Looking to build a rod for a stradic 8000 for general purpose salt water boat use in Miami area. Customer states he wants performance but must be rugged enough for the “grandkids”. For his conventional builds I used a triflex. I wanted to use St. Croix for the spinner but I’m not sure I’d want to hand one to a “grandkid”.

What would you guys recommend? Figure 20 to 30# test, anything from bottom fishing to drifting live baits to occasional trolling. Fish would be dolphin, kingfish, blackfin, sailfish, snapper and grouper.

Russ in Hollywood, FL.

i would think a composite live bait blank would work fine and not break the bank. batson, amtak, seeker, etc all make nice ones that should fit the bill with a light tip and plenty of backbone

Hello Russell

I built a Seeker GTS70L for the same jobs and it worked out nice but it is a bit pricey for "Grand Kids" so I would go to my backup Gator: B12-40L, 12-40#, 7' .92 butt, 9 tip,med-fast. live bait rod.
It's as tough as they come and cheep (around $25.00).

Have Fun with the Grand Kids!!

Bob,

New Bern, NC.

I just built 4 inshore Lites for a guy and his 3 kids. He's fishing Nantucket with 6000 sized spinning reels form a 28' Regulator. I built a buddy of his 3 of them a few years back, so for teh fishing they are doin gthose rods worked. As Bob stated they are a little bit on teh "expensive" side for young kids.

Lookat the Batson RCLB70L or XL or SWB 70MH or 70H Composite blanks and not too bad on the Wallet

Batson for a budget and the kids.
Try something in the SWS series. Maybe 70M or MH

There was a company that made a graphite rod they claimed could be run over with a truck - I think it was Graphite USA. I think the series was DHX. I don't know if they are still around.