4 to 5 foot b/cast blank??

[Tim Robinson]

Can any one recommend a quality blank for about a 4 or 5 foot 2 to 3 kg bass rod? Apart from the Samurai blanks I have found it difficult to find what I want.

[Owen]

Batson do a few five footers
http://www.batsonenterprises.com/content/view/54/189/

Other than that why not just cut a longer one back?
I take it you want it for a kayak or something?
Why so short?

[Tim Robinson]

Its more a question of what to cut and by how much. I was hoping somebody has done this with an IMX jig/spin rod or similar and be able to point me in the right direction.
Kayak fishing in tight water is what I want it for. I'm toying with the idea of using 1 of those Vagabond pistol grips for this rod and seeing the expense of that I don't want to use just any old blank. I'm looking for a blank that will be a joy to use and also be a nice rod hanging on the wall when not in use.

[Martin.E]

Hi Tim,

I'm not a big fan of cutting rod blanks back to a length, either from the tip or butt - will usually change the action and feel of the blank substantially unless done VERY carefully.


Have a look at Composite Developments (NZ) 4'10" 2kg baitcaster blank, currently in the Closeout Specials section of their web page. The blank is cheap but you'll pay through the nose for freight unless you combine with other blanks. I've just picked up a couple of their 3-piece spinning blanks.

I've built on Samurai blanks before and think the CD blanks are the next level up in build design, right up there with Loomis and other high end blanks as far as I'm concerned. The Samurai's are nice but not as nice ...

Good luck with the project!

Martin.

[Tim Robinson]

Thanks Martin Yes $100 shipping for an $80 blank

[Martin.E]

Don't know of too many retailers in Oz who stock their blanks. The only place I have seen them is Narabeen bait and tackle in Sydney. In Brisbane the Tackle Warehouse in Camp Hill have CD flyrods but no blanks as far as I know.

Martin.

[Owen]

Seems to me you could get a "reasonable" indication of how the cut blank is going to perform before you cut it.

Grasp your 5ft blank a foot further up and load it and you'll see how cutting from the butt will affect it.

Tie a bit of line a foot from the tip and load it up and it should behave somewhat like it would if you cut from that end.

Yes, a cut back blank will change, but that doesn't mean it is a lesser blank for the new intended purpose.

I'd probably angle for a slower rod in a kayak just because you are more likely to have the buggers dive right beside the boat. A fast blank would be harder to handle IMHO.
So I'd cut a five footer from the butt.

All theoretical of course and I'm happy to be put straight.

[BenatCoffs]

Tim I have a Batson SP600 here that I am building for my son as his first rod (he's 9 months old so I have a little while . When I first purchased the blank it was purely as a kayak concept I had in mind and once built will be doing HB duties on the yak (yes dear it is for Lachie ) blank cost me about $24 and so is a deadset bargain. I really wouldn't call it for a 3kg blank though as it is rated 1-4lb and I'll fish 4lb over it. Blank is extremely lightweight at around 15 grams. My intention was for bass and bream though and whilst light I believe it will do the job well.

[OzRods]

Hi Ben78
You forgot to tell him that blank (SP600) came with a lifetime warranty. As do all Batson's blanks

[Jeremy87]

I'm using a samurai S012 at the moment as a spin set up and am happy with the way it casts and handles fish. Any reason for going with a baitcaster? I find spin rods alot easier to use and more versitile for smaller lures in skinny water.