I'm looking at building a catfish rod for drifting. This rod will be used mainly for blue cats up to 60 pounds with majority in the 20-40 range. Looking for a top with a sensitive tip and a good backbone preferably MF action. What are some of your suggestions? I have built a heavy value e-glass rod from mudhole but want something with a little more tip action. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

We have a few options with our RainShadow blanks.
RCLB79ML – slimmer than glass with graphite and an e-glass tip - [www.rainshadowrodblanks.com]

SWB80ML – This is our typical all E-glass blank that we recommend - [www.rainshadowrodblanks.com]

SW966 & SW967 – Very popular for catfish with a few select builders, not typically on the radar – all graphite - [www.rainshadowrodblanks.com]

James Taylor
Batson Enterprises
BatsonEnterprises.com | RainShadowRodBlanks.com | ALPSForeCast.com | Build2Fish.com

James,
What is the advantage of the all graphite blanks? Do you know what technique they are using those blanks for? I'm guessing it may be for bumping and not drifting?

Thank you

I use Seeker Blank for rods to fish for the same quarry on Kansas lakes. I have S870, S270h, bothin glass; CLBF 708 and CJB70F in Black Steel composite.Have caught many in the 20 - 40 lb range dragging cut bait and circle hooks. All would handle bigger fish but the the black steel blanks would really shine there. The 708 is faster than the70f but both are awesome catfish drifting rods. I have RDA measurements on these if you could use that info.

Zac Huffman Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> James,
> What is the advantage of the all graphite blanks?
> Do you know what technique they are using those
> blanks for? I'm guessing it may be for bumping and
> not drifting?
>
> Thank you

Main advantage of graphite is it’s lighter and more sensitive. People use these blanks for drifting type techniques for all kinds of different fish, so they'll work just fine.

James Taylor
Batson Enterprises
BatsonEnterprises.com | RainShadowRodBlanks.com | ALPSForeCast.com | Build2Fish.com

Check the Rodgeeks XC blanks - these are ideal for what you are looking do to. YOu just have to figure out the length how heavy you want the rod to be: [rodgeeks.com]
WHile designed for Inshore SW fishing, the blanks are catching on for Catfishing.

Zac Huffman Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> James,
> What is the advantage of the all graphite blanks?
> Do you know what technique they are using those
> blanks for? I'm guessing it may be for bumping and
> not drifting?
>
> Thank you

James,
I would gladly use the RDA measurements if you're willing to provide those to me. What guides are you running on the black steel composites? Are you running a traditional heavy duty guide?

Thank you

We don't really use RDA measurements (we have other traditional measurements that we use) so don't have that to supply.

A few different guides work, the ForeCast HCBG or you can go with either the ALPS XN or HXN guides.

James Taylor
Batson Enterprises
BatsonEnterprises.com | RainShadowRodBlanks.com | ALPSForeCast.com | Build2Fish.com

Sorry James I meant to respond to Don. I just worry about the violent strike's that blue cats are capable of and the all graphite blank withstanding that initial impact.

Zac, I use the guides James mentions, if you like stainless with no insert the Forecast hcbg are very nice. I actually prefer the Alps XN and heavy XN. I am really impressed with these and they require very little foot prep. I purchase these from Utmost and they are excellant to work with for Batson products.Shoot me an e-mail and /or phone # and I will get you more info on the blanks I use. I live in Holton and mostly fish Perry and Melvern. This last summer , with all the rain was torture, but I finally got on the water in the fall and caught some nice fish.

There are fish out there that generate far more impact then a catfish, the graphite rods built for those fish have been doing great for decades. I wouldn't worry about it.

James Taylor Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> We have a few options with our RainShadow blanks.
> RCLB79ML – slimmer than glass with graphite and
> an e-glass tip -
> [www.rainshadowrodblanks.com]
> 6eglass-live-bait/
>
> SWB80ML – This is our typical all E-glass blank
> that we recommend -
> [www.rainshadowrodblanks.com]
> lass-multipurpose-saltwaterblanks/
>
> SW966 & SW967 – Very popular for catfish with a
> few select builders, not typically on the radar
> – all graphite -
> [www.rainshadowrodblanks.com]
> 7-multipurpose-saltwater/


James, where does the SW80ML start to flex, is it only in the upper half of the rod or does it have flex lower in the blank. I’m looking to do a build for a catfish rod, primary use is open lake, casting 2oz to 3oz weights with bait, fish average around 10lbs, 20lb or 25lb mono.