Looking for a lighter weight telescopic blank for a customer - trying to match with a cheap Scheels trolling rod that actually is a wonderful action and weight for inland walleye trolling. It’s 8’6” extended. He even likes it on Green Bay (Lake Michigan). Telescopic trolling blanks are scarce - Batson has their RX6/Eglass 8’0 blank. It seems to spec as too heavy in weight compared to the rod I’m trying to match. I’d also have to extend it 6 inches. Has anyone ever built a lake trolling rod on a telescopic bass blank? Batson has a couple 9’2” options that seem like they may fit the bill - but I’ve never handled one to really know. Looking at the REVCBT92M-SB. Thanks for any insight!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/27/2023 08:37PM by Rick Handrick.

Anybody?

I have not used that blank so cannot claim to know its particular characteristics, but if your customer is trolling crankbaits he will likely prefer a rod with a fast, soft tip. Most telescopic flipping' type rods (if that's what this is) tend to be more moderate in action with fairly stiff tips.

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Thanks Tom - the Batson blank I’m looking at is labeled as a crank bait rod - I was thinking that would be a bit faster than a flipping rod, but honestly I haven’t built much for bass-technique specific rods, so I’m unsure as to how they would compare, and possibly be applicable for a walleye crank bait trolling application. I think I may be trying to put a square peg into a round hole, but I’m trying to find this guy a pretty specific replacement for his favorite trolling rods

I believe they still make those rods so what is the problem with just buying one?

It won't have you building a rod for him, but they may still sell the exact rod your customer is looking for. On their web site Sheels lists a rod named Sheels Outfitters Xtreme Trolling Rod. There are several options available with an 8'6" telescopic medium power rod, being one of the options. It shows a price of $79.99.

If he really likes the rod that much, he can buy one. As I alluded to earlier, telling him that the rod may still be available might not have you building this particular rod for him, but it may lead to a build or two, just because you were nice enough to let him in on the possibility.

Bass and Walleye crankbait rods aren't very different. Typically the walleye models are a bit lighter in power overall. That's about it.

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