G'day Guys,

I've been asked to investigate building a 6kg Tuna rod and having never built anything that light, I'm struggling with blank selection. The rod would be used with a Shimano Tiagra 12 to fish 6kg line class for possible records. Fishing method would be trolling lures and fighting would be done standup. I guess I'm looking at probably 6'6" rod length.

None of the blank manufacturers that I would normally head for when looking at Tuna blanks (Seeker, Calstar) make anything this light in their tuna range.

What else would be suitable? I'm thinking maybe some of the inshore/popping offerings may work although I suspect they will be too light in the tip for pulling lures. Has anyone built a game rod like this and what blank did you use? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Jason

If I read you right That is 13.22 LB test line
Try here
[northeastrodbuilders.com]

Bill - willierods.com

You might look at a light BackBouncing blank, or even one of the various Hot Shot models. The BB blanks will be more stout in the tip area so which might work better will depend on what it is you're going to be pulling.

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

Jason,
you are probably not looking in the correct areas. Check out these IGFA blanks.

[www.mudhole.com]

Regards,
Todd Vivian
Mud Hole Custom Tackle

todd@mudhole.com

Reading the wright up along with the rods blanks

How is it possible to pull in a 200 LB tuna on such light line ?????

Bill - willierods.com

G'day Guys,

Thanks for your input.

Bill, yes I am talking about 13lb line and I think you would be very lucky to land a tuna of 200lb on 6kg. The Australia record for Southern Bluefin on 6kg is 21.68kg for adults.

Tom, I'll have a lok at hotshot/backbounce blanks. Thanks for your suggestion.

Todd, I'm not sure an IGFA blank will work really well as a standup rod but I'll have a look at the specs again and consider ti as a possibility.

Cheers

Jason

A 49# tuna on 6kg line is quite possible as long as the water isn't too deep. IMHO a lot depends on what you need to troll. That will determine the tip strength needed. I'd be inclined to look at a composite or S-glass live bait blank. Should be a little more forgiving of a quick surge/run. Thinking something like gf8000xl/gf800l.

Russ in Hollywood, FL.

G'day Russell,

Thanks for your suggestion. I reckon they are getting close. As you suggest, the tip strength for trolling will be the thing I need to look at closely.

Cheers

Jason

I would lean to the GF700xl (Calstart Graphiter) and trim it from the butt to 6'6". Or maybe in the Seeker line a CLBF704 trimmed.

Either way, I'd trim from the butt...maybe an inch from the tip, but the rest from the butt end.

It is certainly doable...you just have to get away from the "tuna" blanks and think outside the box.