So I have 3 Rainshadow rod blanks on order for live bait fishing for kings (JDGLB70L). They will be paired with Valiant BVL600 reels spooled with mono. Check that box.

Wanted a recommendation for another blank. I have 2 smaller reels that I'd like to spool with braid (then mono topshot) and use them with hard lures while slow trolling (Russelure or Rapala X-Rap Magnum) or to use on the bottom with a h-lo rig. I was thinking graphite 7' with moderate action but wanted to get any suggestions. Not concerned about price at this point.

FYI, I have 2 spare Phenix Black Diamond 700M blanks that I was going to use for spinning cobia/king rods but could just as easily use them for this purpose and get different (perhaps 7'6") blanks for the spinners. So don't hold back on recommendations for spinning rod blanks if you think I should use the 700M blanks for this application.

Thanks in advance.

Mitchell, I see nobody has answered so I'll jump in despite being out of the picture for awhile due to being hit by a car (when I was mowing the lawn!).

Pulling magnum plugs can be effective and can be done at fairly high speeds. What you want in a blank is a light enough tip to see when you are fouled with seaweed but a strong enough butt to handle trolling at 10 knots.

Bottom line, a live bait blank offers a lot of those characteristics. If I was you, I'd build each of your blanks for your intended purposes and try them out at trolling the plugs. I'd base my decision for dedicated plug trolling blank based on how you want it to be different from those two blanks.

Sort of like coming back later and saying I like how the judge blank lets me know when the plug is fouled with grass but I like the stronger butt of the Phenix. Then I might say something like try out a Lamiglas tri-flex. Or you might say you have trouble keeping the fish hooked after the initial strike and I might say try a slower action blank like a IFGA glass trolling blank.

Good luck. It always helps to mention the area you fish and the species you are after. You mention those plugs and my mind goes to grouper, kingfish, and wahoo......and that might not even be close to what you are after.

Russ in Hollywood, FL.