I am looking for recommendations for a spinning blank to cast #5 (3/16 oz), #6 (1/4 oz), and #7 (5/16 oz) Rapala Shad Rap, something in the 7’ range but not longer. He will be mostly throwing these baits on the river around dams and rocks for walleye using #8 Suffix 832 braid line with a nice sweeping hook set.
I am having troubles choosing between multiple blanks and was wonder what you would pick?

I built one a few years ago for exactly this application. I used MHX 7'0" Med-Light Elite-X Rod Blank - NSJ842-MHX and paired it with Microwave guides. Cast like a dream.

I've thrown #5 and #7 Shad Raps (the balsa ones) on one of the drop shot rods I built on an NFC DS 6107 IM blank. I was fishing for bass though, and never caught any of any size. But it cast them really well.

And just a personal opinion. Those #5 and #7 balsa Shad Raps have got to be some of the worst casting baits ever invented. But they sure catch fish !!!

After some tossing and turning last night I think I will construct this rod on a Rainshadow IMMS68ML. I don’t think the current from the river would make the #7 feel like it was over powering the rod.

David, one of my biggest worries is the casting length with these baits. They just don’t cast well at all.

You might look at a fast action popping blank.

.........

Back to the search. I was just told he would like to use up to 1/2oz crankbaits.

Buhido CB72/8-15. It's 2 inches longer than what you want but will perfect especially for the heavier bait. I have 2 . One set up for casting and one spinning.

Bushido.

Immortal popping medium power. The longer the better. Moderate fast action is best with braid and treble hooks.

I would go with the IMMS610MXF over the 68ML. I think the IMMWS72ML would be better than either of those 2.

That MHX popping blank (P843) looks great to me! I throw a shad ton of SR 7's up in Canada on a St. Croix 69MLXF. Yes, extra fast action, too! The versatility: I can put a 3/8 jig on it if I want and backtroll; pitch a T-rig fluke
into weed beds, or deadstick a CD-9 drifting points. Might even be better if I extended the 6'9" to 7'3" or so.

It's good that you're building a spinning rod, because a rod that will throw a #5 balsa Shad Rap for any distance is IMO, going to be overloaded by a 1/2 oz crankbait. I'd suggest asking him which baits he will be using most often, and then build a rod to fit those baits.

And Michael, I hear ya loud and clear on how well those Shad Raps cast. Or rather, don't cast. lol I actually stepped up to a #9 Shad Rap for the extra weight, and the 9's cast very well, but they just don't catch the fish that the #7's do.

While I have no experience with the IMMWS72ML that Jeff mentioned, my guess is that it would fit the bill quite nicely. The extra length of the 7'2" blank is going to give you a cushioning effect which will come in handy with those small hooks on the #5 Shad Raps.

And I also think he is on point with having the 68ML down on his list. I built a jerkbait rod on a Revelation REVS68ML blank. It might be a little too much for a #5 Shad Rap. It has a decent bend into the mid section of the blank under load, but the tip is a little more stiff than you might think, which is why I chose it for a jerkbait rod. Otherwise it wouldn't be my choice for anything with treble hooks. Jerkbaits are a bit of a different animal than crankbaits when it comes to the attributes you need in a rod. At least IMO they are.

I'm offering something a little different because I have found slightly more powerful blanks that were very good with Bomber Long As and similar lures especially during breezy conditions. The rod was the G Loomis PR8400S and the blanks I used were Shikari P, IP, and PP7000 when I built rods. This blank has the same characteristic in lighter power, I don't care what the line weight says the lure weights listed are far more accurate. I would look at the MHX SJ8600.

I had a thing for Shad Raps from their first year out to about their next twenty-five. I just took my last ones out of my primary tackle boxes as I never use them anymore. They cast for distance worse than dryer lint while moving around more than a Niekro Brothers’ knuckleball. So many newer designs have also supplanted their fishing performance. Laurie Rapala isn’t building and testing them, nor are any other people in Finland doing that. The old ones had casting, running consistency, and breaking lip issues, but they were generally well built and equipped. The newer ones have kept the issues of old while losing the nice build quality. My rod building related point is that your customer might find a better range of blank choices if he is willing to move to more modern shad and jerk style baits. Rods that launch fluffy baits well don’t tend to jerk shadbaits with good control.

I would highly recommend the NFC P704-1. Very light, slightly slower (moderate fast, I’d say) action which casts light baits very well, and plenty of power. I’ve used mind a ton for casting shad raps on the Mississippi River for walleyes - it’s a great combo.