I have been searching for 8-9 wt blanks greater than 9" in length and less than 10'. The 9'6" blank appears to be rare these days. I have only found the Pacific Bay Arctos IM7 9'3" 9 wt and Burkheimer has a few 9'5" blanks. I am not ready for extra fast action blanks at this time.

The goal is to find a blank with sufficient extra length to protect a light tippet, such as 4X. A known good commercial rod is the older Loomis Native Run GLX in 9'6". I prefer to stay away from 10' blanks.

Please let me know if you are aware of options I have not found.

At one time St. Croix offered a 9'6" 8-weight model. Not sure if they still do but you could check their website to find out.

.........

FWIW, NFC (Loomis new company) does have a 9'6" 8 weight in 2 and 4 piece. They are on sale. Normal list price for the 4 piece is $335.79 but if you buy 3 or more now you get them for $83.95 each with free shipping. The 2 piece is even cheaper. Not like you have to buy three of the same model to get the extra discount either. I think the free shipping kicks in at $200.

You might contact them and see what they say is close to the one you like.

Russ in Hollywood, FL.

Rick,
CTS has options for medium-fast 9'6" blanks in 8 and 9wt .
Your email is hidden.
Email me for info and pricing - hladen@hotmail.com
Herb
U.S. CTS Rep

Russ, Herb,

Thanks for the info. The only 9'6" I saw on the NFC site was a medium action blank. Okay for trout (i.e., Winston WT) but not the best for larger fish. I will contact them this week.

I did check the CTS website too but did not see anything. I know the Affinity-X is a nice blank but I think I am not ready for extra fast yet...

Rick

The F 968-4F (Classic) was the one I was talking about. They list it as fast action. Never bought a NFC fly rod. I have been happy with their other blanks and at the sale prices consider them good value.

Russ in Hollywood, FL.

An X fast action doesn't have anything to do with whether or not you can fish and enjoy a fly rod, the power does, since there is no standard for what a 8, or 9 wt. blank is, there lies the problem not the action. Many rods are heavier in the butt than you would imagine, my Sage 8 wt. TCR is 10.70/68°, a Pac Bay 8 wt. Quickline I built was 9.0/68°, a rod I wouldn't be afraid to teach anyone on. Action angles the same, completely different rods. G. Loomis GLX 8 wt. 7.8/70, another good teaching rod. I forget the specs on a RX7 9 1/2 ft. 8 wt., but it is too a x fast action, but a rod anyone could learn on and use.

Rick
I trust that you saw my email explaining that CTS' site does not show a lot of what I can get.
The Affinity- MX would be more to your liking.
And, if they have designed for the Affimity- M, that could be good for you.
Herb

Russ,

I was searching specifically for a 9 wt blank on the NFC site. I have also found this is not a popular rod weight - not that it ever was. I have never owned a Loomis rod either but I think the quality has always been there. Prices of OEM rods have gone too far for my budget so I am beginning to build my own rods even if it just keeps me active and involved in fly fishing. This sport is too good to sit on the sidelines. If Herb can get me a blank in time for an August trip I am likely go that route.

Spencer - In my comment regarding action I was using this term to describe the more stringent timing requirements to cast it well. It sounds like I need to find some reading material. Any recommendations? Ultimately, I would like to become a certified casting instructor.

In general, I also need to be concerned about weight and swing weight, but I do not think the latter term gets implemented correctly very often. I'm trying to build a rod I can use for Steelhead, Coho, and Chinook in Lake Michigan tributaries so I am biased toward the 9 wt. Most of this is also new to me so I need to be concerned about 40 pound fish as an upper limit - so I suspect.

Rick



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/06/2021 05:53PM by Rick Van Camp.

There is considerable difference in fly rods preferred by those who are double-haul casters and those who are not. It's hard to give helpful suggestions about blank choice without this information.