. > > > Another blank that I think is going to be a > favorite as soon as I get a chance to fish it > more, is the MB 733 X ray. I'd call it a medium > power blank, with a lighter tip, but not overly > light. It's rated 1/8 - 3/8 and I'd say initial > impressions are that it will be awesome for those > kind of weights. I have the blank built as a > spin
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I’ve probably ordered a few dozen blanks from nfc in the last few years. They’ve always come as expected as they state that there could be a wait for not in stock items when ordering. If there was ever a problem they always replied promptly and rectified it. So I will continue to give my business to nfc. And I do believe they are definitely some of the best blanks out there and a terrific value.
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I would suggest the st1004, the st993 or the st964. I would think an 11’3” rod would become unwieldy to cast and retrieve lures all day. True that it probably could buck a spoon a country mile. But for fishing practically you the shorter 9-10’ blanks are where I would look.
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The X-ray sb683 is another one to look into. I use it to throw megabass x80 and the 110jrs. It’s also built as a bait caster with an aldebaran 30.
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I don’t mind the look or feel of an exposed seat. But it’s such a pain to get the right sizing on hand and being in Canada ordering a reel seat to fit a blank on its own costs way too much to bother. So insert and simplicity it is for me.
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Definitely sanded on purpose. Over time the ferrules will wear and this allows for that.
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I haven’t built my 10105 but did on the 10’ 4”. I built it as a cp float rod for salmon and steelhead in tight water where you need to put the boots to them. Feels great in the hand, has a 4 3/8” Milner bushing on it with the carbon fibre grips and high frame guides. Haven’t caught any fish on it but it casts great and feels like it’s be able to pull which some traditional cp blanks tend to lack
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I would say you spacing idea is spot on. As for the 20 vs 16 , I go with the 16 as it most aesthetically pleasing to me and I don’t notice any performance issues. I find the only reason to get guides on the ferrules is that it saves a separate wrap for reinforcing the female end and it breaks down nice and straight but it rarely works out that way for me and I don’t really worry about it. I’m a
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I’m bald and I find this post offensive.
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I built up the same blank last summer. Great rod but now I wished I had used that blue. It looks great.
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On my 11’ 2wt nfc euro nymph rod, I put the stripping guide at 25” from the butt. At that length it defiantly helped to control the sag of the mono line/leader.. I think I went with that measurement as it was the same as my factory T&T contact two 10 foot two weight.
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I can’t really see effecting any of the action or significant weight of the blank. We are only talking the last 4” that was under the reel seat, I’d guess that part of the rod does nothing to enhance or degrade the intended action of the blank. I did build a 4wt iconoglass , I used a forecast wood insert reel seat that did not require a stent just a slight bit of reaming and it looks fine.
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I followed the nfc chart for the spacing as well. As for the guide I think I went 12-8- single foot 3’s out to the tip. I really like the action not too fast and not too slow, just right for me.
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I used to use a file but picked up a dremel knockoff from Amazon. It has various speeds but does tend to be a bit aggressive if I’m not careful. I still hold the guides in my fingers , sure they get a little hot sometimes and I sand the skin off the odd finger , if I’m not careful, but it works and I probably won’t change it.
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I have three blanks that I all think make pretty good Ned rig blanks for me. The NFC SJ 732, the SJ 703 and the DS721. Don’t be fooled by the SJ 703 specs, it fishes way lighter than they would indicate. But out of all 3 , I definitely prefer it SJ 732, nice light tip for throwing light neds but is forgiving when playing fish on those small hooks and light line.
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I have a few delta blanks in the salmon/steelhead line and bass. They are a bit heavier but they are tough blanks. I’ve pulled on a couple of the steelead/salmon blanks in the worst possible angles and they’ve all held up great. And for the cost(and I think they are discounted right now) they definitely are a great bargain.
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I have the two long ones on order for a couple centerpin rods.
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I recently built up the nfc blank. It turns out to be a great stick. Very light, very sensitive and you won’t be disappointed.
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I’ve found that nfc doesn’t really make a 2 piece rod that is great for twitching. But they do have lots of options in their bass rods. I like the X-ray neo myself, good action, a good stiff tip and supposed to be indestructible which is never a bad thing. I do have the hs blanks you are thinking of , they make great spinner rods but not so great for working jigs.
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I use the ds721 for drop shots and find it great for the 1/4 to 3/8oz weights that I fish in 15-20’ of water. The extra length gives a good lever for the hook set and it has a great bend for the 4-6lb test I’m fishing. My next favourite technique is jerkbaits and I like the 110jr and the x80. I fish those on the sb683 in casting and have found it to work great and keeping the fish pinned. Then I
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I picked up one of the APFG 745. I haven’t built it yet but it feels like it’s going to be a pretty good action for chatterbaits. Definitely not a old fashioned glass blank.
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I know a few manufacturers make short heavy weight rods for accurately tossing large flies into the mangroves for baby tarpon and snook, etc. could check T&T’s catalog as they still sell blanks. I’d be surprised it someone doesn’t have those type blanks available.
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Aleks, It would be great if you had a st1064 for float fishing coho and steelhead in lower water conditions and using lighter leaders.
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I have ordered from nfc quite a number of times in the last few years, since I got back into rod building. I’ve built on x-ray, IM, HM, delta and the new glass in bass rods,,steelhead/salmon rods and fly rods. . Yes, I have had blanks with slight curvature but I just built on the curve and would never notice now. I have received product damaged through shipping but they were always prompt and co
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By specs, I meant the tip and butt diameters, and weight. They totally are not a 1/4 to 3/4 oz blank. It’s definitely a medium light and tops out at 1/2 oz. They need to start getting better accuracy at their rod ratings, checking their consistency, and sending out mislabeled product. I like their blanks and they are a bargain at the sale prices but I think I’ll take a rest on them until they
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I have purchased 3 of the sj703. Two of them matched the specs listed on site and the third is way different. I’ve had that happen a couple of times now from nfc. But for the sale price they still made good rods
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I have the glx852c and the X-ray 732 is the closest match by far. The 732 has a softer tip and faster action which compares to the other nrx rods I have.
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I’ve tried a couple and the best one I found and enjoy using is the X-ray 732. I trimmed two inches off the tip and two off the butt making it 6’11”. The two inches off the tip stiffened it up just a touch and the two off the butt didn’t really change anything except brought it to under that 7’ length I wanted.
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All my spinning rods have the American Tackle dagger seats. I fit them up locking as I tend to hold rod with only my little finger behind the reel stem. I find it very comfortable and looked great. Although my lay build a nfc X-ray 732, I used the Fuji vss seat as I wanted to use the nfc soft touch split grips. I mounted that one down locking as I couldn’t figure a trim configuration that made i
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Lynn, yes that’s what I believe too. But they have not answered my from 9 days ago and not yet from yesterday. I wasn’t sure if it was a sign of the times or they dropped the ball on this one. I’ll give them a call. It’s just such a pain as I could have saved a bunch of money and ordered from the Black Friday sale but I wanted sooner. Hopefully I’ll get something better than their non answer f
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