Does anyone have first hand knowledge of anglers workshop float rod blank "awsp148f2" ? It's specs are 14'8", ml power, mod fast action, 3/4 to 3 ounce lure wt., blank wt. of 5.25 ounces and a cost of $177. Oh and IM6 graphite.
I have called them and they have confirmed the specs. But I still have a hard time believing a blank this long can handle a 3 ounce lure and still only weigh 5.25 ounces and have a mod fast action. The "menpachi blanks" we use in Hawaii are 8 inches shorter, have half the lure wt., and weigh approx. 2 to 3 ounces more.
If this blank were made of IM8 graphite and cost twice as much I might be more believing.
If the specs are correct this blank would make a great rod for whipping lightl plugs to catch small ulua (jacks 10 to 20#).
Please let me know what this blank is like if you have actually seen and handled one.

You're correct - doesn't make sense.
What line rating does it have?
Herb
CTS Distrib.

Howsit Darren, I was told the Anglers inhouse blanks were made by Talon. This was confimed by many local braddahs in Hawaii. You can actually buy direct from Talon. The website has not been updated in awhile, but you can email them directly. I live in WA and build mostly salmon and steelhead blanks... I have built a few salmon/steelhead blanks for menpachi and Papio fishing and they all do just fine...

Talon has Menpachi blanks already designed on the website. Angler's Workshop was bought and moved recently, I bet they are not near as educated on the rod blanks they have as the original owners. I don't see those AW blanks on any of the Talon literature I have, they may be a special designed for them. Talon would have the best info, they build about 600 designs, the ones on their site are the most popular in the US.

One of the former owners of AW is still working there.

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Spencer Phipps Wrote:
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> I don't see those AW blanks on any of the Talon
> literature I have, they may be a special designed
> for them. Talon would have the best info, they
> build about 600 designs, the ones on their site
> are the most popular in the US.

AW stands for Angler's Workshop and SP is probably from Special Purpose. Also, the blank isn't ML power. (AWSP)148ML2 (1/2 - 2 1/2 oz, 6-12lb, 5.0oz, .855butt, 5.5tip) = Talon 148ML, is ML power. Talon 148MF (3/4 - 3 oz) is the blank that comes closest (http://www.talon-graphite.com/vispin8.html).

To see the specs first hand go to "anglers workshop.com/salmon-steelhead-flies" click the left box labeled "aw im6 float blanks sp148....".
The chart shows specs for three similar blanks. The line wt. for the one I'm interested in is 8-15#. The tip is a 5 and the butt is 0.87.
If the specs are true I would cut the tip back a little put light weight titanium guides on it and make the ultimate rod for casting small plugs of 1-2 ounces. Its light weight should make it as easy if not easier to handle than a 14 ft. Menpachi rod . I currently use a rod made from a All-star med saltwater spin elite graphite blank. I don't know this blanks max lure wt but I doubt its much more than 4 ounces. The All-star blank weighed about 9 oz. so the AW blank should feel like a feather at 5.25 ounces. The All stars action is in the upper range of what I would consider medfast so the two blanks should be in the same ballpark. Even if the AW blank is a little less powerful I would gain over a foot of length; important when fishing from cliffs and still have a 4 + ounce lighter rod . This a good trade to me.

Thank you Mr. Matei. I went to the website you provided and these blanks do look very similar to the AW blanks.I emailed talon for more specs that were not on the page. I wonder if they will be the same or more believeable than the AW specs.
Another puzzling thing is if AW blanks are resourced talons how can they sell them for 70+ dollars less than what the manufacturer charges? In any event your link should prove helpful in getting to the bottom of this.

In the 2004 AW catalog they are a bit higher in price than they are now.

I called talon and they gave me the complete specs for their 148mfe blank some of which were not on the website. They are 14' 8" long, 8-17# line, 3/4 to 3 oz. lure wt., 5 tip, .860 butt, MF action and most importantly 9 oz. blank weight. This is a much more realistic blank weight than the 5.25 oz. that AW gives for its blank which is identical in specs to the talon except for butt dia. Which is .870 for the AW blank.
AW is currently out of stock of the awsp148mf2 so I can't ask them to actually weigh one for me. For now I must conclude that the posted weight of the AW blank is incorrect. While the Talon blank looks pretty good it does not have enough advantages over my current All-star rod to justify its purchase. It was nice to think that there was a magical blank out there for a little while.
Thank you for your posts they helped me get to the bottom of this.