Hello all and Happy Holidays.
I have a new customer who wants four rods for his striper fishing business. What he is using now is a Berkly Hank Parker Signature Rod 8 footers. I have not seen the rod so I don't know what it looks like. I plan on going to Gander Mountain to look at one but in the mean time I thought I could get a little help from you guy's. He likes 7'6 to 8' and does not want anything real fancy just his business on them. Any suggestions on a comparable blank.
Thanks in advance,
Mark Schulte

I failed to mention I am looking for the blanks in medium to medium heavy heavy I seen in Cabelas the H.P. sig rod is IM7 so there is a world of opportunity here.
Thanks again,
Mark Schulte

Is he live baiting or casting lures? For live bait I'd look at the Seeker CLB series. I like the 702 and 704 but these are 7'6" models. I believe they are also available in 8' models. I recommend this blank highly.

For casting, I have used everything from Hot Shot type blanks to general purpose heavy spinning/casting bass type blanks. Fast action with good power. Almost all the graphite rod makers offer something suitable here.

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Thanks Tom,
He does live bait. He wants casting blanks for this purpose. I am building medium light spinning Lamiglas Pro Graphites for smallmouths soon after we complete his striper rods. He has also set the New Mexico state record from his guide service. Pretty cool to have a person in the family like that. I will look into the seeker blank .
Thanks again,
Mark Schulte

Both are excellent striper rods. Have built 12 for one guide that fishes lakes in TN. 702 and 704 will really let the shad work and the shad will also live longer.

The CLB is about half the weight and half the diameter but equal in power if not a tad more. It would be my choice.

What do you think about using the 704 for trolling live bait for Gulf King Mackerel ? or is there a better blank to use ? A lot of the King fish angler's are going to the lighter lines. Any suggestions ? Thank's, Bill

I have built dozens and dozens of the CLB704 for King fishing (if you need a bit more power you can use the 706, but the 704 will handle some pretty hefty fish). They are outstanding! Try to push the spiral wrap on whomever you build these for. Those who took my advice and went with the spiral wrap on these absolutely love them.

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Like Tom, I have built and fished many king live baiters on the 704 series. They are a little light in my opinion for fishing larger mullet, blues and ribbon fish. You may want to go up to the 706 for larger live baiting such as late fall when you can't get smaller pogies, etc.

Thanks guys, Heck I'll get both and spiral wrap them and show the locals.

Hi Mark,
I'm not sure whether the rods you refer to are fly rods, but I live in the heart of striper world--Cape Cod, MA. I have made and used the new St.Croix 7'6" SCII Graphite G176HF with 8 guides. I used the Fuji concept system. These rods have hundreds of large stripers and bluefish hung off of them, and they still look the same as the day they were made. They are spinning rods. I'm sure there are other equally as good rods to use, but these have been put to the test, and have worked for me.
Sanford