Doing a pair of rods for very young kids. The grand parents wanted small rods as xmas presents. The IS601L would be too light for how the rods would be used.

I have 2 CRB IS701H blanks that i was planning on cutting the butts down by a foot each.

Is this ridiculous or will it be alright?

I think I’d look for a shorter blank that fits the intended use. Cutting a foot off is too much, IMO. If you decide to go forward with that plan, just know you’re going to change the action of the rod.

I think it is ridiculous, alright, and halfway in-between. The better blank companies seem to put maximum cut-offs at about six inches. RodGeeks has long stated this. Doubling this length seems a bit ridiculous. However, this is a rod for kids and slowing it down this much might even be an advantage for young anglers. Thus, it’s probably alright. Finally, there is probably some ultimate strength and action lost with losing this part of the taper. This is the basis for an in-between call.

Cut em’ down, the kids won’t mine the action as they drag them across the concrete, hit trees, and sword fight with them. ;)

I say cut it i have cut a foot off the bottom of blanks to get what i was looking for and on others i have cut a foot from the top.

Cut it, the children will have a ball, they are oblivious to things like action, stiffness, resonant frequency, Titanium, carbon fiber and all the other things that give the serious builder, stress, heart burn and nightmares.

All they are interested is in fishing and having fun.

If you dress it up with their name and some other personal touch you will be a rock star.

Have fun .

It's not ridiculous at all. You're looking for a rod with particular attributes and of a particular length, and there isn't always a blank available in stock form, that will fit the bill.

You have the blanks in hand, so it would make it easy to judge whether or not what you're proposing to do, will result in what your customer is looking for.

The shooter series of MHX blanks are available, but he is definitely time poor right now. Cutting a foot off would definitely reduce my pleasure as a casting tool overtime, my son still uses the rod I built him 44 years ago, depends on the attitudes of the kids also whether or not they will use this rod long-term..

Just mock up a handle a foot shy of the butt. Cast it, retrieve it, pull on it a bit. You'll then know exactly what you're going to have if you do cut a foot from the butt and build the rods that way.

............

Another option to get some guidance in what cutting will do is to do the CCS process first with the whole blank, then mounted to simulate a cut from the butt, then with line attached back from the tip to simulate a cut from the tip.

p.s

Especially, at this time of the year, consider using an ice fishing blank for use for a childrens rod.

You can pick up very inexpensive fiberglass ice fishing rod blanks up to 4 feet or so that will do just fine for a youngsters blank that will be very light and easy to use.

Or:
Pick up a "Snoopy" fishing rod and reel from your favorite ratiler for $15 and take a child fishing.

Life does not have to be complicated or expensive.

[www.google.com]

I would not hesitate. I have cut a foot or more off a blank I liked lots of times to get the shorter rod I wanted. Some lend to it better than others, but I think the one you are working on - and being for kids - will be A-OK.

I would not hesitate, either, except to try it out like Tom K suggests. If you are into CCS, do that too. Sort of like measuring twice, cutting once. But if you like what you get there is no reason that cutting 6 inches or twelve inches or 18 inches will cause a problem.

I'm not in favor of starting kids with toy rods or things like ice rod blanks which are really not effective for most techniques. I believe in starting kids with real rods and reels that really work, instructing them in proper use and maintenance. Kids pick up on stuff very quickly and can handle a real rod very soon. I started my grandkids on 6 1/2 foot spinning rods/reels, and they had no troubles.

Ended up cutting the rods down a foot.

Tested the grip and reel seat at 6ft previous and did some static deflexion also and liked it. Think it will be more than fine for kids.

Glad it worked out for you.

Thanks for the report. So often advice is asked and given, but nothing comes back indicating how it all worked out. Thanks!

Note:
When building rods for the kids some years ago, I went to mudhole and purchased 6 foot ultra light rod blanks in their assorted rod blank catagory for very little money. I think that at the time I was paying about $3 per blank - when I bought a dozen at a time.

I built up the rods with eva grips, a simple reel seat and inexpensive buides. I mounted small inexpensive open face spinning rods, and all of the kids were casting with ease after 30 minutes of instruction in the boat.

They all caught a lot of fish on these rods.

Here is how it worked out for me.

When my grand daughter was 7, I made a 4.5 ft spinning rod from a 6 ft light action blank. She was proficient in a few weeks. She is now 12 and since then has graduated to a 7 ft medium action for largemouth bass.

You are wasting time, cut the blanks, make the rods and get them into the hands of the kids.

The kids that want to pursue the sport over time will gravitate to higher end equipment.

Have fun

Hello Folks.
If you want some reading, here ya go:

Vol/Issue........Article..............Author.........../////////////////.......................Page
19/5 Blanks: Trimming Effects. By Mike Ballard. 14
15/4 Blanks: Trimming Rod Blanks. By Bill Colby. 26
13/5 Blanks: Extend-A-Butt. By Bill Colby. 24
6/3 Blanks: Extending Your Rod . By Tom Kirkman. 22
6/6 Blanks: Characteristics, Properties and Terms, Part 1. By Emory Harry, And Jack Hurt. 28
7/1 Blanks: Characteristics, Properties and Terms, Part 2. By Emory Harry, And Jack Hurt. 16

Have Fun.


Tight Wraps & Tighter Lines.