I have a need to build a crappie rod for bank fishing 2 / 3 / 4 , pice rod about 8 FT long steer me in the right direction please as I am lost on this type of rod

Bill

You might want to consider one of the lighter 2-piece steelhead blanks (possibly trimming it from the butt to get your length), you should be able to find something light enough with the action your looking for.

I haven't built on these but you might consider Phenix FX 801.2 / FX 802.2 also.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/15/2013 02:21PM by John E Powell.

You could also build on a fly rod blank. I build a lot of custom bluegill rods, and build most of them on fly rod blanks. Probably a 5-weight would be about right for what you're wanting to do.

Just finished a Phenix rod in the Elixir series. I used a 7 1/2'. Might work for what you need. I was very impressed with this blank, very light and "crisp".

My favorite panfish rod, with which I've caught bass over 3 pounds, walleye about the same, is built on a 3 weight Amtak 7 1/2 foot fly blank. I'm a real fan of slower actions for rods like this-they cast light lures very well, set the hook fine, and don't tear out of tender mouths. Depending on the length you want, there probably are some "steelhead" rods that might work, but many of those are a lot like fly blanks, too. My three weight loads nicely with very light lures, if you are looking for more than 1/8 oz, you may want to go up in fly weight. Someone here should be able to remember the appox right fly weight for different lure weights when built as a spin? I think it's something like 1/4 oz = 8 wt, 1/8 = 4 weight? Now that I've printed it someone will have to correct me:)

To get you in the ball park put the line wt over 16 as a fraction to get an ( idea ) of the lure weight it will use

Bill - willierods.com