Thanks Norm Miller for the great explanation on the butt section and the reaming nuances of Point Blanks and other blanks. Makes perfect sense. I have learned tons from you and the many other builders on this site.

For what it’s worth, just built a new smallie rod on the Rainshadow Revelation 6’2” ML spinning blank. Haven’t had a chance to get it on the water yet but it’s an awesome feeling setup and very pleased with the rods backbone and what feels like a good tip section.

I ream Point Blanks from both ends and stop slightly shy at the front. Then, test fit (make sure you don’t have grit in the grip bore) and see where the middle part of the grip fails to clear. Remove and put a thinner part of the reamer there. It shouldn’t be tight to the grip at either end. The next smaller diameter reamer works great. Spin the grip with a little hand pressure at that location. After a few spins the grip should fit right for its entire length. This takes down the high spot left in the middle as a result of the tapered reamer going into both ends. Leaving the front shy at first prevents over reaming it.

I do a lot of this type fishing, and have used a good variety of blanks. The MHX Shooter in the Lite power is really hard to beat - very light, nice tip, good backbone. It actually feels lighter in hand than the SJ720 due to little larger diameter. Many of the others are just a bit too stiff in the tip.

Good to know Marc thx. im always on the lookout for stream and river smallmouth blanks.

You bet - that blank is sort of low profile, but it's a great little walleye jig stick too!

Matt Ruggie Wrote:
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> Good to know Marc thx. im always on the lookout
> for stream and river smallmouth blanks.

The selection for what I most like for river smallmouth rods is getting thin. The 7’6 - 8’0 light powered rods allow for longer casts and more depth control (plus sensitivity) than do the shorter rods. St. Croix made so many of these blanks and aren’t anymore. The Eternity and RX8 series don’t feature one. Point Blanks doesn’t offer any. The Iron Feather series is $$$$$. The XRay series is without this segment. This is the only option catching my interest (NFC SJ-762-1). Has anyone built and used one for river smallmouth fishing?

[northforkcomposites.com]

Kendal. St Croix/rodgeeks did just add the bass 3 line and have a 710MLXF and a shorter version 73MLXF that could be extended...of course they still have the SCV 76MLXF offered.

when i was reseaeching a dedicated smallie hairjig rod, i was considering some of these longer 7'6"ML blanks with fast to XF tips.

check out some of the hotshot blanks from NFC and MHX SJ9000



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/03/2023 08:09PM by Matt Ruggie.

Thanks Matt, I just at the Bass3 series after your post. The tables on this blank line crosswalk directly to the Victory rods for every blank. I doubt that’s a coincidence.

yeah not a coincidence at all. I was glad to see the addition of the SC3 blanks.

Got to handle a few factory victory rods yesterday. they didnt have any 73MLXF but got to shake the 73MXF and the 71MF. Really liked the action on the MXf, as ya might expect its like an extended 68MXF.