What blanks do ya'll like best?

[FiveAlive]

Just curious as to what everyones favorite blanks are?

I really like the looks and feel of the Shikari blanks, and St. Croixs seem REALLY nice too

[jimmy7]

just about any manufacturer makes good blanks...

honestly, if you custom built a rod and blindfolded a person, you would be VERY hard pressed to have someone identify the blank :)

with that said, i like shikari, st.croix, loomis, rainshadow, and furnace bay

[Mr B]

For quality, straight, light , sensitive, American built blanks I prefer St Croix. I use their SCV series for Jigs and bottom contact lures and SCIII for reaction stuff.
Top quality and they stand behind their product.

[Rob98682]

I like making my own blanks:) when i break one i can go and make a new one just like it or change it any way i want.. plus i can have it any color and any length i want if i want 6'8 and 3/4 i can do it:)

[FiveAlive]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Rob98682 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I like making my own blanks:) when i break one i can go and make a new one just like it or change it any way i want.. plus i can have it any color and any length i want if i want 6'8 and 3/4 i can do it:)

</TD></TR></TABLE>
How exactly do you make your own blanks?

[RajunCajun]

Cain pole

[FiveAlive]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by gator427 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Cain pole </TD></TR></TABLE>
That's funny

[HeavyMetalBassinKing]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Rob98682 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I like making my own blanks:) when i break one i can go and make a new one just like it or change it any way i want.. plus i can have it any color and any length i want if i want 6'8 and 3/4 i can do it:)</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yeah, how do you make your own blank? That sounds pretty interesting

[JeremyL]

I got to feel some of these rods today build on the Shikari blank and I really like the way they feel, He was out of the big stick but he has more coming in and I will be getting one.

http://www.brianscrankbaits.co...s.htm

[Rob98682]

I am fortunate enough to work for a very high end fly rod manufacturer and am lucky enough to have a boss who will let me use his shop and materials to develop my own rods.. In fact he is trying to get me to start my own business building a line of bass rods and blanks, because He only makes fly rods i wouldn't be competing with him so he is all for it.. it's actually pretty fun to see how different tapers make a rod respond different ways.. playing around with different materials is fun too.. or even more than one material in one rod...

anyway when i needed a rod last summer i figured if i have all the materials and machinery to make my own why not :)

[jimmy7]

rob you are in a very fortunate position to be able to design your own flags and mandrels! i got to do a couple flag designs that was rolled up on a pretty standard taper mandrel... it was neat to see what i got.

I know some guys from the rod builders guild have gone to st.croix on tours and they were able to design and roll their own blanks while on the tour.

as for customizing length... especially if you want it shorter. Just take your rod and find the nearest car door, rod locker, etc... measure to lenght, then close the door! seriously though, rod blanks are very easy to trim with a dremel tool and cut off wheel. Any custom builder can cut a blank to the length you desire

[RedneckfromRI]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ncz20 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I got to feel some of these rods today build on the Shikari blank and I really like the way they feel, He was out of the big stick but he has more coming in and I will be getting one.

http://www.brianscrankbaits.co...s.htm</TD></TR></TABLE>

Jeremy,
You should buy all the rods you can from him!!
Standard wholesale pricing on an SHX blank is between $70-$80 and thats not counting shipping................Those rods have $100 worth of materials in them. Just another reason why rod building isnt a way to make a living unless you mass produce and can buy in huge quantities to get the prices down.........