I’m wanting to try and build a shorter 7ft 6 or 8ft fly rod that would be an 8wt to throw flies from a kayak. I’d been poking around on here and saw the 1/16 oz to 1wt conversion. I’d also heard moderate actions are best.

I’m looking at rainshadow sp942 or sp943 which are rated 1/4-5/8oz and moderate fast. I’d also seen rodgeeks C2SW76MLM their inshore moderate rod that is rated 1/8-1/2oz and listed as moderate action. As I said, I’d like to build a short 8wt fly rod equivalent from it.

Any thoughts on the blanks above? Am I completely missing the mark?

Also, I’d heard the “one guide per 1ft if rod” so would I use start with the same guide set up for a 9ft 8wt fly rod and just subtract 1-2 running guides at the end?

American Tackle has some nice real fly rod blanks in the length range you are looking at but lower power. Sure you want 8 weight? Another possibility would be to take their 9 foot 8 wt and cut a foot off the BUTT.

Daren,
CTS has quite a few 7'6" - 8'0" fly blanks.Why reinvent the wheel?

Herb
CTS

I didn’t see any 8wt rods in the shorter length. Do they make them? I’d rather not reinvent the wheel but I kinda wanted something heavier than a 3wt.




Herb Ladenheim Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Daren,
> CTS has quite a few 7'6" - 8'0" fly blanks.Why
> reinvent the wheel?
>
> Herb
> CTS

Out of curiosity, is the #8 requirement necessary because of the size of the flies you are casting or the size of the fish you hope to catch?

Both. I kayak fish the marshes for I shore fish a lot.




Phil Ewanicki Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Out of curiosity, is the #8 requirement necessary
> because of the size of the flies you are casting
> or the size of the fish you hope to catch?

CTS does make blanks in both Carbon and Fiberglass in heavier line weights and shorter than the normal 8-6 to 9ft length. They just don't list all the stuff they make on their website.

Just contact Herb directly and tell him what you want, he'll know if is a normal offering or something that might be a special order.

Bill,
Thanks.
Daren,
Yes - what Bill said.
My email is not hidden.
Herb
PS - One of my customers inquired re 8'0" blanks in 5, 6, 7 weights
This is what we have in those weights:
FX805 - 2-, 3- and 4-piece

FX806 - 4-piece

FX807- 2-, 4- piece.

I'll enquire about an 8wt. But an FX can easily be uplined to an 8.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/26/2020 07:33PM by Herb Ladenheim.

For a satisfactory result the rod builder should consider the rod, the line, and the caster. I would not recommend the same line-rod combination to one fly-caster who double-hauls and another who does not double haul.

Don't see why it wouldn't work, I've seen them made with the hot shot, popping and bass blanks also. There were some posts here, maybe 12 years ago of people looking for shorter fly rods to fish in close to mangroves, and lilly pads, etc.You can find them in the search function.

This is awesome. Building a CTS rod has been on my bucket list. I’m a sucker for pretty color fiberglass rods. I may have to look at getting a shorter graphite one from you guys as well.


Herb Ladenheim Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Bill,
> Thanks.
> Daren,
> Yes - what Bill said.
> My email is not hidden.
> Herb
> PS - One of my customers inquired re 8'0" blanks
> in 5, 6, 7 weights
> This is what we have in those weights:
> FX805 - 2-, 3- and 4-piece
>
> FX806 - 4-piece
>
> FX807- 2-, 4- piece.
>
> I'll enquire about an 8wt. But an FX can easily
> be uplined to an 8.

Double post.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/27/2020 07:59PM by Spencer Phipps.

The tough part about a long fly rod in a 'yak is landing the fish. Fishing heavy cover from close range is not a big problem. A stealthy approach and you can dap your fly up and down on the surface - deadly, and you can go from 4X tippet to #16 tippet.

Daren,
CTS has a design for an Affinity-X 8'0" #8, 3 piece.
$215 (ish) depending on paint color + shipping.
Also - if you want glass - 7'6" #7 either 2 or 3 piece. Or an 8'3" #7, 3 piece.
A #7 can easily casta # 8 line.
So lots to choose from
Herb

Good morning Daren,

We have a few builders in Florida that are using the Bushido CB78/8-15 for short fly rods for redfish, snook and other size-able inshore fish from kayaks and microskiffs...

We figure it to be around a 7-8 wt.

I was surprised how well it casts and highly recommend giving it a try

_______________________________
God Bless, Don Morse

800-516-1750 ext. 1207 / don@americantackle.us

Rod Building..... It's What We Do.

Bushidos are very nice blanks for the money. A real sweet spot, IMO.