So my mother recently moved from Houston to near Beaumont Texas. She sent me a text last night saying I needed to build her a rod to fish for redfish. I was a tad perplexed as my mother doesn't fish. So I tried to get some info from her on how she would be fishing. She told me she would be fishing from shore off the bottom.
Having never fished for redfish and being in the Mitten and fishing my addiction of Steelhead, I gather they are a similar fight. What blank should I be looking at? 8' ish with a light action with some backbone?

Thanks
Mike

Try to get some more info from her. River fishing from a private pier, surf fishing with a sand spike, etc? What size reel? Can she transport a 7 or 8' rod, or should it be a 2 pc? I bet she's been fishing with someone and wants her own rod.

I'm a mitten state guy too. I built several technique specific redfish rods for some guys on the east coast last year on Batson XST's in the 8-12 and 10-17 lb. ratings. They've been very well received.

Jerry

Much to my surprise she stated Noone has taken or showed her anything! She has just been doing some reading and wants to give it a whirl. She said she would be fishing the channels from the lake to the Marsh with minnows, shrimp & crab. I will probably purchase or donate a 2500 size tell to the cause, but with it being salt I'll probably purchase her a new spinning

It would need to be 2pc

Popping blanks are very popular on the Tx coast. I don't see any Rainshadow 2 pc, but Mudhole has both the P843 and the P903 in 2 pc. A 3000 size Shimano is same size as the 2500, but more line capacity, which you sometimes need w/ reds on 10-12 lb line.

I have built a rod for a friend for that same technique. Shore fishing with live or frozen bait from the coast. I prefer a mod fast or a moderate action to help keep the bait on the hook while I cast. I'd go with a 9' rod that could handle 20lb line on a 4000 size reel. I'd go with the 9ft simply for casting distance and the 4000 size reel will hold plenty of enough line. I'd ask her how heavy of a weight she would be using and determine the heaviness of the rod on that.

I like MHX P844-2, it has more back bone than the P843-2, but still has a soft tip, a very good rod for redfish and other inshore species. It works well using a popping cork, live lining bait, top water lures, and jigs. It is quite reasonably priced, a very good buy.
Norm

We still have some of the Batson RX7 "Hot Shot 2 pc X-Fast blanks, here is a link;
[www.schneidersrods.com]

Also the now discontinued RX7 "Popping" blanks in 2 pc now on sale;
[www.schneidersrods.com]*

Best wishes,
Ron Schneider
Schneider's Rod Shop
Mountain Home, Arkansas
[www.schneidersrods.com]
mtnron40@yahoo.com
870-424-3381

Redfish have the same size, feeding habits, type of mouth, scales, shape, and put up the same type of fight as carp. A rod built to bait fish for carp in the mitten would work well for Texas redfish if the components were resistant to salt water corrosion.

I think you'd be better off going to something a little heavier, 7'-12/20 line weight-1/4 to 1 oz. lure weight-med heavy. She'll have better control chunkin bait besides you can get blind sided at any time catching 26 to 28" fish then get hammered by a 20+ pounder. Matching that with a 3000 to 4000 size reel would be a good all around setup. You can chunk bait or throw lures and have enough beef in your hand to handle whatever comes along.

Phil

Mike,
we regularly setup guys looking at doing this technique. Most end up using a ST1023 or ST1083 MHX blank more Mod/Fast action with a little more length but plenty of power to handle these fish.

Regards,

Todd

Regards,
Todd Vivian
Mud Hole Custom Tackle

todd@mudhole.com