I'm realizing, now that I'm obsessed with this hobby, that it's going to take me years to try out all the blanks on the market to determine my absolute favorites in every class. For those of you who build--and build a lot--please share what your single favorite rod is and what specific blank and components you use to make it magical.

I don't have "one favorite rod", but I do have a favorite rod for Redfishing and I have a favorite rod for Tarpon and one for Snook and so on. I do carry one rod on my boat that is a Lamiglas GLB901MT, 7'6" with Fuji LVSG guides and deluxe reel seat . I use 30 lb. Power Pro on a Diawa 2600 whisker reel , it casts like a dream. If I had only one rod to use it would be this one, I have caught from a 1 lb. Speckled Trout to a 117 lb. Tarpon on this rod . Yes Rod building can be addictive, there is nothing better than catching your first Bone fish (8 lb.) on your first fly rod you ever built (Lamiglas, 9'6" , 7 weight ) . Good luck on building on all those blanks out there.

I have many I like. One of my favorites has become my Loomis P842-2. This was in the old regular glossy charcoal colored graphite models. It has a fast tip but lots of power in the butt. I used Fuji titanium SIC guides on it with a Fuji seat and it is light! Normally fish about 8 to 10 pound line on it for trout but have used it for so many other types of fishing too. After reading the article in the Rodmaker about the New Guide System I tore it down over the winter and rewrapped it with that style. Now it's even better than before! It is always in the boat. If I broke it I cannot think of what I would replace it with.

Haven't tried everything, but I have to say my favorite blank to use is the SCV (legend) from St. Croix. In casting the 7' med is best.
In spinning I like very much the 5S63MXF, which also a few 'affecianodos' have confirmed for me as well.

When wrapping these legends we like matching them up with Silk and the TiGold guides. For the reel seat insert, either the light weight cork, or any of the pleasing wood inserts with the TiGold matching hoods. The result is a very light weight rod and yet retain enough strength to surprise for the weight. Easy for all day casting. Pleasing and sharp in appearance and the performance of these rods is top notch.

I guess I might categorize a 'farorite' as to species or type of fishing situation (bait, presentation, etc.), but as described above it is the looks and 'feel' that go together for me.

As for some 'new' stuff to try out, I believe I will like using the popping blanks from Shikari and a couple of new SCIII St. Croix models with moderate tip actions. The 'softer' graphites will fit in nicely with the selections for some crankbait applications.

There are still so many blanks I would like to try out, don't think I have actually found my 'absolute' favorite yet for a long time to come.
Rob, I do agree with your statement about the obsession and with new blanks and components available all the time, it could be that your 'next rod' will be your favorite. Maybe we could expand on future posts favorite rods for certain categories, might be more specific.

I have two rods that go everywhere with me in N.E. One is a lamiglass MB963M glass blank honey color that I trimmed to a 12 tp and cut back to a overall length of 7'2". I stuck with BNLG guides and a BPLT1212 top. For a handle put on cork tape and a #20 fuji trigger seat. As for a reel, penn525gs and 20lb ande green. I use this for chunking, fishing live eels and plugging. Great rod that will out fish an 8 0r 9ft rod. The other is a Loomis IMX 844 cast rod,. This is matched up with a penn940 cast reel. Use this for plugging, bucktails and top water. Ive let people try the lamiglass and everyone loves the way it casts and fishes, but get it right back from them. Nobody fishes my Loomis! We catch stripers, bluefish and fluke (flounder) up here.

Maybe in the future we can have a "recipe section" where rod builders can share favorites for different regions or styles of fishing. What do you think Tom?

Coincidentally, I just bought the Lamiglass MB963M to try out for striper, specks, and flounder on Oregon Inlet--now I'm smiling with ideas on how to build and outfit it. I'll doubtless be trying out some other recommended favorites--the SCV, the Loomis, and the GLB901MT. I fish for everything from native brookies to bluefin tuna--fly, spin, troll, and cast. I realize we've all built good rods in every class, but most of us are true "experts" in one or two species and have a "favorite" rod accordingly. Please keep your recommendations coming. They're great!

Rob,
You will like this blank. I wrapped a spin rod for a good fishing friend several years back and he finally blew it up last year. Had me make him another one that week. This guys fishes 6 days a week from June to October for blue fish and stripers.
Great rod for big Zara Spooks and gibbs pencil poppers, 1 oz to 2 1/2. On this rod I used bsvlg for the first 3 guides then blvlg for the last 3. He used a penn 550 with 15lb test.

Good luck

Anyone have a favorite in Seeker for saltwater or Shikari for fresh? I've never built on either but have heard good things. My favorite rod this year is the new Graphite USA DHX 70LMXFW. I build it with Fuji Concept SIC's and a Tennessee spin handle. Fairly expensive, but I'd compare its performance to Loomis IMX--or even GLX. I'd like to try the Rainshadow Xcel and St. Croix SCV. Talked to Tom Greek a while back and he seemed to lean Peregee for fly. Others?

Without a doubt my favorite rod is my Graphite USA B70H. I fish only saltwater and this is with everytime I am in the boat. It has the power to stop a freight train yet you can feel your pogie twitching in 16 ft of water while drifting for flounder. Unmatched sensitivity and unmatched power, what more could you ever want!!!

I am building the SHIII 7'6 shikari hotshot at the moment for bream fishing here in western australia. I love the fast action which i believe will help me fish with soft plastics on a more consistent basis, not just small diving minnows. Most people over here dont fish under 7' so I have taken 6 inches off the butt to keep the action and reduce the length. I havent built rods before this but im more than happy to do a few more of these models thats for sure.