A week from today, I'll be on my way to LOTW for a week of muskie fishing. In the last three months, I've built three muskie rods using 8' heavy MHX blanks (MU96H). I have two and I built another at cost for a friend going with us who wanted one after seeing my rods. All three will get a good workout. I didn't see much about MHX blanks for fishing muskies so I'll update this thread after the trip. Two of the rods have 16" handles and one 16.5". I used Fugi reel seats and Fugi guides (black alconite). I've given them a good workout already from my boat and my dock, but no actual fish caught on them yet. They handle almost all of my baits with ease in the 2-6 oz range and figure 8 easily because of the thinner profile than my other muskie rods of various brands. When I get back, I'll have two 8'6" MHX blanks and parts from Mud Hole waiting for me, including the new revolutioin reel seats for my next two rod builds. More on how these rods worked out in a couple weeks after my trip.

Will you be chiefly trolling, bait fishing, or plug casting? Many anglers prefer rods with different characteristics for each of these musky-fishing methods.

Almost exclusively casting. The only time I troll is if I'm too tired to cast or sometimes while eating a snack. Nothing like feeling that hit while reeling in a bait.

Update - I received a shipment from Mud Hole yesterday with two 8'6" heavy/fast MHX blanks so I built an additional pole with the new Revolution reel seat. Rod is drying now and will be ready when I leave. We'll have four MHX rods there and I'm sharing the Revolution seat rod with the group so we can all see how it feels. Feedback on the rods and the new seat when I return.

Update after my trip with new MHX rods. I left for Canada with two MHX 8' heavy rods with conventional setup and one MHX 8'6" heavy rod with new Revolution reel seat that I designated the "community rod" for the four of us to try. I wanted feedback on how the Revolution reel seat felt to all. In addition, one of our group had an identical 8' heavy MHX rod that I had built for him. In my opinion, and after using many different rods over my last 20+ years of fishing, the MHX was easily the best rod I've ever used. My friend used his and said it will be the only rod he uses from now on. He's an extremely experienced fisherman but new to to muskie fishing. Last year, he caught his first muskie and this year he caught three, all on the MHX rod. Fishing conditions were rough with strong winds and cold temperatures, but what resulted in low numbers of muskies caught, was more than offset with size. I caught two large muskies with one on each of my two MHX rods. One was a 50.75" fish and the other was 48". In both cases, the fish fought hard and after a good net job by my brother, I realized that I didn't even think about the rod during the fight. I had a difficult time with one fish wanting to move to places that would cause problems but this rod handled the fish well and kept me out trouble, while at the same time, staying loaded up to keep the bait pinned as the fish tried to shake it loose. That included one fish that jumped completely out of the water. Regarding the rod with the Revolution seat, the reviews were mixed. All liked the rod action, but the reel seat is more a matter personal preference. Those that love palming muskie reels found it good. One found it perfect and wants me to build him a rod with that seat. For those considering the MHX rod blank for building a muskie rod, do it with it with confidence. I loved mine!