rod for my wife

[jakemcarroll]

I plan to build my wife a new fishing rod for this upcoming summer. She only fishing with a spincast reel and she is in need of a two piece rod (we will take it camping and on trips, much easier to handle in two pieces). I'm looking for a recommendation on overall length, weight, action. I'm thinking 6' to 6'6" in a ML fast action. She mainly fishes panfish, by bobber, so being able to cast well is a must. She will occasionally run into the stray northern or bass as well. Thanks in advance for the advice!

[LightningBG]

That title could go soooo many different ways.

[lovebigbluegills]

That title could go soooo many different ways.

I'm glad I wasn't the only one that thought that.

Back to the subject at hand, I'd go with a 6'0" light or medium light personally.

[kenais]

I would go with a 7-0 mod-fast/light blank. The moderate action will load the rod at a slower speed and help keep the bait from leaving the hook during the cast. The extra length will pick up more line for better hook sets.

[upnorth]

6 to 7 foot Med Lt and moderate fast action. It is the 2 piece that really limits you. I do a fair amount of 2 piece rods and they are the biggest pain to find in decent quality blank. I just ordered a cabelas fish eagle 7 2 piece and have yet to get it so can't really say how nice a blank it is. Should get it in a few days.

[jakemcarroll]

I guess I should have thought about the title a little more, ha ha...

Upnorth, I'd definitely interested to hear about the blank when you receive it. Thanks!

[Kris Kristufek]

Give me a shout, I can help you out with the rod for your wife. She will be most proud to own and fish with a LakeLady Custom Fishing Rod. We have access to well over 1,800 blanks, one of them will work for sure!

Kris Kristufek

[mainbutter]

Nothing wrong with a longer fishing rod. A longer lever, wider arc, gets a lure moving faster for longer casts. I'd certainly not ignore the possibility of a 7' or 7'6'' if you're doing a two piecer.

Then again, if you're dealing with lots of branches and stuff shore fishing while camping, a 6 footer is much more maneuverable and helps to reduce tangling a rigged up rod as you walk through the wilderness.

For panfish, I'd go anything from light to medium, you can't really go wrong. I like medium rods myself for bobber fishing because they let me fling heavier bobbers which let me cast a bit further due to the increased momentum vs wind resistance.. unless you are dealing with bobber shy panfish and need to use dinky bobbers.

[rodmaker]

Alot depends on your price range. Anything in St. Croix I would go 6'6" either a UL or ML. If it is mainly for Pannies, go Ultra Light

[upnorth]

Alot depends on your price range. Anything in St. Croix I would go 6'6" either a UL or ML. If it is mainly for Pannies, go Ultra Light

Biggest issue he is going to run into is the 2 piece blank, lot less choices in 2 piece.

[rodmaker]

Check out some of the cabela's blanks. The XML's are nice and they have a huge selection

[upnorth]

Just got it(the cabelas blank) in yesterday and opened this am. I am going to say this is a pretty darn nice blank for the $$$. It is easily a nicer blank than the St Croix SCII blanks I have used in the past for 2 piece blanks. Probably comparable to the SCIII blanks or at least very close. I won't know for sure until it is totally built and tested, but the blank is light, fast and should easily fit the bill for what I am building it for.

I know most people are looking for 1 piece rods and the blank manufacturers lean that way, but when you have someone looking for a 2 piece for whatever reason it is nice to be able to get the blank you want(length, action, line wt, lure wt etc) in a 2 piece blank. I am not doing this to tell people they should only be using a 1 piece rod. 2 piece rods have their place and with the way way the make ferules now days there is very little difference(if any) in the sensitivity of a 2 piece rod. It could be considered a weak spot, but if done right and proper care it shouldn't really have an affect on the rod over time. And by care I mean the way it is built and keeping it clean, a simple wipe down before putting it together should do it. The biggest enemy of a ferrule over the years is dirt in the ferule and then twisted together or apart, it acts like grinding it over time.

Wow I got way off track there didn't I. Bout time to start getting ready to head out fishing(lake I am going to is a later in the day starter) and catch me a few crappies