I've got a customer from Oregon who is receiving a rod from me as a gift. He's not a hard core fisherman but likes to get out when he can. He mostly shore fishes for 10" to 12" rainbow and cutthroat trout with a 6', 2 piece, medium action rod. He prefers 2 piece since it's easier to get around in the brush. He might be open to a longer 3 piece rod but I haven't confirmed that yet.

I can try to emulate what he's already using since he seems to like that rod. However, I'd like to improve on what he's using. I'm in Minnesota so it's not practical to try and CCS his current rod. Just hoping someone here can give me a better idea of what setups are used out there for the type of fishing he does.

Thanks,
Chad Huderle

Huderle Custom Rods
Prior Lake, MN

I use a 9' 4 wt for that size fish. Have a friend uses an 8' 3wt. I am going to build a 3 wt probably 7 or 8 ft for some of the brushier streams I fish. Both rods make a 12" rainbow or Cutt feel a lot bigger than they are. If he likes the 6" make him a 3 wt. My 4 wt is on a tazon blank. I just built a 6wt on a forecast I really like the action it is very close to the talon and a lot less money for the blank. Both medium action.

Bruce, thanks for the reply. My bad, I neglected to state he uses spinning gear.

Thanks,
Chad Huderle

Huderle Custom Rods
Prior Lake, MN

Fellow Oregonian here. I prefer a nice L-ML 7' rod for banking it for trout. That little extra length will sometimes get your gear a little further than the next guy, plus a little extra length to lift the fish over shoreline weeds etc.

I'm from Oregon too. There is no problem taking a 3 or 4 weight fly blank and making it a spinner. It's just a different handle. I do it all the time. And when i finally recoop from the show I have to build the same thing for a friends girlfriend.

I am in Idaho and fish from shore. The areas I fish, you never know what you will catch rangeing from Bluegill/Crappie/Bass to small trout that range from 10" to 20", to Cat fish. I built a friend that fishes the same area a Batson SB720-4. I liked the feel of the finished rod so much that I am building one for myself.

Mike Bradfrod
R.M.B. Fishing Rods
Nampa, Idaho

I'm kind of leaning towards to Batson ISP783F.

Thanks,
Chad Huderle

Huderle Custom Rods
Prior Lake, MN

Way too heavy/stiff for trout in the 12" range here in Oregon. Pick one of the light trout blanks like the IS781F or the SP781. Both are 6'6" and 2-piece. Also, one of the shorter 4wt fly rod blanks would be a good choice as Steve suggested. Line rating should be in the 2-6lb range.

Terry

Terry Turner Wrote:
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> Pick one of the light trout blanks like the IS781F or the SP781. Both are 6'6" and 2-piece.

I agree with Terry here. Although I'm on the other side of the world here in Tasmania, Australia, I also do a lot of spin fishing for small trout in the streams.
I have never seen either of these blanks, but comparing the specifications to other batson blanks that I've built, I think they would be perfect for this style of fishing. Its likely I will build one of them in the future for myself.

X3 on Terry's recommendation.
Basically for trout in this range a light or an ultra light with slow action is about as perfect as you can have for a rod.

Good luck
Roger

Chad,

Look into the s871-2-mhx. The blank is rated for 2-6 lb UL moderate. In my opinion its a little faster than moderate and the longer the better for bank fishing. I recently built one and its amazing.

Matthew



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 03/04/2012 09:05PM by Matthew Shafer.