Here is where i am at 10 years fishing with a beginner rod not enough cash to buy a sage . Looking for some input on rod kits that has good action and not a beginner rod i have out grown that. looking to spend 150 to 200 . I feel like with a little patiences and a few questions, i feel confident i can put one together to save a few bucks.I have read all about how that manufacturer's new technology is better than the others etc. would actually like some input on those of u that have casted them and stand behind it. any input would be welcomed.

duh looking for a 2 piece 9 foot 5wt kit cant believe i left that out)

depending on what type of action you like try a st. croix LU or avid both great rods with great customer service

Hmmm, this sort of post is fun! :-)

what kind of fishing do you do, and what kind of rod do you use (action/size/etc). and do you want to replicate it in size (retire the other) or go for something else, bigger or smaller?

i've just built a few rods over the past few months, started back in august very slowly. took until october to start the second one. just finished number 7, all fly rods for sierra stream trout.

one of them, a blue imported batson enterprises forecast 8 foot 3 piece for 4 weight cost less than $20 for the blank. reel seat was $10 or $15 (black aluminum cap and ring with chestnut wood insert), cigar grip about $5 (nice cork too!). feels nice. forecast blanks are good quality and make great first-time rods, backup rods, loaners, inexpensive gifts for others or heck, even primary rods. dress them up with nice components! i have a 7'-6" four piece forecast with a custom made grip i turned myself using a cordless drill on my back porch in the fenwick style incorporating a single mottled burnt cork ring where the thumb normally rests. blank was about $17.

i built my dad a 9 foot, four piece 4 weight blank on a beautiful green pacific bay rainforest blank, about $45 (auction). i used a batson forecast uplocking nickle silver reel seat with cocobola wood insert ($15 auction) and a reverse half western cork grip (ok/nice quality for about $8). feels nicer, and light.

i just built one for myself, a dan craft signature V 8'-4" 3/4 weight 3 piece blank ($87) with a bellinger nickle silver downlocking cap and ring seat ($35 auction) and titanium single foot guides ($15?) which casts wonderully but a bit faster than the others. dan makes some of the nicest blanks out there, on par with manufactured rods costing much much more.

there are a lot of fans when it comes to st croix. i've never cast one so don't have any experience. if you're into small streams, try a dan craft blank. he also offers the slightly more moderate Signature III in an 8 foot, 3 weight, 5 piece for about $70. and his FT series are the rave in some rodbuilding circles.

as for kits, i prefer to assemble the components piece by piece rather than using a prearranged kit. the nicest thing about making your own is selecting each and every component on there. many rodbuilding vendors offering supplies are great to talk to and they will help assemble a "kit" for you with components you select. just order a few catalogs and see what variations things come in. i would suggest the pacific bay and batson enterprises catalogs for starters. high quality, full color and best of all, free. even though you're new to this, i would bet you'll surprise yourself how easy it is to make a nice functional rod which casts well.

i'm new to this and it's mainly a hobby, started when i realized i could not justify the cost of having an "arsenal/quiver" of rods in various lengths and sizes i'd like to have just for kicks. i have a close friend in the same situation and so he'll benefit.

there are a couple of web sites that have been very helpful, let me know if you want me to share them with you. the newer tech blanks out there are cutting edge in material and wall thickness and seemingly get faster and faster in action but that's not always important or desireable. and they are usually more expensive. most of these blank manufacturers i've been using and others offer their own warranty against defects in manufacturing of the blank.

eric
fresno, ca.