I have the need for a very light crankbait blank. 1/8-1/4oz range, mainly small rapalas and the like. 7-7.5ft 1pc. Blank needs to be graphite or black in color and of good quality. I dont normally build this light....Suggestions? Thoughts on the Batson XP841 popping blank?

DR



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/31/2011 08:30PM by Duane Richards.

Pac Bay T2P842 for sure - it's plenty light, and a little more meat in the tip. The Rx7 would do well too, but the tip is a little lighter than what I'd like.

Take a look at the Rainshadow RX8 XSW72ML. I know that it is in the walleye category, but that doesn't mean it is limited in use. After all, it is just a graphite tube without a true preference - it just wants to go fishing.

i used an rx7 cb66ml for topwater. It will throw 1/4 oz poppers a mile. could always try the 70ml

Regards,
-Justin

Duane,
I probably wouldn't use a popping rod. I generally like a rod that is a bit slower than the classic popping rod.

Any of these in the right weight for what you want to toss would work very well.
[www.batsonenterprises.com]

Notice the more moderate actions of all of these blanks?

Take care
Roger

Duane don't discount the notion that you shouldn't use a popping blank as a crankbait rod. Down here in Louisiana and other parts of the country, an 843P or an 844P moderate to fast action are excellent choices for throwing shallow to medium diving crankbaits. I've been building on those two blanks for years just for that application and have a large following of customers that I've built that particular rod for. Whether I use blanks by Castaway, Batson, American Tackle or Phenix, it doesn't really matter. A moderate fast action graphite blank in the above models will put a lot of fish in the boat.

Lance

Back when they were available...the Loomis SJ781 IMX. I used quite a few of those for guys looking for UL/L baitcasters for their Pixies and Pressos. I did some at 6'6", but did even more extended to 7'.

Right now...I'd get the North Fork CB 701-1. I really liked my measurement numbers on that blank for rods in this class.

An Avid in L power would also be one to consider. The ML as well...although they get a little too meaty a little too fast for my liking.

Haven't used the Batson you're referring to, but most of the Popping blanks I've measured, came out with action just like St. Croix's Moderate action blanks.




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Better to have and not need than to need and not have.

Roger, the RX7 popping blanks are moderate action.

DR - I have built the IP840, but I think the 841 would be better.

_________________________________________
"Angling is extremely time consuming.
That's sort of the whole point." - Thomas McGuane

I've found popping blanks to work very well for crankbait applications - they seem to bridge the gap between too fast and too moderate. I think alot of the 'crankbait' blanks offered can be too moderate in action - not everyone has the reactions of a tournament bass fisherman....