A friend has asked me to build a 10 Wt rod for bone fishing, would appreciate guidance from members that have built rods for this application and recommendations on rod length and blanks. I have used CTS blanks for fresh water rods and have been very pleased - open to suggestions I hear good things about Dan Craft- needs to be a four piece rod for travel purposes. My friend is looking for distance and the ability to penetrate the wind more effectively. Thanks

He must be chasing some REALLY big bones. St Croix would be my suggestion. You might want to make sure that he wants a rod that heavy, that's way more than I have ever used for that species.

I agree that 10wt is too much rod for bones. I built a 10 for bones, had a very experienced fisherman say it is too tiring, too much rod, and he was right. I now use an 8 and find it perfect. My original 8 was damaged so I just built another, a Pac Bay Quickline, and I really love it. It is just a little faster and just a little more powerful than the Rainshadow RX8, (according to my CCS measurements) which is what I built my son, and he likes that one fine also. The Quickline is a really handsome blank, and in my opinion, very reasonably priced. When I get to the other computer I'll post a pic and the CCS numbers. By the way, Pac Bay publishes CCS numbers for the Quickline.

Link to photo attached. Other photos are in the photo section under my name. The Quickline CCS was 82 pennies/approx ERN if I'm interpreting the chart right is 9.5, AA + 69

The Rainshadow RX8 was 76 pennies/approx ERN = 9, AA 66. Both were tested as rods, not blanks. Both are very nice rods, but I prefer the Quickline, feels a little more powerful, a little faster, and same or a little less weight. Also, I'm a sucker for gloss black blanks.

[www.rodbuilding.org]

[www.rodbuilding.org]

Here is the Pac Bay published CCS data: [www.fishpacbay.com]

Not far off from mine.

"The Rainshadow RX8 was 76 pennies/approx ERN = 9, AA 66. Both were tested as rods, not blanks. Both are very nice rods, but I prefer the Quickline, feels a little more powerful, a little faster, and same or a little less weight. Also, I'm a sucker for gloss black blanks. "

Which is exactly what the CCS data indicates.

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10wt for Bones is overkill! As mentioned above an 8wt works extremely well, and when fishing for Bones, there is usually wind.

Do a Google Search A 8 - 9 wt is recamended

Bill - willierods.com

Google doesn't fish for bones.. :-)

My personal choice ... 7 weight, 9'6", fast action. An 8 weight is fine, but it isn't necessary AND it makes smaller fish less fun.

What is necessary? A great reel, one with a fabulous drag system. A high quality fly line is important, too. Bones are very wary fish. You need distance, accuracy and stealth.

St Croix has a nice choice, North Fork has another. Both are quality US blanks.

I have made a number of fly rods for bones, snook, and tarpon. One of the features I have put on my rods is a sliding grip of EVA between the foregrip and the first stripper guide. With a short fighting butt and standard casting grip, this can be very useful in fighting a fish of that type. Mark Sosin, when I showed it to him really took to the idea. It was at the '84 AFTMA show. Make a short 4"-5" grip of EVA that is looser than the rod than can slide up and down about 12". When fighting a fish it will grip the blank where ever you wish.

I would stick with a CTS Blank, an Affinity X in either 7 or 8wt. More on the side of the 8wt. CTS blanks are in my opinion the best.

What your friend may really need is some casting lessons. Bones are weary fish and it is going to be windy. Not many anglers are really ready for this and some good old casting lessons will make the trip much more pleasurable.

A 10wt is overkill.

What Bill says. The arm is what counts most, a good 8wt is nice, but good loop shape and line speed is better achieved through instruction.

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If I'm not going to catch anything, then I'd rather not catch anything on flies.

Prostaff Rodhouse
[www.rodhouse.fr]

7 weight in low wind areas, 8 for when it blows. 10 maybe for big permit and small poons but never for bones.