Are there any finishes I can put on a bare graphite blank which will improve the blank's casting distance, accuracy , fish-fighting ability, or resistance to breakage?

No.

..........

Cargonite.

Fairy dust

Phil

You're in luck as I just happen to have two bottles left of my world famous Ol' Don's Snake Oil and Fly Rod Finish which I can let you have for the low, low price of $500 per 2 oz bottle. Just brush or wipe on a thin coat of this amazing elixir on a blank and watch it transform a poor quality, low cost blank into a superb, state of the art blank without peer.

I await receipt of your payment via certified check or money order.

Prema gloss. because it will enhance the blanks' appearance and may trick ones' mind into thinking it improves the rod characteristics and make one a better caster than one really is.

How much for the fairy dust? I like to try some of that!

Fill the blank with Helium under 14.28 inches of water pressure and seal it, works everytime.

Love these - but best way is to afix a CTS label to the rod.
Herb

Why anyone would want a shiny rod blank is beyond me, unless fish will never see it and the owner just likes shiny stuff.

Liquid Unobtainium is what you are looking for. I happen to have some. If you're interested, send me an email.

Do people really believe that fish are spooked by a shiny rod blank, or shiny guides? And before anyone says "absolutely" can you be absolutely sure that is the shine that is spooking the fish, or is it that the fish caught the movement of the rod, or a shadow it may have cast, or the movement of the angler using the rod, that is what actually caused a fish to spook, and not the shininess of a blank or guide?

I for one believe that it is movement that spooks fish, IMO, if you're worried about the glint of a shiny rod or guide spooking fish, you're worried about the wrong thing.

As long as we are being tongue in cheek here. David I would say it is because you are fishing for bass. Heck, show up for a bonefish trip in the wrong color clothes and we will leave you on the dock.

Russ in Hollywood, FL.

lol Russell ............ yeah, bass aren't the smartest of fish are they? And there are actually people that believe fish can be and are spooked by a shiny rod blank, or polished guide frames.

And yeah, I get it as far as the color of the clothing you're wearing having something to do with your visibility to the fish. Especially for the kind of environment a bone fish lives in. But would you really leave me at the to dock? Couldn't you just take me along for comic relief? I'd lay down in the boat so the fish couldn't see me. lol



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/13/2022 11:21AM by David Baylor.

David, it is the flash caused by movement and reflection off a shiny surface.

I spray myself with "Vanish cleanser" and nothing sees me. Comes in handy when the better half is looking for me.

You guys are fortunate to fish in water clear enough for fish to be spooked by light reflecting from a guide.

David Baylor Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> lol Russell ............ yeah, bass aren't the
> smartest of fish are they? And there are
> actually people that believe fish can be and are
> spooked by a shiny rod blank, or polished guide
> frames.

I installed a loud Harmon Kardon stereo sound system in my boat and blast my way around lakes and rivers playing Allman Brothers and Skynyrd and Outlaws and still catch as many fish as the quiet stalkers. Florida bass love Southern rock and shiny lures. I wonder if adding a sub woofer would catch more bass?

Why would I want a shiny blank? 1. It makes the wrap end errors less obvious. 2. I like shiny blanks.

Mr Erickson so as not to be confused with another with your first ...... I can certainly understand where you're coming from. I just personally think it's tied more to movement, than it is to any shine or glint coming off a rod or guide. There are a lot of sparkly and shiny things in nature. Both above, and below the water.

And John ...... good one LOL

Kent, sound can definitely be a trigger for fish. At one time I had a Hydrowave on my boat. A lot of people think they are just a way for companies to take more money out of fisherman's pockets, but I had experiences with it that would leave me to believe otherwise. I ended up selling it to a friend so I could buy stuff to build fishing rods. lol In fact, I used the money to buy 2 X ray blanks and two sets of Fuji T2 guides to put on them. I think I got the better end of the deal. lol

And I occasionally take a portable bluetooth speaker on the boat with me and listen to music, or the ball game. Although, I will say that when I do, I am always fishing off shore and in deeper water. If pleasure boaters ripping around over the fish's head isn't going to spook them, the crack of the bat or some loud rock and roll music isn't going to spook them either.