Hey Fellows, what would be a good all around inexpensive( $75-100) choice for a baitcasting rod blank for pond fishing, 6' to 6'3" . Would like to build 2, one for plastics and one for spinnerbaits and topwaters. Would use 20LB braid with appropriate size leader in fluro and mono for topwater. Low profile reel, probably Diawa Tatula .Thank you.

Think I may have found my answer at Rod Geeks.

Could also try the MHX shooter blanks, which are all 6’ in length and come in various powers. They are really quite nice and are a good bang for the buck. [www.mudhole.com]
Norm

In the MagXF line, MHX has the MB752XF and MB753XF that look like very good options as well. I find my lighter power XF rods to be incredibly versatile, though most are in the 6'9"-6'10" range. I do have a little 5'8" ML XF spinning rod built on a long discontinued Cabela's XML blank that is great for light plastics and light lures. With the lighter powers a quarter ounce of lead plus the dressing of plastic or spinnerbait is about all I want on those rods, but the 753 with it's 3/16-11/16 oz rating looks like a great option for heavier weights and spinnerbaits. The lighter powered XF blanks, while not ideal for treble hooks tend to be soft enough in the mid section to perform ok as long as you don't lean into the fish too hard.

Batson also has some nice options. However rods of this length often find themselves in the walleye listings, as they are popular for walleye jigging rods.

I have made good ice rods, with AT microwave nanolite guides that cast beautifully, and are a hoot to catch smallies, bullheads, trout, perch, etc. I used FG ice r0d blanks for their toughness. Just an out-of-the-box option for you.

Tight lines and frisky fish

RJF

I have one of the light power 6’ mhx shooter blanks , it works great for pinpoint casting of poppers out of the kayak. I imagine I could use it for other uses but it just casts and works the little topwaters so well.

I have a MXH shooter blank that is my finesse worm rod with a bait caster and 8 lb fluorocarbon. Works good.

Thanks guys as always.

The two blanks that immediately come to my mind when discussing pond fishing are the AT Bushido MB68/10-17 and the MA-SJ66/6-12. The MB68/10-17 would be used in tandem with those heavier baits while pond fishing but still have enough power to get a solid hook set. The MA-SJ66/6-12 is my rod for small poppers and jigs. It loads up great with smaller baits and has the power to land some pond giants.