Im looking for a blank that will match the action and power of an American Rodsmith rod. It is a 6'9" tops and tails model, 8-14 line, 1/16-1/2oz lure rod from their titanium series. Seems to have a moderate action but there site just rates it as medium/light. There's a good bit of bend to it. I don't know if medium/light means moderate fast or just moderate. Does anybody know this rod and maybe suggest a 7' blank? I could just try to match by the specs but I would rather hear from somebody that might have firsthand experiance. Cheap/expensive, doesn't matter, I just need to know what would be a close match. Thanks.

Jay,
"Medium/light" is in reference to power while "moderate/moderate fast" is a reference to action. Two different animals altogether. It's rated at medium/light because it handles 1/16 to 1/2 oz. lures. You say it appears to have a "good bit" of bend to it so it could probably well be a moderate or moderate fast action. That being said, all these terms are relative. What AR rates as medium light may be rated as light or medium elsewhere so you're correct that matching the specs would be less than optimal. The best way to match a blank, that I've found, is by comparing the blanks side by side. Bobby Feazel came out with a handy-dandy, spic and spandy little gadget for that a little while back but I don't know where you can find one today. If you'll really want one, Lance at Swampland can probably put you on it. He could probably also suggest a blank close to what you're' looking for. If you want a 7 footer that is comparable to that one, look at the Castaway 843P popping blank. The lure range on it is different (1/4 to 1/2) but I think you'll find it similar.

i have a few of the original allstar blanks like you are talking about and they make some nice rods... take a look at the castaway 813...it is what you are talking about...if you want a 7' blank then look at an 843 popping blank...

Jay,
Take the rod with you to a blank or built up rod shop.
Check all of the blanks / rods in the shop until you get a match.

There are many many rods out there that can all be quite similar in action and power. Test and match.

Roger

Put the rod on a test fixture and measure it, then find a blank to match. With no test fixture you are shooting in the dark and you could spend a lifetime wiggling blanks and guessing. With a test fixture you will know the power (weight in grams or pennies to deflect 1/3 of blank length or working length) and deflection angle (action). Not rocket science, but science. Way better than the guessing game. I measure every blank and customer repair rod that I can get my hands on!

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

The Castaway 843P popping blank mentioned above would be good. Any popping blank rated up to 1/2 oz. lure and moderate to fast action will match it so closely you won't be able to tell a difference fishing with it. You can trim from the butt to match the length if you wish.

Thanks for the responses to all. I understand that medium light is a reference to power, but that is what their website has listed under action, didn't make any sense.. That was my main reason coming here to ask if anybody was familiar with that rod. Also, I don't live close enough to a place that has rod building supplies to go compare blanks. For that reason, I come to you good folks. Seems like the suggestion for a popping blank has been brought up several times, so that is the direction I will go.

Jay most graphite popping blanks are moderate action same as cranking blanks - tops and tails rods require fast action blanks fast action.

The ML pertains to the power - most of the time it will be reflected by a three power in most rod carrying that weight range.

The action of the blank is fast - most competitive graphite blanks for jerk and topwater rods are fast. action.

The Castaway XP 813 at 6' 9" or the Castaway 822 at 6' 10"are almost identical in power and action to your range.

The word description of the 813 is medium and the 822 is medium light.

Use the [www.swamplandtackle.com]- give us a call and we can assist you in getting the rod blank desired.

We use both of the above blanks for tops and tail for inshore guides signature rods..

There is another option on the table that produces an extremely valuable tops and tails blank.

Take a look at the RF Legacy Elite described in this link: - at the end of the text you wil see a load test comparison and see how the matching of blanks referred to in the above posts is done. [www.swamplandtackle.com]
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