Finding an 8' Blank Help

[Michigander]

For a special project, I am trying to find an 8' ultralight/light 5/6wt 2 piece fiberglass blank with moderate action around or under $50. I found one at Jann's Netcraft but it's backordered until it isn't, lol. So anyone know of another blank that fits this bill?

[MickD]

Sounds like you're looking for a fly blank?  Why glass?

[Michigander]

1 hour ago, MickD said:

Sounds like you're looking for a fly blank?  Why glass?

My friend's father in law broke his favorite rod (allegedly death by raccoons) and these were basically the specs. As a present, we're trying to recreate it because it was discontinued. It was a Berkley Trout Dough rod.

 

Fiberglass was the original material and will be used for bluegill, sucker, and carp fishing lol. 

 

[MickD]

Got it. Thanks.  If you're committed to glass because the original was glass, then that is fine.  But, graphite can provide the same power and action with less weight than glass, so I think that all you need to do to get a very similar rod is to get a fly blank in the right length with traditional or moderate action, I would say no more than 5 weight, and you will have a very similar rod.  I know that 3 is too light in power for a carp rod, and my  6 bonefish rod is probably at the high end for power for what you want.  I guess I would go for a 5.

[Michigander]

1 hour ago, MickD said:

Got it. Thanks.  If you're committed to glass because the original was glass, then that is fine.  But, graphite can provide the same power and action with less weight than glass, so I think that all you need to do to get a very similar rod is to get a fly blank in the right length with traditional or moderate action, I would say no more than 5 weight, and you will have a very similar rod.  I know that 3 is too light in power for a carp rod, and my  6 bonefish rod is probably at the high end for power for what you want.  I guess I would go for a 5.

Graphite gets fewer sucker bites according to the father in law, so it must be fiberglass. Also for durability, he's a barbarian when it comes to rods,?.

 

Yeah, 5wt seems about right, just need to find one in the price range.

[spoonplugger1]

8 ft. that power isn't near as popular as it once was, 8 1/2 ft now is more the norm. Take what you can get at that price.

[MickD]

If you find an 8 1/2 you can always cut 6 inches off the butt if you really want 8 feet.  

[MickD]

You can also add 6 inches to a 7 1/2 foot blank.  Put the joint under the grip/seat.  Just did one this way.  Can't tell it was made from two pieces.

[Deephaven]

I have lots of attention extended rods.  Just a piece glued in under the cork that only I know about.

[Michigander]

For extensions, does that need to be done over a full grip? I was planning to use a split grip on this build.

[Deephaven]

1 hour ago, Michigander said:

For extensions, does that need to be done over a full grip? I was planning to use a split grip on this build.

The bottom of the Winn grip on this rod is nearly 100% extension.

 

[MickD]

It can be done under a split grip if the layout of the rod allows the joint to be under the seat.  If you can work that out, no one will know and the rod will work fine.  The only problem with this is that the extension and the upper blank may not match.  Which is what I encountered on the one I just did.  I put abalone between the seat and the butt and some up above the seat to match, and it's a great looking rod.

[ATA]

On 3/23/2021 at 8:19 PM, Michigander said:

For a special project, I am trying to find an 8' ultralight/light 5/6wt 2 piece fiberglass blank with moderate action around or under $50. I found one at Jann's Netcraft but it's backordered until it isn't, lol. So anyone know of another blank that fits this bill?

yesterday I order Okuma 8' 2pcs, I think it was 49.99.

[Michigander]

4 minutes ago, ATA said:

yesterday I order Okuma 8' 2pcs, I think it was 49.99.

Was it a blank or a rod?

[ATA]

Here it is, it was $41.99

[Michigander]

5 hours ago, Deephaven said:

The bottom of the Winn grip on this rod is nearly 100% extension.

 

So there's no detriment to fishing strength or rod durability by using an extension?

1 minute ago, ATA said:

Here it is, it was $41.99

Oh, ok that's a rod. I am looking for a blank, but thanks for trying!

[ATA]

2 minutes ago, Michigander said:

So there's no detriment to fishing strength or rod durability by using an extension?

Oh, ok that's a rod. I am looking for a blank, but thanks for trying!

You are welcome

[spoonplugger1]

If an 8 ft 5/6 was hard to find, you's think a 7 1/2 ft would be harder yet. 

[Deephaven]

6 hours ago, Michigander said:

So there's no detriment to fishing strength or rod durability by using an extension?

 

No.  Mine are extended with a piece of another rod glued in.  Amazing how little overlap it takes.  Guaranteed it is not where my rod is going to break.

[redux]

Sounds like you should just buy an American Eagle Featherlight. I found some on Amazon for cheap.

[Alpster]

I have a noodle spinning rod that I built from a "Lamiglas" 8' 4wt fiberglass fly rod blank. it is a blast for panfishing.

[Michigander]

10 minutes ago, Alpster said:

I have a noodle spinning rod that I built from a "Lamiglas" 8' 4wt fiberglass fly rod blank. it is a blast for panfishing.

Was it 2 piece? All the Lamiglas ones I found were 3+.

[Alpster]

On 4/9/2021 at 11:31 AM, Michigander said:

Was it 2 piece? All the Lamiglas ones I found were 3+.

Nope, 1 piece. I would post a picture but its still packed away from my recent move. It goes back many years, they may not make it anymore.