For those of you who have ever built rods for charity type of events how did you decide on blank choice? I have a command Christmas party coming up that I was asked to build a couple of rods for. I offered up a couple of casting rods... Since I am a Marine who is in a Navy command, I decided I would do one in a theme of the Marine Corps and the other USN. The audience will be comprised of those who don't fish, those with Wally World specials to individuals who tournament fish (me, Commanding Officer and a few others) and everything inbetween. I was leaning towards something in the neighborhood of an RX7 ISJ782 or ISJ783, MHX SJ782 or SJ783 or a comparable Castaway. What do you all think? I am in the Virginia Beach area of Virginia.

Thanks
Tom

Tom, i don't think you can go wrong with the Blanks you are considering. Two years ago i purshased a Batson RX7 ISJ782, i was so impressed with that Blank that i purchased 4 more of them. Yesterday , on the many recommendations i have received on Mudhole's MHX Blanks. I threw in one MHX SJ783 with the order that i placed on Friday. Hope this is of some Help Tom...Cheers!!! Wayne

Whenever I've been asked to do something similar to this I always try to make what I would term a "universal bass fishing rod" even though I know there is no such thing. I try to think of of the finished rod as being the one I could take fishing if I were limited to having only one rod, recognizing that it may only perform really well with one or two techniques but will perform reasonably well with several others. That way I'm more assured that the rod will have more general appeal than a rod that is targeted for one specific purpose - say a flipping stick. Since a flipping stick isn't practical for much else the rod's appeal would be limited to those who use that technique and/or want another rod of that type. I also think that the rod should appeal to both the serious tournament fisherman and the casual, few-times-a-year fisherman. A more middle-of-the-road rod could conceivably be used in a practical manner for crankbaits, spinner baits, pitching jigs, worming, etc. and perform reasonaly well. My goal is always to present a rod that is obviously custom, excellently made, and intended for use although I have had some get mounted on the wall for show and not taken down. I take extreme care to make my rods look good but I take greater pleasure out of someone telling me that it fishes good .

Since you mention Castaway, Lance at Swampland has been a great help with projects like this when I've called on him.

Sam

In your area you also have ocean fishing. I would do a quick look and sea what these guys/gals fish for.

Good Wraps Bob

My favorite general purpose bass rod to date has been Batson's RX7 ISB802.75 blank. Are you thinking of a bass blank or a SW blank, as Bob has suggested?

Here are the ISB802.75 specs , 6' 8", 1, 6-15, 3/16-5/8 .515, 5.0, X-Fast. I've used it wade fishing for smallmouth and for fishing out of a kayak. Very versatile as a bass blank, if that is your intent. A minimalist approach yields a beautiful rod.

Rick

most of of the guys that I have talked with are bass or panfish fishermen.Not too many in the saltwater thing.