Has anyone built one of these beautiful blue blanks? I am curious as to what types of line and what weights are working best. I built the thing thinking it was a 9 weight and it seems stouter than that. One person familiar with the blank told me that at 9 weight, it goes off the charts and you will need up to a 350 grain sinking line to make it perform.

Thanks,

Tony

There is no standard definition for what constitutes a "9-weight" fly rod. What you have is indeed a 9-weight by the manufacturer's listing and it will indeed cast some amount of 9-weight line very well. That's the thing - you have to figure out how much 9-weight line it was designed to hold beyond the tip for optimal loading.

Most manufacturers label their saltwater fly rods differently than their freshwater models. For instance, the exact same blank you have may be listed as a 10-weight (or higher) in a freshwater model, but due to the longer distances expected to be cast when used in saltwater they drop the number a bit, usually one or two line sizes.

If they offered CCS ERN numbers for the blanks, you'd know at a glance what it would take. Failing that, you're going to have to rely upon the experience of those who may have tried one, but even then, when they tell you what line worked for them, you're going to have to ask "at what distance" in order to have that information do you any good.

...............

Tom-

Agreed. Just seeing what experience folks may have had.

Thanks!

Tony

Dry fly fishermen (may their tribe increase) frequently wish to try the salt - nine weights, etc. Most dry fly anglers do not double-haul or wish to do so. This makes it difficult to give even accomplished dry fly anglers advice about fly fishing the salt.

best thing to do is try to locate several lines
Maybe a sporting store near you may let you cast several
A friend or friends that fly fish may be able to let you try some lines
St Croix is usually good on there line weight

But as said the only way to tell what line works well for the way you cast is to put them on the rod and cast it

Good luck

Bill - willierods.com

The line will depend upon how you intend to fish the rod. Many salt water approaches require getting down deep, this of course will require a heavy sinking line, and for a nine weight, 350 or 400 grain is not at all unusual.

I do not fish St. Croix rods, but the nine weight I use fishes well with 9 wt sinking lines, but requires a 10 wt floater to load properly.

Used one for albie season this year. Loaded with SA 350 grain line. Great rod for what I use it for.

Todd-

Someone else told me the same thing.

Thanks,

Tony

I'll look at one of the other reels I sometimes use on it that has a floater. Pretty sure it is a Rio SW clouser 9wt. That clouser taper is tough to beat.

Thanks, Todd.

St. Crox told me they tested the blanks with the SA Saltwater.