Panfish Custom Rod

[Collin W]

I am looking into getting in the world of custom rod building, and I am looking into starting with a ultra light rod. It is specifically a 5' Ultra Light with a moderate action. My question is, what will this rod excel at with a moderate action rather than a fast action?

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

A slower action can help protect light line during last second surges of if you hook into something bigger than the target species.

[spoonplugger1]

Colin,

If you haven't already purchased your blank, I'd go for a longer version, I see no advantage to so short a rod.

The longer rod will cast further, make all your fish feel bigger when caught, and better manipulate your presentation over distance. My first was 6 ft. long, I use a 7 ft. rod most often.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Good point ^^

[MickD]

Longer is better.  Hook sets will be much better with a longer rod.  One thing to keep in mind is that the longer rod can tend to feel a little sloppy if made from a fly blank.  If you go fly, 3 wt is about right.  The blank below has received a lot of positive comment on another forum, and is not expensive.  If I were to build a panfish rod it would be my choice.  The extra length even with a fast action will provide some protection if bigger fish are caught.  It is a Rainshadow Revelation blank.

 

REVS72UL-SB

UL Trout & Panfish

7'2"

2-6

1/32-3/16

0.393

5

Fast

UL

1.48

[Iluvsmallies]

I'm building one on a mhx s720 6' mod,ul.... it's a nice blank 

[MickD]

Surely it is, but for the best ultra light , go longer.

 

[spoonplugger1]

Love my Rainshadow XP840, 7 ft. long ultralight popping rod blank. If bass are in the offing I go to my St Croix 5S76MLXF, it has a very ulralight, but XF tip that the butt of a decently stiff Med. Light rod. I've caught trout, panfish, all the bass, speckled trout,  bonefish, steelhead, and many other fish on the St. Croix.