Best Jig blank

[Vignot']

Hi everybody,

This is my first post but I read from here for a while. Love that board.

I just built my first rod on a Shikari C602 blank and as I find the result is not so bad (good ?), I'm actually looking to my next custom rod.

I'd like a 6'6" to 7' rod to fish jigs up to 1oz in the cover, so I guess a 1.5oz would do the job.

Of course, I want the blank to be very sensitive, very light and to have a fast action and lot of backbone.

Your help is welcome to choose a blank that fit my needs.

Thank you & Cheers from France,

Pierre

[Mattman]

Hi everybody,

This is my first post but I read from here for a while. Love that board.

I just built my first rod on a Shikari C602 blank and as I find the result is not so bad (good ?), I'm actually looking to my next custom rod.

I'd like a 6'6" to 7' rod to fish jigs up to 1oz in the cover, so I guess a 1.5oz would do the job.

Of course, I want the blank to be very sensitive, very light and to have a fast action and lot of backbone.

Your help is welcome to choose a blank that fit my needs.

Thank you & Cheers from France,

Pierre

Ratings up to 1 ounce...

Loomis Mag Bass series blanks. 4 power in your preferred length.

Shikari is now ATC. A 4 power in the Mag Bass series from them.

St. Croix MHF rated casting blanks.

If you wanted to go over an ounce...

HF rated blanks from St. Croix.

Loomis has an MB785.

If you want a blank that is really light weight with a lot of feel, you need to get a blank with all carbon construction. Loomis IMX, GLX, St. Croix Legend Tournament, Legend Elite.

Anything less than those blanks will have some glass in their construction and weight will start to climb. Not that GL3's and Avids are heavy. Just not as light as their all carbon sisters...

[Vignot']

Matt,

Thanks for the answer.

GLX is not an option for me because of the high price, I'd have to choose IMX if I go with Loomis.

BUT it seems that the MB785 is only available in GL3 serie...

So the finalists are :

- 5C70HF ($180) from St Croix.

- MBV705 ($130) from ATC.

These two blank have same weight but the 5C70HF tip is bigger than the MBV705 one (7.5 vs 5.5).

Does that change on sensitivity or balance ?

Thanks again,

Pierre

[Mattman]

Matt,

Thanks for the answer.

GLX is not an option for me because of the high price, I'd have to choose IMX if I go with Loomis.

BUT it seems that the MB785 is only available in GL3 serie...

So the finalists are :

- 5C70HF ($180) from St Croix.

- MBV705 ($130) from ATC.

These two blank have same weight but the 5C70HF tip is bigger than the MBV705 one (7.5 vs 5.5).

Does that change on sensitivity or balance ?

Thanks again,

Pierre

I'm still leery of ATC...especially the V series. I've heard very mixed reviews of this series. ATC changed the SHX graphite and called it V. And they retooled most, if not all, the SHX blanks.

Rumour is that the SHIII and SHII are unchanged. Graphite and tooling. And are now the ATC III and ATC II.

Supposedly all tooling was going from Shikari in OK to ATC in WA. But, earlier this year ATC was producing blanks and the Shikari tooling was still in OK. I can only assume that ATC product was coming out of Korea.

Between your two options...the St. Croix would easily be the one I chose.

Don't forget the Legend Tournament series either.

[Mr B]

Pierre, I would go the St Croix route also. I like them much better than my Loomis's. Plus the blanks are much straighter to begin with.

I built my jig rods on both blanks 5C70MHF & 5C70HF. I love them both. They are so lite and sensitive I dont even throw jigs on my Loomis's anymore. You will not be dissapointed in the SCV blanks.

Mr B

[Matt Becker]

im having my jig rod built on a St. Croix Avid MHXF. I think it will be nice

[Vignot']

Thank you guys for the help.

Seems that I'll go St Croix

A last question as there is only a few bucks between the SCIV and SCV series.

Do you have any idea why the SCIV blanks are technic specific and the SCV are just fish specific ? Does the action will differ between two equivalent blanks of both series or is it just a weight matter ?

Thanks again,

Pierre

[Mattman]

Do you have any idea why the SCIV blanks are technic specific and the SCV are just fish specific ? Does the action will differ between two equivalent blanks of both series or is it just a weight matter ?

I think its just a marketing thing.

Of the blanks I've measured, the LE's and LT's are pretty much the same blanks. Same tip action, same taper, etc. The LT's are just slightly heavier.

[Elken]

The St. Croix blanks are very nice; I have built numerous rods on them. Another medium-priced blank to consider are the Rogue Magnum Bass series; I have a MB664 that I like a lot. I plan on building an MB704 this winter. For 1 or 1.5 oz. weights you would probably want the MB705 or MB706.

[whackumlures]

For me I would go with the Graphite USA DHX704. I have not found a better rod blank for this purpose.

[Fatman]

Check out http://shop.mudhole.com/ it is a rodbuilders catalouge that alot of guys over at www.rodbuildingforum.com use to get blanks and lot's of times they have some great sales.

Hope this helps

Fatman

[huck]

Ditto what Fatman said, and also checkout www.customtackle.com for good prices on blanks. I just build a rod with a Rainshadow blank and saved $20 on the blank alone by getting it from them versus where I originally looked to buy. They have excellent customer service too.

[sharpcard]

whackemlures mentioned the Graphite USA DHX704, I will second that. I bought a 7' custom rod built on that blank and I think it's ideal for big jigs. I have had it a couple years now and it's usually the rod I pick up first. When everyone seemed to be going to finesse techniques under tough conditions, I went bigger and bulkier and I have caught more BIG bass than ever.