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[Ivan]

I want to build a couple of travel rods for a return trip to smyna beach and the M Lagoon in the fall. I was thinking rainforest also Temple Fork. Maybe 9'6" 4 pc 7wt and some sized 9 wt. I have both already but they are two piece. I was in Lake Mary Florida on Business amd want to go back to strickly fish!!!!

Any suggestions? sizes? blanks? Manufacturers. wts for this area. Also any suggestions on conventional blanks for inshore.

All fishing probaly be from the shore. Maybe a short inshore charter.

[Hollis]

Good post, Ivan. You were reading my mind...........

I'm looking to build a 7-8wt travel rod for saltwater and liked the Dan Craft rod on this page.

I want somthing similar to what you want(Ivan)- 9ft or more and a good fast action. I also am looking for the most bang for my buck since I don't do a lot of saltwater fishing. I don't need a Sage, Orvis, high dollar etc....... Dan Craft, Rainforest, or any other economical rod will make me happy. I just want the advise of those wiser than me!

Keep us posted-

I'm also curious to know if you have to wrap differently for a saltwater rod.
-Hollis

[TheEndlessEnigma]

i have a 7 weight rx7 blank that a good friend of mine built me up. one word of advice. do not use any snake guides and use all stripping guides the length of the rod ....... the difference is astounding. and this rod will send line a country mile and is accurate enough to poke old yeller in the eye.

ok time to cast a while

half day off .... weee (eyeroll)

[Windknot]

Hey Ivan! Glad to hear from you.

If we were talking fresh water, we could debate rod blanks for months. For that salty stuff, where winds blow and flies grow to scary sizes, the first blank that comes to mind is Dan Craft, either the FT model or FTL. You can find four- or more-piece blanks in a length and weight to suit your needs. I trust Josh and/or Steve will chime in here. DC makes a dynamic stick at a bargain price. IMHO. YMMV.
Don

[streamer]

Im sure Gontoseed has casted more blanks than me, but of all the rods I've casted and built, the dan crafts are at the top of the list. All the FT series are 4 pc, and he even has it in 10' 3-10wt. He also has a FTL that is not as fast as the ft. I have a DC 1,5,7wts and plan on starting a 9wt after i finish my current project. All are welcome to cast my rods if you want to feel for yourselfs. You can buy name brand blank( sage, loomis. ect.) But i say, why spend the extra money. Save it for ceramic guides :) right GTS.

I think the ft 9ft 7wt 4pc was around $110

I like the Rx7 in 5wt and lower, not that the higher weights are not good rods, it just does not fit my casting stroke as good as the FT does. I like the cabelas ft blanks, but if im going to spend that much i may as well spend $20 more and get the DC.
I have a factory built Temple fork ticr 9wt that i like but am going to sell in a few weeks, and replace it with a DC ft that i built. It's the only factory rod I own, so i want to build me one. But Like the cabalas ft, i think this blank is close in price to the DC. So im going to go with the DC.

As far a what weight, I think most people will say a 9wt, for a " if i only had one" saltwater rod.

[GUTHOOKED]

Ivan, I know this doesn't help you right now, but if you're looking for conventional spin/cast blanks, you need to go to the rodbuilding show in Charlotte next year. For the last two years, Andy Dear has had barrels full of closeout blanks from AllStar at ten bucks each. He may have still have some on hand, you'd just need to call and find out.

[Ivan]

Thanks sorry I didn't back get sooner I am still in training; sometimes out of town. All great insight. I had not thought about the DC line but it does make sense. I like 10ft length but is that a good length in say a 9wt down there.

I recently finished the rainshadow 10 ft 4wt Ive been talking about and I also built a 3 others. Pictures to follow

Any recommendations on blank wts for the smyrna area (misquito lagoon. I will be both fishing from both shore and land.

[NickelCigar]

7-9 you'll be fine, look into renting a kayak or canoe, though there are miles of wadable flats. Pick up a Top Spot map of the Mosquito Lagoon area for a good overview. Fish Hawk carries them. Fall is a great time to fish the IRL system.

[GonetoSeed]

Sorry this is late. I'll jump on the DC FT bandwagon. imo, It's hard to beat an 8 for all around SW unless you are targeting big Tarpon.

Take a look at the American Tackle Titan guides. They are TI frames with a proprietary ring that is almost as hard as SIC. They are less expensive than the Fuji TI frame SIC but are very, very close in quality.

Also durability I like to use a high-quality all AL reel seat. REC and Stuble make nice ones with fighting butt attachments.

[Ivan]

Thanks Seed and Cigar. I am going take another look at the DC line. The topo map is a great idea and so is the Kayak rental. Thanks again.