I would like to build a rod that is easy to load, has a sensitive tip, can cast 3or 4 oz. a long way and has enough backbone to handle a large fish in heavy current. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Hi Joe
13 ft. 2 pc 3-4LBS Carp blanks.
Best regards Mark Crouse- The Munich Rod Man

Two great choices are the Lamiglas GSB 156 2M and GSB 168 2ML.

GSB 156 2M, 13', Lure 3 to 5 ounces
GSB 168 2ML, 14' Lure 2 to 4 ounces
The backbone is excellent.
The tip is moderate fast

GSB blanks are usually easy casting.
I have cast the prototypes for both of these rods to 200 yards. Casting to about 175 is easy. Reaching 200 takes (me) some persistence.

The 168 is being sold in Hawaii and is not yet listed nationally. You could purchase from a tackle shop in Hawaii, buy directly from Lamiglas, or do a special order from a tackle shop in your area. The 156 is listed nationally.

Don

Don Becker

Batson Sur 1385 or 1386 Both are great Blanks. I have two 1386's and have built 5-6 for other people here for large Striped bass

Thank you for your reply. The GSB156 is in the G1000 series. I am familiar with these and like them very much. However the 156 seems a little lite. How would you compare it with the ISU132MH?

Model, Length, Sections, Line, Lure, Butt Diameter, Average weight
ISU 132 2MH, 11’, 2, 17-40, 3-8, .920, 9, 7 ¼
GSB 156 2M, 13’, 2, 25, 2-5, 1.065, 9, 14 1/8

Hi Joe,
These two blanks are really in different categories. I did not have two blanks to compare and compared a finished GSB 156 2M against a ISU 132 2MH blank. The first check I did was to put the handles on my shoulders with the tips together on the carpet and bear down gently. Initially, the tip of the 156 was softer than the 132. As I continued the 132 started to bend more into the center of the blank while the 156 was more powerful (less bend) with the increased force.

Here are some numbers that may be of help. As I did not have two blanks to measure, they may seem a little random. The numbers are the diameters of the blank or rod in mm.

Distance from butt (in inches), GSB 156 2M, ISU 132 2MH
14” – 24.9 – 20.3
28” – 23.1 – 18.4
40” –21.3 – 16.4
55” – 19.5 – 14.1
72” – 17.3 – 12.7
94” – 15.6 – 9.3
108” – 12.7 – 7.4
132” – 7.7 – 4.6
144” – 5.8
155” – 4.1

“ However the 156 seems a little lite. How would you compare it with the ISU132MH?”
The 156 is longer, easier casting, and has a stronger backbone. If you are looking at the lure ratings, I believe they could be a little misleading. The 156 is good in the 3 to 5 ounce casting range.

Hope this helps,
Don

Don Becker

Since I am fishing from a bank not a beach that blank is too long. Other than that I am totally confused. I was more concerned about the line rating than the lure weight. I started checking my rods and there seems to be no relation between rod rating and there ability to handle fish. I have a berkley IM-7 that is rated extra heavy and is wimpy inspite of it being rated 2-8 oz and 20-80lb.test. I also have a Loomis that is rated 1-5oz. 15-40 lb test and casts like a dream but is also wimpy with a decent fish. The Kenai KIng Killer and Force seem to be the calliber of rod I would like in both quickness and the ability to handle a decent fish. Do they make a blank of that type in a longer surf rod? The best rod I have is a Breakaway, but is a little slower than I would like. I do not know which blank. Can you recomend some book that explains the physics behind rod building so I can be able to converse on an intelegent level?

Line vs lure vs power

Two quotes from the Lamiglas website:

“Lure ratings provide a range of lure weights in which optimum performance is achieved. Using a lure that is lighter than the listed weight will not properly load the rod, casting distance and sensitivity will suffer. Using a lure that is heavier than the listed weight will overpower the rod. Again, distance and sensitivity will suffer, along with the compounded problem of overstressing the blank fibers.”

“The individual characteristics built into each and every Lamiglas rod highlight the rod’s intended use. As a part of that, the strength and flex of the blank is balanced to the recommended line ratings. A Lamiglas rod is rated so that when the rod is held at a 45-degree angle or less, line within the rating will break before the rod does. Angles greater than 45-degrees transfer undue stress to the tip section of the rod (practically eliminating the ability of the stronger butt section to carry any load), and in extreme cases can result in rod failure with as little as 2 pounds of directed pressure. It is not only proper use that requires a rod angle of 45-degrees or less, but this is also the area where you’ll find the greatest power from the rod and best control over the fish.”

Power is often dependent upon the rods intended use. The same rod used for two different species would have different power ratings.

“The best rod I have is a Breakaway, but is a little slower than I would like.”
Could you identify the blank/rod?

“casts like a dream but is also wimpy with a decent fish”
Some manufactures try to appease customer’s desire for slim handles. To accomplish this task the wall thickness must be increased. This results in a heavier handle that is more bendable.

Here are a couple of blanks that may meet your needs. The prices will be higher than the ISU or GSB blanks.
SSU 120 2MH, 10’, 2 sections, line 17-40, lure 2-6, diameter .968, tip 7.5, weight 7 11/16
SSU 132 2MH, 11’, 2 sections, line 20-40, lure 4-8, diameter 1.080, tip 8, weight 10 3/16

A desire was stated to cast a long distance. As such, the rod lure ratings lowest end should be approximately the desired casting weight. The ISU 132 2MH, SSU 132 2MH, or possibly the GSB 132 2M would be good choices for an 11 foot rod to cast 4 ounces the best distance. For optimum distance, the effective length of the rod and response of the tip (and handle) are important. The effective length is the length from the tip to the butt during the cast. This will determine lure velocity. Response will be the unloading of stored energy of the rod into generating the lures final velocity and starting the spool (for a conventional reel).

“Can you recommend some book that explains the physics behind rod building so I can be able to converse on an intelligent level?”
Not really. I feel that the skills and craftsmanship of the designer are paramount in construction. For some dated but relevant information you may want to obtain a digital copy of “The Beach Fisherman’s Tackle Guide” by John Holden.

Don

Don Becker

I believe the Breakaway is made with a Batson RX7 blank.
SSU132MH 11' 20 -40 line 4-8oz. 8 tip 103/16 oz.
GSB132M 11' 20-40 line 3-8oz 11tip 10/8 oz.
ISU132MH 11' 17-40line 3-8oz. 9 tip 7 1/4 oz..
I realize you get what you pay for and that the SSU is the best blank, I just don't understand why. I also like the fact that the Lamiglas rod that is made for braided line uses this blank. I generally use 65lb. power pro or tuff line. Would this put too much strain on this blank?