including postage to Ireland?The cheapest I have managed to find is $429 including fore and aft cork handle, struble reel seat and fuji strippers and eyes. I'm still undecided about this blank as I've only cast one of these rods once and conditions were not ideal at the time, but I am meeting up with a fishing buddy next month who owns one of these rods and intend to have my mind made up by the end of the day. Thanks again for the help, as I said I've never built a rod before so I will definately be looking for items such as rod wrapper, epoxy etc.etc.........

Does it - have - to be a Sage ?? A lot of other blanks available at better prices ??

Bill - willierods.com

Damien -- That is a very good price for the package deal. The blank alone sells for $423.00.

Bob McKamey
bobm@mudhole.com

Yes Bob, I thought it seemed to be a good price as well, but in these difficult financial times, it pays to shop around, cheapest is not always best!
I'm going to have a good look at your site in the next few days as I need to know what I will need for a build. Although the package comes with a grip, I would prefer to make my own with some burl highlights etc and custom other items also.

bill boettcher Wrote:
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> Does it - have - to be a Sage ?? A lot of other
> blanks available at better prices ??

Hi Bill, the problem that I have is that here in Ireland the blanks are generally brought in from the US, Canada or the Uk, Normally it is either Loomis or Sage and 99% of the time it is for a fly rod, although I am waiting on a 12' 3 piece Harrison blank from the UK for bait fishing, to be honest I do not know the build quality of most of the other blanks you are talking about as we just do not have them here. Is it possible to get another make of blank in the size that I need which is approx 13.5 to 14.5 ft? It would be great if you could recommend some other makes that may be cheaper but the size is important. Thanks.

How much technology can be put into a graphite blank ??

have you checked out any of the suppliers on the left ??

I have also read of certain High End companies that there finish washes off with Alcohol ?? Quality I don't think so !! And these were about 3-400.00 a blank

Then tell me why Mud Holes MHX and Swantlands blanks are well liked but Bass Fisherman. And they are the toughest people to please.

I got a bridge I can sell ya

Bill - willierods.com



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 07/01/2010 02:38PM by bill boettcher.

Bill, a bridge? what size?

Damien.

Very large

That blank try here : [www.meiserflyrods.com]

Bill - willierods.com

Bill, you have given me a BIG problem! I've looked at the above website and those rods look amazing. Build or buy?!!!! I don't know if I could ever build a rod like those. They offer the exact sizes that I am interested in and more. I am going to have to have a good think about this.

They also have kits to build and Ready to wrap with all on just need to wrap the guides.

Prices seemed a lot nicer.

Bill - willierods.com

Bill, thats for sure, and I really like the mixture of the cork and ruberised cork in the grip. I presume as you recommend them, you also rate them highly.
Its a pity that I do not have access to them here to try them out before purchase, I'll have a proper look at their site tonight over a cold pint of Guinness! I think Sage might be given a miss this time.