Building Super Low Mass Mod action Rods: Blanks

[Alex from GA]

Heavier guides soften the action also.

[MickD]

True, any weight will slow the action.  Just tape some lead to the blank.  Or, get the right blank in the first place.  In this case, I think the blanks made from unobtainium are in order.  ?

[Paul Roberts]

On 12/20/2019 at 3:09 PM, MickD said:

"Moderate to slow action with power all the way out."  How much power? You have not mentioned the weight of lure you're planning to cast.  One of the most important characteristics of a rod is to load properly for the cast.  

 

If you are really looking for power "all the way out" , it won't matter what the action is.  The tip will be very stiff.  A broomstick has "power all the way out" and is a slow action.  Problem solved.  Sorry for the sarcasm, but I think this is a case of a not being able to describe what you want but you'll be able to recognize it if you ever see it.  Or feel it.

 

 

https://getbitoutdoors.com/batson-gaff-blanks/

 

On 12/20/2019 at 7:42 PM, WRB said:

Simple, close it in a car door.

Tom

 

24 minutes ago, MickD said:

True, any weight will slow the action.  Just tape some lead to the blank.  Or, get the right blank in the first place.  In this case, I think the blanks made from unobtainium are in order.  ?

Apparently, cabin fever is setting in. Happy holidays all.

[spoonplugger1]

Weight won't slow the action, it will slow the REACTION,not the same thing, not even close. Additional weight deadens the sensitivity big time. X Fast action can be built from any material, reaction time will not be the same, weight won't be the same, it won't fish the same, but the way the rod bends will always be the same.

[MickD]

  It could be that some of us are talking dynamics while others are talking statics.  By the CCS definition of "slow", measured as the angle to vertical that the tip makes when the rod is loaded, weight will not affect action.  But adding a couple oz a foot down fro the tip, sure seems to slow it down.  Regardless, I think I picked the right material.

[J Francho]

This reminds me of conversations about skateboard sizes.  People go on and on about the difference between an 8.0 width deck and an 8.125, lol.  I skate an 8.25, 8.125, and a 9.  I can pretty much do all the things I can do on all of them, as long as I have wheels on the ground (or most of the time, anyway).  Really the more important stat is wheelbase.  It's like that with rods - it's all about the bend.  I'd buy that AVC70MM off the shelf, and be done with it.  Mine is probably more than a decade old now, still catches, and works for so many things that are cranky.

[.ghoti.]

Chiming in again, because I just finished a build for my brother. He asked for a 7’, two piece, 5wt, fiberglass fly rod. I asked, why?. He said because I don’t have one, and nobody makes one. Fair enough, so I stated looking for blanks. He was right. Nobody makes one. I should qualify that. They are out there, but the couple I found were from low volume custom fab shops, and were way too expensive.

 

I tested a lot of blanks, looking for an alternative. And found one. Seeker s-glas two piece fiberglass UL spinning rod blank. CCS tested right in the middle of the 5wt range. Faster in action than a conventional glass fly rod, but still what I would call moderate action. It is extremely light weight for a glass blank. Under load, it flexes a long way down the blank. It casts a weight forward 5wt line nicely.

 

I took it out in the gravel road in front of my cabin with a spinning reel mounted and tested it out. Used an 1/8oz jighead and drug it through the rocks and gravel. Surprisingly sensitive for a glass rod. 

 

This one was an UL, but it is not the only model they make. I can do a little more research and see what they have that would fit your needs. Give me a weight range you would cast.

[Paul Roberts]

@.ghoti. Sounds wonderful. I bet he'll be happy with that one.

 

I'm playing around with an idea I'd like to try. And I think I'll stick with graphite for it. But thanks!

[spoonplugger1]

Statics can be measured and are repeatable, what a particular manufacturer calls MH, a certain line weight, or lure weight is all subjective, there is no industry standard. That's why the Common Cents System is so importanr, not because it gives you a dyed in the wool value you can set all things to, it gives you a repeatable comparision value so you can produce the same thing over and over again, or at least know why it isn"t. Just like if you need to cut two boards identical by using a yardstick, tape measure whatever. To get the best result you use the same measuring device, you don't measure the work at the site than use a different measuring device to cut it, compared devices side  by side lately?

[WC53]

On 12/26/2019 at 8:51 AM, .ghoti. said:

Chiming in again, because I just finished a build for my brother. He asked for a 7’, two piece, 5wt, fiberglass fly rod. I asked, why?. He said because I don’t have one, and nobody makes one. Fair enough, so I stated looking for blanks. He was right. Nobody makes one. I should qualify that. They are out there, but the couple I found were from low volume custom fab shops, and were way too expensive.

 

I tested a lot of blanks, looking for an alternative. And found one. Seeker s-glas two piece fiberglass UL spinning rod blank. CCS tested right in the middle of the 5wt range. Faster in action than a conventional glass fly rod, but still what I would call moderate action. It is extremely light weight for a glass blank. Under load, it flexes a long way down the blank. It casts a weight forward 5wt line nicely.

 

I took it out in the gravel road in front of my cabin with a spinning reel mounted and tested it out. Used an 1/8oz jighead and drug it through the rocks and gravel. Surprisingly sensitive for a glass rod. 

 

This one was an UL, but it is not the only model they make. I can do a little more research and see what they have that would fit your needs. Give me a weight range you would cast.

Old, old thread..lol… just wondering how that turned out over the long haul. I was looking at their blanks yesterday and wondered if one would make a decent 6-7.

[MickD]

On 12/25/2019 at 2:48 PM, Alex from GA said:

Heavier guides soften the action also.

They slow the response/recovery speed of the rod.  They don't change the power or action (defined as where the rod initially bends) of the rod. 

[Chris Catignani]

I really like this MHX CB843...it may just suit you...

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