I'd like to hear from anyone familiar with CTS blanks, especially in lengths and powers suitable for freshwater spinning and casting rods. They have a lot of colors to choose from but how do they compare weight, strength and sensitivity wise?

They're very nice blanks. About as good as anything around. Nicely finished as well.

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I'm only familiar with their fly rod blanks, but they are second to none!! I haven't weighed mine, but when using the same guide train, handle configuration, and reel seat hardware, that I put on virtually all of my rods - the balance point is further back towards the butt - indicating a lighter tip than other rods built on other blanks. Exceptional finish - the best I've seen to date. This is very apparent when I show a rod built on a CTS to a prospective customer and they spend more time glossing over the blank than they do the grip or thread art!

Hi,

I build on the ES, and @#$%& series for my salt water customers. The people appreciate the light weight of the blanks, the sensitivity and ability to take in big fish.

The CTS company will build blanks to your design. I have taken advantage of this opportunity and am very please with the results as well as my customers.

Capt Neil Faulkner

I've built a few, I believe EB 843-3 blank. 7 ft., 3 piece, for people I go the Alaska with, with the light X Fast tip they work on anything from the 12+ inch trout to all the salmon except maybe the big Chinooks. Lure size is the biggest restriction for fishing pike, etc. They are one of the blanks that you don't have to wrap the ferrules if you choose not to.

This past March I built myself a 11' , 3-6 oz. Vaportrail. Its a one peice blank for throwing big baits, which it does very well.

Dennis J. Danku
(Sayreville,NJ)

Mike,
What you really want to be concerned about is the "swing weight" of a rod - or "weight-in-the-hand".

I am more familiar with CTS fly rod blanks - since that is my area of expertise - The swing weight (weight in the hand) of a 9'0" Affinity-X #10 is lower than a Sage 9'0" Xi3 #8.

The absolute weight of the "X" is heavier than the Sage Xi3 - but does not feel that way.

Also - there is the factor of durability of the ferrule system. The CTS blanks do not require that a builder wrap their ferrules. Not so with other manufacturers.
One of my customers is so secure in that fact that he just ordered a 5pc, 12', Vapor Trail spinning blank.
Regards,
Herb Ladenheim
Distrib. CTS Fly Rod Blanks.
Sponsor - Rodbuilder.org



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/25/2013 06:34PM by Herb Ladenheim.

Hi Mike,

Where are you going to get the blanks from? Can you buy them in Canada or the US?

[hnlcustomflyrods.com]

Bill - willierods.com