Spin Stick Blank

[wheezer]

had no experience with the S008, but have built/used both the NV8 and RBC008. NV8 will be too heavy for what you are after i think, more like an 8-10kg stick. RBC008 will be good though maybe a little fast in action for what you want, light in weight with a decent amount of grunt for their rating. economically priced although have seen a few break up in the tip area but that could be user error

i know some people may think the Hastings stuff is expensive but i'm happy to pay a little extra as i've been extremely happy with not only every one i've built, but also the advice and service from the distributor. and i easily noticed the increased performance between my Hastings and my Samurai stuff which i have since pensioned off....

[Matt_Campbell]

Horse
I just bought myself a Gary Howard rod built on a Composite Developments Graphcast 3 blank. I built quite alot of rods on these when I was making rods for a living. There are three blanks - the Graphcast 1 for 4-6kg, Graphcast 2 for 6-8kg and the Graphcast 3 for 8-10kg. The Graphcast 1 is 8'6" while the other two are 9'. They are the best rods for spinning for tuna available. You might still get one from Gary if you're lucky (there were only 2 of the Graphcast 3's left). Do yourself a favour and at least have a look at one of these rods. I got mine for $250 but they're becoming as rare as hens teeth.
Matt C

[BenatCoffs]

I would prefer something that does not just fold the tip away and leave a long leaver that fights against me in longer fights against LT's etc

So you want a slow - moderate taper blank?

A fast blank where the tip folds over only gives the most leverage advantage to the fish. eg a fast 8' blank that the top 2' folds over gives 6' of leverage advantage to the fish a moderate 8' blank that the top 4' folds over gives 4' of leverage advantage to the fish, a slow 8' blank that the top 6' folds over gives 2' of leverage advantage to the fish. The faster blank will tire you out faster than a slow or moderate one (all else being equal)

Wanting to fish for macks n tuna I guess you'd be wanting to fish 15-20lb line?

Wanting to cast 20gm metals into next week doesn't translate kindly back to slow-moderate rods (please someone correct me on this cos I'd love one). Blank builders have this covered with the Hot Shot blanks, but they are ultra extremely fast. With even 20lb rated rods having a tip around 2mm they can fire lightweights a looooong way. Look at the HS9001 (8-20lb 7'6" 7-21g) or HS932 (12-20lb 7'9" 14-70g). The US manufacturers have these, look in the 'Salmon/Steelhead" catalogues. But like I said at the start, they are faaast

In moderate blanks I would look at a 'Crankbait' CB76M (8-14lb 7'6" 7-18g) or a'Popping' (Popping not Popper - it's a US livebaiting style) P904 (8-17lb 7'6" 7-21g).

I have nothing to offer for a true slow taper though! If you could find a 7'6" version of a Butterworth Super Barra (the 8kg) one then that would be pretty much spot on too (I have a 7' one and with a ABU5600 it fires a 20g metal 40-60 metres and has a really sweet action.

My thoughts anyway FWIW. All the quoted specs above are Batson Rainshadows, but any US blank builder has variants on the them usually similar in specs.

The Hastings blanks listed above are all $200+ blank only from Rod Works (site sponsor)

[Horse]

Thanks Mate

I'm still looking at both blanks and finished rods. The closest have been the 7'6"Loomis and the Nitro Max Cast.