I am a little out my comfort zone here as i only build about 4 or 5 fly rods a year.
A buddy wants a 3/4 weight in 9ft and 4 pieces.
No shiny/gloss finished blanks, natural graphite: its for a very specific technique in crystal clear waters and even then the guides will be smoke with matt poly instead of epoxy.
He would settle for 8.5 ft but really would prefer 9.
Other than a SAGE( $500-Ouch) I cannot find something he wants.
He knows what he is doing with fly rods so I have few reservations about building what he is asking for.
Most blanks i see are 7.5 ft.
I tried Anglers Roost, blanks too short or too longs at 11ft plus or too few pieces.
Get a 4/5 or 6/7 SPEY and throw away some butt section/s?
IM6 would be fine.

In the MHX series, we have either the F903-4-MHX or F904-4-MHX. The blank has a slate grey finish, no gloss. Both are 9' - 4 pc. blanks, in either 3 or 4 wt.

Bob McKamey
Mud Hole Custom Tackle
bobm@mudhole.com

The MHX blanks are a good choice. Rainshadow has their RX7 model in a 8'6" 4 piece 3 weight, just to compare.

Terry

The MHX blanks are a good choice. Rainshadow has their RX7 model in a 8'6" 4 piece 3 weight, just to compare.

Terry

North Fork offers two 4wt blanks in an 8'6" four-piece design ... one moderate action and one fast action. They are natural sanded graphite, no finish at all. Best of all, Made in the USA and designed by Gary Loomis.

[northforkcomposites.com]

Karen @ Bingham carries the line AND the retail on those blanks is half the price of the Sage blank you mentioned.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 06/19/2012 09:26AM by Jim Gamble.

Plenty of choices out there in a matte finished blank, Mud Hole has the MHX, Batson RX-7, Pac Bay Tradition II and CTS (they have several models that each have a specific taper and all come in matte). North Fork Comp also makes a 4wt.

You can also take a XFine 3M pad to a blank he likes for a matt finish. My priority would be the technique specific blank, everything else is doable.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/19/2012 10:13AM by Spencer Phipps.

Any on IM6 you guys can think of?

IM6 should not be an issue. It really doesn't tell you a lot about the blank. You need to find our what he will be using it for and what action he wants, i.e. fast, medium fast, medium. These are all subjective terms but if he is a knowlegeable fly fisherman, he should be able to give you a good idea of what he wants. All of the options I know of have been mentioned, except the Batson Rainshadow RX8, which is a fast action rod.

Bob, i know what he is using it for. I do it too but use a 7/8 with him.
Toughness/Ruggedness and no shiny is the main criteria.
He can cast anything so action not a problem.He will adjust to it, unlike me who can battle with the fly rod.
Its not distance casting, its sneaking into clear water and dropping small lures onto bedding fish through and over limbs. He holds a few record for several countries and its always on lightest line etc.

Forecast F904-4 ... 9'0", 4-piece, 4wt, IM6. Yes, it is a blue gloss finish ... but nothing that citrus stripper or MEK can't take care of. Underneath that bright exterior is a really dull interior that meets the bill. It is a very inexpensive blank and tougher than dirt. Call Karen @ Bingham, she carries the Batson lineup and can get one out to you. IMO, you can't possibly go wrong. Do your stripper test(s) in the grip area. If it works to your satisfaction, you are golden. If not, you haven't harmed a thing AND you can build a little 4wt for another purpose/person.

Bob McKamey Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> In the MHX series, we have either the F903-4-MHX
> or F904-4-MHX. The blank has a slate grey
> finish, no gloss. Both are 9' - 4 pc. blanks, in
> either 3 or 4 wt.

Bob beat me to it.

CTS, Affinity X, fast ultra light, best feeling, most lively blanks you can find, half the price of Sage, comes in bare sanded carbon finish. Available through Herb Ladenheim.
JC

Batson XF904-4, MHX F904-4 are great choices. If 8'6 is ok, then the NFC is another fantastic option.