Hey Everyone,
i have a friend that fishes King Salmon on Lake Ontario and want to build a couple of downrigger rods for him.
if i'm not mistaken they should be all glass due to the constant bend and force on the rod.
Have any of you built for this application and can suggest a couple of blanks to choose from?
I'll probably go with the spiral wrap on these as well
Thank you

A deep bend and constant force is no issue for graphite rods and, in fact, they'll do it longer without suffering material fatigue. However, given the task involved, glass blanks will do just as well and provide you with a bit more durability and lower cost.

Spiral wraps would be a good idea and would even negate having to fit the rods with gimbals.

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I fish the Canadian side of Ontario. I built a couple of rods on the Rainshadow RX4 BP 1025 blanks and have been happy with the rods. MHX has a line of rigger rods that are more affordable. As Tom says spiral wrap. I use the slick butts for rear grips with the channel lock reel seats. Also because I fish out of a 18 foot Lund I keep the rods shorter, 7 to 8 1/2 feet.

Mike,

I have only just started building and have just 3 rods under my belt. However, my uncle who taught me to fish custom built rods. I grew up fishing Ontario for kings. I built my first rod as a leadcore rod on a Rainshadow RDR96MH. They have several different lengths and power for the RDR and they are very parobolic, they should work perfect as a downrigger rod.

Might look at the Hybrid CB 7106 Zentron (Delta LMX) from NFC. Affordable and works like an Ugly stick. I've build two for salmon in SD/MT and they work in a rigger and flat line trolling.

DR1086-MHX

I have just picked up one of the NFC 360 Pro 926-2 hybrid blanks for down-rigger Salmon fishing in Puget Sound - a request from a Cousin. Rated at 15-40 lbs, it is a blend of the carbon fiber and NFC's new exclusive Zentron S-2 fiberglass. Rugged, sensitive and specifically designed for down-riggers and flashers, it should be well suited for the intended fishery!