Hey guys i am new here and for the most part to rod building also. i am a bass fisherman and 20 or so years ago bought a rod from Cabelo's called a "Mag Touch". The rod had no handle, the butt end of the blank flared out in the last foot or so and you just taped your reel to the rod. i really loved the rod but i broke it :-( and when i went to get a new one they no longer sold it. About ten years ago my wife found a Fenwick blank just like it at a local tackle shop. So i added guides and had my favorite rod back. Well needless to say i broke that one yesterday. i say all this to ask do any of you here know of a rod blank that is like the one i described or should i find a new favorite rod? i can post a pic of the butt end(as that is all i have left) if that would help out.

Thanks for any input you guys can give me-Chris

Chris,

I don't know of any blanks that will fit the bill, but there are a couple of options out there. I believe that Airrus rods has something along those lines, but integrates a reel seat into the design. The other option is to use a grip make of carbon fiber sleeving or carbon tubing. Steve Gardner has perfected the technique that will allow you to use carbon sleeving without an arbor, though many use designs where a light rigid foam arbor is covered with the sleeving. The carbon tubing is a bit heavier, but will only require a few short arbors depending on the length of the handle.

When using the tubing or sleeving, I like to make a split TN handle where the reel is mounted on a section just long enough to fill the hand and allow the thumb and forefinger to wrap around the blank with a 2.5"-3.5" butt grip. Like Steve, I wrap the reel on with thread and finish like a guide wrap.

Joe

I wouldn't stress too much.

Do some searching to find a blank that matches, or comes close, to the feel you liked in that rod. Then build it with a Tennessee handle if that's the style you like. No problem.

Depending on the break you may be able to repair it, so don't throw it away. Check the library for instructions. I've repaired three rods with the external sleeve method and they work fine, and the repairs even look OK.
'

That would be a great idea Michael except that the other end of the rod ended up in the river. i have resigned myself to look for a new favorite rod. Been lookin at St. Croix, they have a few that might fit the bill.