I am preparing to build on two STR-1044-2 (X-Ray LMX) C602 blanks. I've never built a spiral yet but I do understand and agree with the premise of doing so. Its a two piece 10' blank that will become a casting set up salmon trolling rod. I have built a few 9' casting rods for salmon trolling but they were a bit stiffer than these blanks.

Does a 2-piece spiral react the same way as a 1 piece?

I hate to cut a foot off of these really nice blanks but maybe 6" off of the bottom and 6" off of the top would change the "action" to something more to my liking.

You will see no difference between one and two piece spiral rods. There is no way cutting that blank would make it a salmon troller, cut or uncut it will not be what you want, cutting it would be a disaster. It will work for silvers and steelhead trolling if you keep the offerings on the light side, but even than it wouldn't be my first or even second choice. Float rod with jig or bait, hardware, or drift rod, etc. is its wheelhouse though that quality carbon is not necessary for float fishing.

Thanks, Spencer. I know its too light for the big North Pacific kings but in late August the coho move into the straight in numbers and they generally run 10# to 20# for a magnum. These blanks are of no use down here on the Gulf of Mexico but I just had to have a couple of them. Maybe I'll make one a coho troller and with the other I can build a $400 sacalait jig pole. I think Norm would be impressed. LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This seems a little like running a Stradivarius through a bandsaw. Those blanks would appear to be seminal designs in a challenging spectrum, but I haven’t held one. What don’t you like about them?

I use a United Composites Mega 79 build for coho trolling. It’s way better than called for, but I use it for other techniques. It would be short in a larger boat, but is absolutely perfect in a 16 footer. There are probably a dozen good options for coho trolling blanks that cost a fraction of what you would be sacrificing. It’s just not something that requires sensitivity.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/16/2023 06:36AM by Kendall Cikanek.

Kendal, the blank has a different feel than all of the other blanks I've built for trolling. Its much lighter but feels much stiffer than its rating. This blank is rated medium power with a recommended line class of 12# to 17#. I use 20# mono on the other rods that are rated for 20# to 25# line.

I was thinking the 9' length would be better than this 10' blank but I guess it really doesn't matter. I am going to spiral it and load the reel with 20# mono or 17# fluoro. This August it will be trolled and hopefully put through a vigorous test. We troll in the ocean for kings and on the inside for coho at depths of 50' to 120' using down riggers and either small plastic squid or fresh 5" herring on a treble hook behind a flasher. Might have to use the 6" flasher or a spin-n-glo for this lighter blank.

I think it will be fine for trolling. If it does not perform properly, I'll be the proud owner of two very nice drift rods.

Either way I ain't putting my Strad through the band saw.

I just assumed that was a drift blank when it came out. I troll with the UC and different kinds of salmon rods as I only do it a couple of trips a year and a dedicated rod for it keeps sliding down the list. Usually, it’s cut herring for coho and sand lance spoons for chinook.