Hello

I am looking at building a pair of rod for jig raps, to be fished mostly vertical. Looking at something 6'3 to 6'6" MAX. I have a couple x-ray SB 684's coming. I really like the action of that blank as a full size. How much can I take off the butt end and maintain the original action/power? I would like to take 5 inches and get to 6'3", but would be ok with taking less off if I needed to be safe. I also don't want to end up with a noodle.

There is no way to really know but you will experience a noticeable change in power taking 5" off of a 6'8" rod.

2 options would be to run CCS on the blank at full length and marked at your desired length

Or just dry fit a grip and reel seat at the shortened length with some taped on guides and see how it casts

That specific blank is on the lower end of a true medium power (IP 450). Not sure what you need power wise for jig raps but u imagine a 6'3" version of that rod would fish more into the ML power category, somewhere around IP 400.

A few inches (2-3) should not be noticable.
One way to tell is install just a tip top and tie a line to a substantial object to anchor it.
Then grasp it at the very end and lift.
Then try it a couple of inches farther up.
and maybe another time or two until you get to the length you want.
That will be a quick (and "shade-tree") test,
and should help you determine whether to cut or not.

Best wishes,
Ron Schneider
Schneider's Rod Shop
Mountain Home, Arkansas
[www.schneidersrods.com]
mtnron40@yahoo.com
870-424-3381

If you take an inch off the butt the original action and power will change. Although only by a small amount. The more you trim the more things will change. 5 inches will be noticeable but that doesn't mean you won't like it. Mock it up and slide the handle forward 5 inches and try it. That way you'll know exactly what you'll have if you trim and build it that way.

.........

As others have said.

Chop theblank, build the blank and enjoy catching all of the fish.

Be safe

RIGHT ON, ROGER!

Josh, chop away!

BECAUSE.......

1) It works out and you have a rod you are happy with.

2) It does not work out But now you know what to do (experience) for the next build.

3) AND MOST IMPORTANT! You get to go fishing.

Have fun

Four inches off the butt of a 6’8” rod is unlikely to be an extreme change of action. I start to worry at more than six inches off of a 7’ rod, which is about seven percent. This is an even five percent reduction. It will slow it down a little (not necessary 5%), but maybe not enough to move it from a fast to a moderate fast action as defined by action angle in CCS. Looking at the NFC chart, it appears to be near to the division for a moderate-fast action, so it could. Either way, this is most likely to be a noticeable but fairly slight change. As stated above, you can test this before cutting. I can’t prove it, but I believe the slowing in the actions in my butt cut rods changes more towards the butts than the tips. A couple of years ago I started a thread on this without any definitive responses. Since then, I’ve been observing.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/14/2024 11:51PM by Kendall Cikanek.