I am trying to find a 8 or 9 wt blank that is only 7'6". It's for a 9yo girl to use for fishing sockeye on the Kenai river. I thought about cutting down a 10wt but feel that it wouldn't work since I'd be cutting the strongest part of the rod off. Does anyone out there manufacture a true 7'6" 8wt graphite blank? Or would I have to look for a spinning blank to use?

She has a 9' 8wt that is used for coho and chum, but it's too much to use for any length of time when flipping for sockeye.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Carl

try a popping blank

I finsh reds on the Kenai all the time so i know what you are looking for. If you cut anything off of the rod to make it shorter cut off the tip. As you know reds on the Kenai run big and with the current you need a lot of rod. One thing you may want to look at is a spinning or casting blank. Again i would lean towards a stiffer rod. I have never seen anyone on the Kenai wish they had a softer rod and many that did not come with enough rod and had issues.

Kevin Gross
Many men will spend their whole life wondering if they made a difference. Marines dont have that problem - Ronald Regan

X2 with Mr Timberlake. Have built 2 piece popping rod blanks from Batson and discontinued Lamiglas blanks for short fly rods for some years.

Since there is basically no casting involved, I agree with the idea of using a popping blank. The extra backbone will be welcome and the shorter length will require less strength to fight a fish in the current. Once she get a bit older and stronger, she can just use the 8 wt she has now.

I was eating some of my sockeye just last night and already looking forward to next year!

Carl,
The only fly rods I'm aware of are the bass series from Sage and the Predator from Reddington.
These are 8' however and I've not seen the bare blanks.
St Croix 2SW76LM Light would be the closest I see in the catalogs. Closer to a 9 weight.

If you need a blank that length and weight, use a 10 to 12 weight blank, cut the butt off to the size you need and the rod should cast the weight line that she wishes to cast. Using a heavier weight blank and cutting off the butt end will bring the casting weight down considerably. May not be ideal, but should work.

you need zero casting qualities in a rod for reds. You dont cast for them as they run within just a few feet from shore. I seldom if ever have more than 8-9ft of line out from rod tip to my sinker. Backbone is essential. Tough is essential. I would not spend a lot on a red blank. You just waste money by doing so. I have seen the Kenai reds break MANY rods in my day and i have seen guys almost cry when their 600.00 dollar rod snaps

Kevin Gross
Many men will spend their whole life wondering if they made a difference. Marines dont have that problem - Ronald Regan

kevin gross Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> you need zero casting qualities in a rod for reds.
> You dont cast for them as they run within just a
> few feet from shore. I seldom if ever have more
> than 8-9ft of line out from rod tip to my sinker.
> Backbone is essential. Tough is essential. I would
> not spend a lot on a red blank. You just waste
> money by doing so. I have seen the Kenai reds
> break MANY rods in my day and i have seen guys
> almost cry when their 600.00 dollar rod snaps


Kevin-You are right on. I fished the Kenai this past summer for reds with a buddy and his extended family. In his sister's family the boys each broke a Sage rod, their dad broke a Reddington rod and then broke a TFO rod---that he had borrowed from me. I have never seen such carnage in such a short time. Now I will say my buddy and I didn't break a single rod in 7 days of almost non-stop fishing. For Kenai reds, cheap and tough is the way to go.

Thanks for all the input everyone! I've decided to try using a 2 pc popping/inshore rod for the blank. It sounds like the option that will provide the length and strength I need without breaking the piggy bank or feeling like a broom handle. The shorter length should help in being able to maneuver the rod during a fight and prevent her wearing out too fast. The St Croix was out of the price range, but MHX has one with similar numbers that is half the price. I'll look some more and maybe find some more to consider. It's not like it needs to be ready before June.

I'm not too worried about it breaking, it's a forgone conclusion. The kid is a good fishergirl, but ALOT of things happen on that river. Foulhooked fish bolting into the current, 5/8 oz sinkers hitting the blanks, and highsticking kills most of the rods I've seen break on those waters. Plain old accidents claim the rest. A nice supply of circle hooks should help prevent foulhooking fish, so that alone will go a long way in reducing the risks.

She has aleady lost one rod there. Her cotton candy pink rod with purple wraps was shattered in a van side door this summer. She still has her alpha II reel loaded with pink/purple flyline, however. The illusion colored guides will live on in the new rod.

Carl