I'm fairly new to rod building but I've done enough that they are looking really good now. I'm looking for recommendation for a casting blank for jig fishing. I need several for 1/2 ounce jigs with large trailers. It will be used around scattered weeds and light timber. Mostly casting with some pitching. I've built an MHX MB843 and It does a good job for what its used for. I'm looking for a lighter and more sensitive blank now that I have the actual build down pretty well.

Any recommendation on specific brands and blank numbers would be greatly appreciated.

I have enjoyed the NFC X-ray SJ736 but 1/2oz with a big trailer like a super chunk or beaver is really pushing the limit. I have since moved my 1/2oz to 3/4oz to the NFC MB7108 and am really finding it to be a great rod. It really excels when pitching.

Sticking with MHX The Elite-X NMB874 is worth looking at. The Elite Pro NEPS92HF I use for offshore 3/4 to 1oz football jigs in brush piles. It has done very well for the last few years.

For what you are doing I imagine something in the IP around 850 +/-, and an AA of around 70 or so.

Thank you for your suggestions that is exactly the information I'm looking for. I have built an MB736 and its just a little light for 1/2oz jigs but works great for lighter worm/jigs in my opinion.

You also might want to look at a couple of offerings from Rainshadow. I have a lot of experience with a rod I built on the Immortal IMMC72MH blank. It's an awesome blank with plenty of power for the size baits you're talking about, and sensitivity is excellent. It will flat move fish on a hook set. It does have one down fall though, and that is that it is not a well balanced blank. I don't think it would be possible to build a rod that isn't tip heavy. I use the rod for flipping and pitching to heavy cover, and to counteract the tip heaviness, I added weight to the butt of the rod. In my case I added 2 3/8 oz to the butt of the rod. If fishes like a dream, and while it is heavy, it doesn't feel heavy when you fish it. I have it balanced so it is very tip light. If you were looking to have it neutrally balanced you wouldn't have to use the amount of weight I used.

But there are many that would never add weight to a rod for any purpose. Especially the amount of weight I added. I understand the former to a degree. But it is what it is. It's an awesome blank though.

The other Rainshadow blank would be the RX10 Eternity ETEC74H. I have no personal experience with that blank, but the one RX 10 blank I have built on is as good or better than any other blank I have built on. Personally, if I were building the rod you seek my choice would be the RX10 Eternity blank I mentioned. The biggest reason I would choose that blank is because Batson provides CCS numbers for the blank. They list the blank as having an IP of 912 grams, and an AA of 70.

I'd buy it without hesitation. The RX10s are in the same class as the NFC X ray blanks. They cost more, but IMO it would be money well spent. Rainshadow blanks are awesome blanks.

You are welcome.

The NFC MB736 is a bit lighter in power than the SJ but the SJ is still not quite there for 1/2oz and a big trailer. When casting the SJ for me maxes out around 3/8oz with a smaller cowboy type trailer. And I don't even jig on the MB736. I use a cut down spinning version for mostly shakey head and a casting one for 1/4oz T-rig.

These are just my opinions. I don't consider myself a master or authority but I have made a handful of each these with good success in my hands and others.

Take a look at Point Blank PB731MHXF (IP = 827 gm, AA = 79) or PB731HXF (IP = 927 gm, AA = 77). Both are fantastic blanks, very light with extra fast tips and lots of power.
Norm

The SJ725 is the blank from NFC you should look at. It has a much better tip for jig fishing than the 736. If you like longer rods the 765 would fit the bill.

Thanks everyone for all the recommendations! Your help is greatly appreciated.. I have a lot to learn on how to choose blanks for different lures..

NFC recommended a MB 765-1 when I called and ask them. Does anyone have any experience this this blank?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/05/2022 07:17PM by Jeff Dodd.

Jeff, if you have a specific rod that you like for fishing certain lures, you would be doing yourself a favor by taking CCS measurements for IP and AA. Knowing those numbers will help you in selecting a blank that closely matches or duplicates the rod you really like.

Then you can look at the measured powers of the different rods you have and correlate that to specific bait groups. If you were looking for a rod with a little more power than a rod you use for a certain bait, then you can look for a blank with a higher IP. If you like the power but wish it had a little softer tip, then you look for a blank close in power, but with a higher AA. And vice versa. A stiffer tip, a lower AA. A less powerful blank, a lower IP.

The problem is, there aren't many manufacturers that supply CCS numbers. Point Blank does. Batson, distributor of Rainshadow blanks supplies them for their RX10 line up. And from what I have read on this site not all that long ago, NFC is working on supplying CCS numbers for their blanks as well.

Then you have this site, where members post CCS numbers for various blanks they've built on. CCS numbers are very handy if you apply them in a useful manner.