I'm looking to build a swimbait rod for a customer capable of handling hard bodied swimbaits in the 2-4 oz range (Spro BBZ 6" for example). His requirments are that he wants it to have a parabolic bend similar to a crankbait rod and that "it doesn't feel like fishing with a broomstick". After looking, I'm leaning toward the SW967. Has anyone built on this blank and would you think that it meets his requiremnets? Living in Georgia where the closest supplier is 500 miles away, it's hard looking through catalogs and internet pages to determine the perfect blank without actually holding it in your hands. I've by no means settled on this blank, so if anyone has any other suggestions, I'm open to hear them.
Thanks,

Joel Smith

Also call Lance at Swampland he has some interesting blanks.

There is an extensive review of that blank at www.calfishing.com

I would look at this blank

Batsons;
ISWB945 7’10” rated for 2-6 oz baits Fast action med/heavy blank.

Is also great for throwing Alabama rigs,
Some comments about the blank and the next heavier ISW946 in this thread from 2011
I think 967 is a little over kill for the weights he will be throwing

I agree with Steve. I think the 7 power would be an over kill. I have built on the 945 and the 946 for throwing the A Rigs and they work great. From my experience with these blanks, the 945 is better for throwing 2-6 oz baits.

J.B.Hunt
Bowling Green, KY

Hi Joel,

I built the Batson ISWB 945 last winter based on Steve Gardner's post. I threw A rigs with it the rest of the winter, and early spring. Iit is great. I saw you are in Georgia. I live in Lawrencville, northeast of Atlanta. If you are close you are welcome to see it.

Bert Nagy

Thanks for the replys. Bert, I'm in Covington so we're probably no more than 45 minutes apart. I would love to see that rod sometime. I build rods for Randall Kirkpatrick's High Power Herring swimbait. A friend of his saw his rod and wants one that'll throw 2-4 oz baits but still wants that crankbait parabolic bend, if that makes sense. Trying to stay away from glass since weight is somewhat of a factor for him. My email is joeltiffany@BellSouth.net if you have any more input. Thanks to all for your input.

i built the SW1087 for plugging for stripers and love it. ive caught some big fish on this rod and it will throw small baits as well as big baits. i know its not the 967 but i would think being in the same line it would work for what you want it too do. i used the NGC and Fuji K Guides and it casts amazing.

Like Andrew said the SW 967 and 1087 are nothing like the ISW swimbait blanks mentioned by others. I have built many "Do Anything" rods for the Pacific Northwest's larger species out of both the 1 and 2 piece models. If you've seen the video at the calfishing site, I think you'll see the rod under fishing conditions has just about perfect characteristics for what you discribed. A very sensitive and versatile blank, and I know BBZs have been fished on this blank.