I've been fishing with a Japanese angler the last little while who specialises in this style. Let me briefly explain the 'minnowing' method. It originated in Japan and is used for trout & salmon in rivers of various sizes. Only minnow plugs are used - long ago they would have been Rapala CD's but in the last 10-15 years they are many purpose-built minnows (some of them handmade and absolutely exquisite) available in Japan. They run from 1.5" - 3.5" and weigh 1/16th - 1/2 oz. The retrieve style is basically fast twitching (all wrist) with quick changes of direction (of the minnow) made using the whole rod. The idea is to generate a reaction bite (especially when minnow changes direction suddenly) and let me tell you it is a dynamite method! The average size of fish being caught this way is way above what you normally see on the small Southern African river we are fishing - up to 23" so far. I handled his rod and watched him fish and there is no doubt that his rod is perfect for this application - not surprising because it's built for this style. I could buy one but average price for a Souls or Nories rod is >US$400 so not my preferred solution.

The rods for this application vary depending on minnow, fish & river size - I'm looking to build one for 2-3" minnows up to 3/8th oz but most casting will be done with minnows around 3/16th oz. Length needs to be right around 6'2" and it has to be 2 piece. The factory rods are made of boron & graphite (not sure why) and have a medium - medium fast action fishable with 5-7lb mono. Given the need for constant twitching the tip cannot be too stiff but also not too soft or the minnows won't work properly. The moderate action is needed to prevent hook pulls or break offs with bigger fish in sometime fast water.

So what blank do you recommend? I can get St Croix & CTS easily and I'm leaning towards CTS because I can get the right length blank in a 2 piece format. Maybe EM661 / EF661 or EX610? If someone knows these blanks that would be great - there are sure to be other options I'm not yet aware of. Thanks.

Rolfe,
Sound like an interesting method, very similar to the way I used to fish floating Rapalas back in the day. Can't help you with a specific blank, but the requirements for the rod, other than the length, sound a lot like those for a largemouth bass crankbait rod. You might look at CB rods designed for small, shallow running crankbaits or a real light (1 power) "popping rod" - both types will tend towards the action you're looking for. If you have to cut down a blank, just remember that the action will move more towards medium, so you might be able to start with a faster action blank.

You need a jerkbait blank, otherwise known as a popping blank. Many are 7" but you could cut down the butt to get your desired length. As an example, an MHX P843-2 or P842-2. CTS may have an equivalent, but I'm not familiar enough with their blank line to give you model numbers. I don't see any 2-pc inshore St. Croix blanks in my catalog (St. Croix calls their popping blanks "Inshore saltwater"). Batson has a wide range of popping blanks also, including some two-piece models.

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I appreciate your responses, thanks guys. Interesting, I didn't think of a popping blank although I built a GL3 842-2 some years ago so I'm familiar with the action. Good call I think, a popping action is probably a pretty good match.

Thanks again.