Point blank or eternity or ???

[twofishy4u]

Building a spinning rod.  6'8" - 7'.  Not over 7'.  Using it for husky jerks (hj10 mainly) and will also do some bottom contact fishing with light jigs and likely dropshot to 1/2 ounce.  Right now using an old sb822.5 rx6.  Does jerks well but lacks bottom contact sensitivity.  Will be using titanium guides and carbon or cork handle.  Not sure of carbon feel yet.  Was thinking pb69mlf or pb69mlxf?  Also eternity series looks nice that 610mxf, but have heard it is way overrated...fishes more like a ml or even a light.

[MikeK]

CCS Power

SB822.5 438g

PB691MLXF 504g

ETES610MXF 248g

 

ETES is slowest action of the three

 

PB691MXF 575g

 

[MickD]

my favorite rod for this type of fishing is the PB701MLF.  Don't be fooled by the ML designation, it has an ERN of about 20, or 580 grams.  77 degree action angle.  Most anglers would consider this a medium power blank.  I use it for everything from neds up to 3/8 tubes.  And cranks.

 

I also fish the 7 foot 2 RX10 Medium power.   597 grams, 75 degrees.

 

The two rods fish a lot alike, but I like the PB best.

 

As some of you know, I do True Natural Frequency testing and Point Blanks generally have the highest TNF numbers of the premium blanks.  While the RX10 is high, it is slightly under the PB701MLF. Being a little longer this might be expected.  Some argue that TNF indicates sensitivity, and I believe that, but that position is not universally held.  However no one has yet provided objective data that disproves it.  It is clear and not in dipute that the higher the TNF the higher the recovery speed from deflection.  

[twofishy4u]

OK I can't find ccs data anywhere for a sb822.5.  That being said if it is 438 the imms610mxf at 427 is close and the point blank pb701l is probably closer than the pb701mlf?  I called batson today and they claim the eternity 6'10 mxf is just that.  It isn't I've read too many negative reviews on it.  I'm open to any suggestions.  You guys have built a lot more than I so I appreciate the help.  Honestly that imortal 610 probably would work great but man I hate the silver blank with a passion!!!!!

 

[Logan S]

For jerkbaits on a spinning rod, I'd prefer the PB691MLXF over the PB701MLF by a pretty wide margin...But for everything else you described I think it'd be a toss up between the two.  The 701MLF is noticably more powerful than the 691MLXF...I have 575g vs 510g respectively for my own rods in CCS (both 77deg AA).  The 701MLF is on the more powerful side of 'medium' and the 691MLXF is on the lighter side of 'medium'...Neither would be what I would call 'medium light' if I were to use traditional terms, just FYI and my opinion only.  

 

I love the PB701LXF for dropshots, but given the 1/2oz weight you mentioned plus the addition of jerkbaits I don't know that it would be the best fit for your goal, probably a little light on power for you....Although it does match pretty close to the CCS of your existing rod based on the numbers posted above.  435g/77deg for CCS on this one, worth considering with how close it matches.  

 

Hope that helps a little.

[S Hovanec]

I was disappointed in the power of my MXF Eternity.  Fishes like my mag light NFC.  Everything feels like a 4 pounder.

[spoonplugger1]

You do know that Rainshadow makes the blank you like is two other higher modulus carbons? Going from 33 modulus carbon to 58 modulus can change sensitivity a bit. Sure would save a bunch of guesswork about what you are buying. I've never found the shotgun approach to blank selection to be near as effective or knowledge building.

[dv616]

10 hours ago, S Hovanec said:

I was disappointed in the power of my MXF Eternity.  Fishes like my mag light NFC.  Everything feels like a 4 pounder.

Same.  My rx10 mxf blanks were the most disappointing blanks I have order compared to what I expected based on rod ratings and given specs.  

[spoonplugger1]

Where are you fishing? You do know there are regional differences in rods, a western built Sage rod will work much better in the windy open west than a spring creek back east. G Loomis boomed in popularity when the bass presentation started to get lighter, they had the rods already while others were selling broom handles. Finess techniques? G Loomis already had the rod, same with dropshot. The deep, clean western reservoirs demanded them before the lighter presentations migrated east and they needed them. Same with the old Texas All Stars and Castaways, same with the Great Lakes and Midwest St. Croix.

[twofishy4u]

On 9/6/2023 at 8:36 AM, Logan S said:

For jerkbaits on a spinning rod, I'd prefer the PB691MLXF over the PB701MLF by a pretty wide margin...But for everything else you described I think it'd be a toss up between the two.  The 701MLF is noticably more powerful than the 691MLXF...I have 575g vs 510g respectively for my own rods in CCS (both 77deg AA).  The 701MLF is on the more powerful side of 'medium' and the 691MLXF is on the lighter side of 'medium'...Neither would be what I would call 'medium light' if I were to use traditional terms, just FYI and my opinion only.  

 

I love the PB701LXF for dropshots, but given the 1/2oz weight you mentioned plus the addition of jerkbaits I don't know that it would be the best fit for your goal, probably a little light on power for you....Although it does match pretty close to the CCS of your existing rod based on the numbers posted above.  435g/77deg for CCS on this one, worth considering with how close it matches.  

 

Hope that helps a little.

Thoughts on the pb66mlxf?  Specs are really close to the 6'9".  

On 9/6/2023 at 12:52 PM, spoonplugger1 said:

You do know that Rainshadow makes the blank you like is two other higher modulus carbons? Going from 33 modulus carbon to 58 modulus can change sensitivity a bit. Sure would save a bunch of guesswork about what you are buying. I've never found the shotgun approach to blank selection to be near as effective or knowledge building.

I know.  That being said I wanted to build the 6'10" mxf eternity.  The reviews on this blank match the ccs database.  Its more of a light rod than a medium and most guys are super disappointed in it.  I have yet to hear someone hate there point blank.  

[MikeK]

PB661MLXF 478g ccs power, same action as PB691MLXF.

[twofishy4u]

29 minutes ago, MikeK said:

PB661MLXF 478g ccs power, same action as PB691MLXF.

Mike K do you have a file of these #'s?  Where do I find this?  

 

Thank you!

[MickD]

For Point Blank CCS data go to the Anglers Resource site, click on "Open Menu,"  click on the blank section, click on "click here. . . . ",  click on "Product" for product descriptions, click on the length you want to look at, then under each blank's description you will see a dim link called "Hard Specs."  Sounds complicated, but it's logical, and do it a few times it becomes a piece of cake. 

 

I don't see a MLXF there.  I wouldn't go lighter in power than this one.   And 77 degrees is pretty fast.

PB661MXF

Length: 6 ft 6 inches
Action Angle: XF • 66-degrees (RDA) • 77-degrees (CCS)
Power: Med / 395gr (RDA) • ERN 19 (CCS)
Weight: 1.41oz.
Butt Dia: 13.91 mm
Tip Size: 1.68mm (4.5)
Lure Wt: 1/32 to 5/8oz
Sugg Line Wt: 6-14 mono
10-15lb braid

[Logan S]

13 hours ago, twofishy4u said:

Thoughts on the pb66mlxf?  Specs are really close to the 6'9". 

I see a 66MLF, not a 66MLXF, but I think PB has changed around their model #s because I've seen other instanced of these.  Have not used that particular blank either way, so can't comment specifically.  It does appear very similar to the 69MLXF and the 66MXF. 

 

Point Blank publishes their specs on the Anglers Resource site like Mick said.  There is also a CCS database on another rod building forum which is helpful.  I keep my own database with rods I've personally measured and also from trusted sources (like the rod building forum I mentioned).  

 

[MikeK]

12 hours ago, twofishy4u said:

Mike K do you have a file of these #'s?  Where do I find this?  

 

Thank you!

Just numbers from blanks I've measured.

[MickD]

LoganS, please explain your power number.  I notice that one blank with 480 IP is 4.3 while one with 505 is 4.1.  thanks

 

I must have gotten a different blank on the  RS IMM72ML as mine is much slower and less powerful than yours.   It was a disappointment to me based on my expectations from its description.  Nothing close to 81 degrees.  I am not disputing your numbers. 

[Logan S]

9 minutes ago, MickD said:

LoganS, please explain your power number.  I notice that one blank with 480 IP is 4.3 while one with 505 is 4.1.  thanks

 

I must have gotten a different blank on the  RS IMM72ML as mine is much slower and less powerful than yours.   It was a disappointment to me based on my expectations from its description.  Nothing close to 81 degrees.  I am not disputing your numbers. 

On the IMM72ML - I got that from the CCS DB on rodbuilding, so it's not 'my' number.

 

The power rating is my own personal tool.  I only really care about bass fishing so I only have blanks in my DB that would be applicable in one way or another to bass fishing....It's a function IP and length because in my opinion and experience on the water - Take two rods with the same IP but different lengths, the longer is more powerful.  It's predominantly based on IP, but factors in rod length.

 

(IP * (Length/96"))*100 is my formula, I use 96" as the denominator because 8' is generally the max rod length for bass fishing...Multiply by 100 at the end to get it into a single or double digit rating (rounded to nearest tenth).  If you notice the 'Spec' column, my traditional rating in there is derived from Power rating...IE, 4.0 to 5.5 is what I call 'Medium'.  My sheet has all these formulas plugged in so when I measure a new rod I just put in the Length, IP, and AA and it does all the rest.  

 

Like I said, it's my own little tool and I've found it to be pretty reliable...I like this kind of stuff so I tend to go overboard.  

 

Sorry for the tangent, I'd be happy to post more about it separately if people are interested.  

[corey90]

i brought the 72mhf eternity blank and broke while testing the guide spacing and while slighty bending the tip the rod broke from 8 inches from the tip

[MikeK]

Ouch!

 

Had a friend with a similar situation this summer.  He contacted the vendor and they contacted Batson and arranged a warranty replacement.  Got replacement through vendor very quickly.

[twofishy4u]

Thanks guys a wealth of knowledge.  Looks like I should get a point blank.   If anyone else has other suggestions please let me know.  

[MickD]

The comments on blanks breaking lead me to recall the day I snagged a crank in shallow water fishing with my PB731MXF and the wind blew the boat over the snag.  My PB was  bent so sharply around the trolling motor shaft that I thought it was already broken.  I got the snag loose and inspected the rod and the only apparent damage was a couple bent guides.  I've been using the rod for about 3 years since.  Seems the PB's are pretty tough.