Lance Schreckenbach Wrote:
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> Here is a direction that I think will take you
> where you want to be. Graphite rod blanks
> typically labeled "IM6" are very flexible in the
> range of a similar fiberglass rod with a couple of
> notable differences;1) they are lighter 2) the
> tube wall is thinner. They are usually the least
> expensive of the graphite type blanks. They also
> use a fiberglass scrim in most cases and it really
> helps with the strength of the blank. I was in the
> market for a fiberglass fly rod and I had a chance
> to talk to a company rep with Sage. He showed me a
> graphite blank that really had the flexibility of
> fiberglass and changed my mind of what I was
> looking for or it could of been just a good
> marketing ploy.LOL


Yes, I have heard the IM6 is much closer to Fiberglas but I haven't seen any in the size or flex that I need, but I'm looking.

Russell Brunt Wrote:
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> Fred, here is the deal. There are no 13'
> fiberglass surf blanks in the hundred buck range.
> Reckon you have already found that out.
>
> So you have a few choices.
>
> A) Buy a shorter blank of a different material.
> The RodGeek mentioned above is an example. PacBay
> and American tackle have something near that price
> range but I would wager RodGeeks is the better
> blank.
>
> B) Try to find a vintage blank (or completed rod).
> Shipping can run a lot so look locally. Thrift
> stores, flea markets, estate sales, Craig's list,
> etc. They are out there and many times folks
> don't know what they have so great deals are
> possible. Helps if you can spot things at a
> distance. Certain brands used to use distinctive
> colors....Fenwick a brown...Lamiglas a honey
> yellow.
>
> C) Buy a current production rod. Ugly Stick is
> much like the gator glass and might be about what
> you are looking for. You can always strip it down
> and rebuild it.
>
> If you can do with a shorter rod you have a lot
> more options. Strange as it may sound a faster
> action rod, by virtue of having a much softer tip,
> might work better for you. Some of the
> salmon/steelhead blanks for example. Even a fly
> rod blank for casting lighter weights and jigs.
> There are a lot of ways to catch a Pompano and
> they don't all involve tossing a sand flea a
> country mile:) Personally I'm not a good enough
> caster (or probably big enough) to take advantage
> of a 13 foot rod. Do you find it adds all that
> much distance for you? That 13 foot requirement
> is the deal killer:( Puts you into a very special
> niche.

Russ,
Actually there is the Gator Pomp Light that would fit the bill perfectly, if it were two piece. I may have to just get over it and live with carrying that long thing around. I've read a few reviews of it and it seems to have that bend I am looking for. It's 80 bucks and Mudhole is just over an hour from my house, so no shipping.
I have an 11 ft rod now and I can cast it way further my 9.5 rod, so I seem to get more distance with longer rods. I have a lake and it is exactly 110 yds and I can hit the other side with it, but that's just with a 3 oz sinker, I do get less with a rig and the ocean wind. So I Know I will (or should) go farther with a 12-13.
Looking for a vintage rod will be on the agenda also, I have two rods that I can live with so if I wait, maybe I will find that Fenwick or Lamiglas and get a good deal.
Thought about the Ugly stick but the 12 is a heavy action and that is a little too much. Shakespeare makes a Tidewater (spinning) 12' Medium power that would not be a big deal to try out. Not sure how good those are though. I'm thinking of getting that anyways for my wife, she has a spinning set up and I see how it performed, if I like just buy another and take it apart.
It's always fun to figure these thing out, at least I have a mission now.

how about a shorter 2 piece fiberglass blank and a removable butt extension like a lot of old boat rods had? Do you need the bend all the way thru the handle? Put a female socket on the handle. The pieces will be different lengths and maybe the action not exactly what you're looking for but maybe what you want.

If I were you i'd look into RodGeeks out of Troy NY. I just came back from a seminar there with 6 Surf rod blanks. Awesome rods up to 15ft 2 piece (30/70 split) THey come in many colors and are supurb to any blanks prices under $200.00. S-Glass.

If I were you i'd look into RodGeeks out of Troy NY. I just came back from a seminar there with 6 Surf rod blanks. Awesome rods up to 15ft 2 piece (30/70 split) THey come in many colors and are supurb to any blanks prices under $200.00. S-Glass.

If I were you i'd look into RodGeeks out of Troy NY. I just came back from a seminar there with 6 Surf rod blanks. Awesome rods up to 15ft 2 piece (30/70 split) THey come in many colors and are supurb to any blanks prices under $200.00. S-Glass.

Just posted an endorsment for Rod Geeks also. Just bought 6 blanks that need to be ready for the Fall Run here in New England

Just posted an endorsment for Rod Geeks also. Just bought 6 blanks that need to be ready for the Fall Run here in New England

Ken, you and Paul have both mentioned Rod Geeks and there is one (the one Paul mentioned) that seem to fit the bill. SRF110MM2 @135.00 seems to be the closed thing to what I am looking for. I want a medium power with a medium action. Only thing I want differently is I'd like to go to 12 ft, for the fact that I have an 11' now and just want to move up a foot or two. So, this one is in the running for sure. I've also looked into carp blanks. I'm pretty sure I could find what I want as far as power/action/length, just can't find it in the U.S. It's always something. Pacific Bay makes some carp rods and I was looking at these [www.johnnyspond.com]

I'm surprised that you have many hooks pull out of pompano. Nearly every pompano I have lost while using small (#1) circle hooks was grabbed by a predator.

Jay Weissler Wrote:
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> how about a shorter 2 piece fiberglass blank and a
> removable butt extension like a lot of old boat
> rods had? Do you need the bend all the way thru
> the handle? Put a female socket on the handle. The
> pieces will be different lengths and maybe the
> action not exactly what you're looking for but
> maybe what you want.


Can these be made to fit near the reel seat to permanently make the rod longer? I would think joining two pieces at that section with sturdy ferrule would be plenty of support.

Phil Ewanicki Wrote:
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> I'm surprised that you have many hooks pull out of
> pompano. Nearly every pompano I have lost while
> using small (#1) circle hooks was grabbed by a
> predator.


It's not that we have a lot of hooks pull, but we do have pull outs. It's that we have realized that a slower action with medium power is going to catch more with less getting off. I really figure if I am going to build a pompano rod for the type of fishing I do, I want it to my specifications. the goal is to build a rod that is perfect for the quarry. If it it isn't then I'll chalk it up to experience and then build another, learning from my last build. Once I find the right combination (hopefully the first one I build) I am going to build four or five more for the whole set-up.

Hi Fred,
You won't be sorry with the 11 footer from Rodgeeks. They also have a 13 and 15 footer and a few new rod blanks that they are testing now in Texas and North Carolina. It wouldn't hurt to give them a call. They are the best to discuss your needs with. The blanks are made in Mexico but they are an American original business and the blanks are great. You won't be dissappointed.

Hi Fred,
You won't be sorry with the 11 footer from Rodgeeks. They also have a 13 and 15 footer and a few new rod blanks that they are testing now in Texas and North Carolina. It wouldn't hurt to give them a call. They are the best to discuss your needs with. The blanks are made in Mexico but they are an American original business and the blanks are great. You won't be dissappointed.

Hi Fred,
You won't be sorry with the 11 footer from Rodgeeks. They also have a 13 and 15 footer and a few new rod blanks that they are testing now in Texas and North Carolina. It wouldn't hurt to give them a call. They are the best to discuss your needs with. The blanks are made in Mexico but they are an American original business and the blanks are great. You won't be dissappointed.

Hi Fred,
You won't be sorry with the 11 footer from Rodgeeks. They also have a 13 and 15 footer and a few new rod blanks that they are testing now in Texas and North Carolina. It wouldn't hurt to give them a call. They are the best to discuss your needs with. The blanks are made in Mexico but they are an American original business and the blanks are great. You won't be dissappointed.

What the heck, it pshed my reply four times, lol Sorry

Ken Blanchard Wrote:
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> What the heck, it pshed my reply four times, lol
> Sorry


and here I thought you were just trying to get your point across. LOL

I think if you could find a few old Diawa Eliminator surf rods in the 12' size, you can strip them down, reguide em" and use them. I have two in the rafters of my garage that I rebuilt in the early 90's that I use as meat sticks. They are good tough rods, 2pc, and have simi soft front ends. Caught a lot of stripers,skates, and blues on them off the beach of Sandy Hook,NJ
You sound like you know what you want but, its not available, so your gonna have to utilize something from the past. Start looking at yard sales for good used equipment and rebuild them to suit your needs.

Dennis J. Danku
(Sayreville,NJ)

Dennis Danku Wrote:
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> I think if you could find a few old Diawa
> Eliminator surf rods in the 12' size, you can
> strip them down, reguide em" and use them. I have
> two in the rafters of my garage that I rebuilt in
> the early 90's that I use as meat sticks. They are
> good tough rods, 2pc, and have simi soft front
> ends. Caught a lot of stripers,skates, and blues
> on them off the beach of Sandy Hook,NJ
> You sound like you know what you want but, its
> not available, so your gonna have to utilize
> something from the past. Start looking at yard
> sales for good used equipment and rebuild them to
> suit your needs.

I've narrowed it down to the 13' one piece Pomp Light rod at Mudhole, I met someone on the forum here who has a good way to make a two piece out of it, that's if I get the courage to do it. I may just leave it one piece and deal with it. Secondly, in the meantime I am going to follow your and a couple of others on this forum's advice and just look around and see what I can find. I live on the coast so I should run into a good deal sooner or later.