I'm looking to build a couple panfish specific sticks. Crappie, perch, bluegills. Favorite techniques include pitching spinner jigs (beetle spins, roadrunners, etc) and hair/mylar jigs under a float. Also some dropshot for deeper fish. Does anyone have any recommendations on a good longer blank that will cast 1/32 - 1/16oz jigs (on 3-4# nanobraid or 4# suffix advance) ? Something along the lines of the St. Croix panfish series.....

thanks!

Some good discussion on similar topic here: [www.rodbuilding.org]

No personal experience with any of the blanks mentioned but eventually will be building a couple of panfish rods so interested in the discussion

I built a rod on a RodGeeks C2 7' light. I find it to be really sloppy. Slow action and slow recovery. I built a Rainshadow Revalation 6'8" ultralight and found it to be a much nicer blank. Faster action, more crisp. For what you mention above I think the ultralight would work, but if you wanted more backbone I think the Revalation light would work too. I've also done a Rainshadow Immortal walleye 6'2" that I extended to 6'6". I think it turned into a really nice rod. Not sure if extending that one to 7' would work well or not.

Check out Mud hole CRB 701L

Thanks all!

Rick,
I have built many rods to be used for pan fishing.
All the way from ultra, ultra light rods to medium action very long rod for casting significant distances.

But, without a doubt for about 90% of my pan fishing these days is a medium light action 7'10" steel head float rod.

The big advantage for myself using such a rod is the casting distance that I get with a rod like this that has a beefier center section to allow a heavier float really pull out the line from the reel and cast a very long distance.

Crappie fishing is fun, but often the fish are spooky. So, if one has a rod that can cast a very good distance, using a heavier float - one can anchor well away from a potential school of fish, cast past the school, work the school and then using a high retrieve rate reel, quickly retrieve the lure and cast again.

In particular the use of the "Rocket Bobber" makes all of the difference. This is a weighted plastic bobber that is fished on its side. Then, even the slightest bite causes the bobber to tip up to signify the light bite of a fish.

Best wishes

I'm building on the NFC P-700. Haven't finished it yet to try out. Let us know what you decide on please and how you like it afterwards.

Rick,

I would check out the American Tackle Bushido model SP68/4-8. It is rated for lures from 1/32 to 5/16 and line rating from 4 to 8. It is a fast action 1-piece blank at a length of 6'8". This sounds like a perfect fit for your application, and I have never been dissatisfied with an AT blank.

Rich

I built a AT Busido CB68/6-12 for a jerkbait spinning rod and found out it’s underpowered when I caught a 2lb bass and had almost no control over the fish. I had to wait until the fish was completely pooped to get off the line.

On the recent CCS post someone put the power as a medium-light in the low 300 range. I’d say this is accurate and now I’m planning a future build to replace it with a proper medium powered rod.

Phenix has a lot of nice panfish blanks

[getbitoutdoors.com]

John DeMartini Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Check out Mud hole CRB 701L


Have you built this blank? I'm considering the ML version in 7' and would appreciate you sharing your experience with it.

Caught a few of these yesterday, they were chasing threadfin shad in 50 degree water 6-14’ deep.