Hello,
I am looking for a little feedback regarding a request from a customer. He is looking for a 7'6" XH Fast action rod to pitch big jigs and punch rigs and he wants it to be a broom stick. He also wants as much sensitivity as possible. I have a couple blanks that may fit the build but unfortunately he lives out of state. My thinking was.....

MHX FS906
Batson IFS906
Castaway BB2 (not a Fast Action but I have build a couple and my customers really like them)

All feedback welcomed.

Thanks!

Well they say your first instinct is right and you've got the MHX blank listed first. Just follow that little voice in the back of your mind.

Scott,
Check out the Diamondback musky rods for a heavy duty pitching stick that is also very light:

[www.amazon.com]

I am not sure of the current source for the bare blanks at this time.

Roger

I know you'll get all different ideas. I've built several Castaway BB1's and BB2's. One of the reasons I like the Castaway blanks is the Moderate action. I would urge you to talk with your customer and ask him why he wants a fast action. I usually can't get an answer other than that's what they've always used. Gary Klein is well known for fishing jigs and he strongly prefers a moderate (parabolic) action. The reason is lost fish at the boat.
I would suggest a balancing weight for the butt. A flippin stick for punching and large jigs gets very tiring. A balanced rod feels lighter and is much easier to fish.
The castaway BB2 is a great blank and very sensitive.

Todd

I haven’t measured a BB2 but I have measured both of the FS blanks you have listed and a BB1. The BB1 is definitely faster than either of the other 2 you have listed, it comes down to different definitions of fast and moderate, it is also slightly less powerful. All of the blanks you have listed are great blanks, but if it is a broomstick you want I would probably go with the BB2.

My choice would definitely be the BB2. I also don't want a fast action for a heavy jig rod.

J.B.Hunt
Bowling Green, KY

Customer preferences using words are very difficult to use when selecting blanks.

Tell him to bring the one he likes to you -

Put your rod blanks on a duplicator board and check them out for action and power'

Here is what you will find -

More valuable then the words of fast and extra fast.

The photo is Forhan/Klein finsihed rod and the BB2 blank. BB2 on Top / Forhan/Klein finished flip stick on bottom under same same load.

[www.rodbuilding.org]

Anybody that asked for an extra fast broomstickn for bass fishing would probably turn the rod into a multipiece on his hook set!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/15/2011 03:57PM by Bill Stevens.

Thanks for all the input. I was actually leaning towards the BB2 as I am most familiar with this blank and it has proven to work in this application. What I failed to mention was that he lives out of state so putting a rod in his hands and or looking at a rod he like is out of the question. I am also a fan of a little slower action for this application but without building on the other blanks and respecting his F action request I wanted to do a little research.

Scott