Always wondered if you were stranded on a desert island and were allowed to take one fishing rod with you what would you pick? For me it's a no brainer, I'd take a 30 year old 7 foot ugly stik with double foot stainless steel guides and SiC inserts (no easily bent titanium framed guides here). To me their the closest thing ever to an all purpose rod, you can use them out of a boat off the rocks or beach an estuary, lake or river and they will perform more then adequately. To boot there virtually inestructable and teamed with 20lb braid you can stop a seious fish with one.
What a shame Shakespeare stopped offering their blanks for sale as I'm sure many of you guys could build some wonderful rods on them. Much as I like a lot of the new graphite blanks these things are hard to beat and the've been around for along time. For me a couple of my all time favourite rods have been built on them
Very interested in everyones opinion.
ESFNEM Col



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/19/2011 05:50AM by Col Chaseling.

Col -
You might want to check Gator blanks from Mudhole. Very similar to Shakespear Ugly Sticks (black with clear tip - on some models)

If stranded on a desert island I expect my best chances for catching fish are at the surf.
So I would bring the rod I recently built on a 12 ft Tommy Farmer blank set up for spinning in the concept layout.
It's matched with a Van Staal VS 200 loaded with 20# Berkeley Big Game Trilene with a 60# flourocarbon shock leader.
The spare spool has 30# Power Pro with the same type shock leader.
I hope I'd have a large supply of hooks... Gamakatsu or Owner #5 - #7 Octopus would be great.
There are quite a few other items I would hate to be without.. a machete and a Remington 12 Gauge in stainless steel would help me stay calm.

Am I allowed to bring a girlfriend?
Are Winnebago's allowed?
Can I invite Club Med to move in next door?

Do steelhead run near this island? If not I may be in trouble. Oh yea and I do not eat fish. So I guess for me I would take the longest heaviest rod I could find so I could knock fruit off the tree.

How about a coffee can to put my fist in and wind mono around to cast, and some spark plugs for sinkers? The coffee can could do double duty and be used to cook my fish as well.

Eric

LOL

Rog