Pike Rod Blank?

[bltbowhunter]

I was recently asked by a friend of the family to make a rod for her husband for Christmas. He doesn't fish a lot, but does take a trip every year to Canada to fish Pike. I fished with him this past year up there and the fish we caught ranged from 30-45 inches. I want to build him a 6'6" spinning rod that is going to be decent quality, but probably don't need the best blank in the world. I have been building quite a few rods on RX8 Batson blanks for walleyes and panfish, but I don't know if I need that expensive/sensitive of a blank for fish like pike that hammer the baits. I've never built a pike rod and I don't fish them that much myself, so I was wondering what you would all suggest for a blank (preferably Batson)? I'd like to keep it under $100. Preferably around $50-$70.

Thanks,

Jeremy

[bltbowhunter]

Has anyone tried the IMU66MH by Batson? They say that the color is "TC". What color is that?

[clKiekhafer]

Has anyone tried the IMU66MH by Batson? They say that the color is "TC". What color is that?

The color is Titanium Chrome.

The question you need to ask yourself is what lure size(s) will he most likely use for fishing pike? The IUM66MH is rated for 3/4 - 3 oz lures and if he normally fish's lures in the 2 oz range that his might be a good choice. But, if he fish's with spoons in the 3/4 - 1 oz range that blank might be too much. You want to have a blank that will no inhibit the lure's action and have one that is over-rated for the lures you're using will do just that.

I've made many rods used specifically for trolling for Pike on Rainy Lake. The blanks that I've used are one of these CB70H, CB70MH and CB66MH (Batson Crankbait Rods). The Heavy is rated for 3/8 - 1 1/4 oz and the MH is rated for 3/8 - 1 oz. I've landed and had others land many fish in the middle to upper 30's with no problem. You just need to make sure that you are fishing with a balanced outfit between rod, reel, line and lure and the rod will work beautifully. I've surprised many people with this set-up.

This rod can be made into either a casting or spinning and everyone that I've done have been casting. We do mostly trolling and the moderate-fast action works well when the big ones hit and will take the shock very well. I troll pretty fast so this is a good thing to have.

[CHM]

For a pike blank for travel to Canada I would not go with an RX8 TC blank. There is no need for high modulus at all. If you go with Batson you might look at a 3 or 4 power RX6 mag bass (MB783, MB784).