Posted below about building a friend an inshore 2pc. spinning rod for mostly speckled trout, but possibly an occasional redfish. Currently looking at the 7', MHX-P843 or P844 blanks. He uses Super Spook Jrs., 3 1/2 in, 1/2 oz for topwater. would the P844 (rated 1/4 to 5/8oz.) be a better fit in this case? (Thanks, I live "in the sticks" and wish I could handle some of these blanks in person!)


Appreciated!

I think that the 843 will do just fine. The 844 is not one of my favorite blanks. I jump from an 843 to an 845.

I agree with Ellis...I use the P843 for Super Spook Jrs all the time and it does the job well. Also handles a popping cork and my new favorite the MirroDine 18MR18 Heavy Dine very nicely.

I set them up these days with an NPS18 integrated into a carbon fiber handle and Fuji KLAGs going 20-12-8 and then use CLAG 6s or 5s to a matching tip for braid with a fluoro leader and CLAG 6-5-4.5s out to a 4.5 tip if using straight mono. I generally step the first guide up to a 25 for 35/40 sized reels but leave the rest teh same.

I am using a Red Phillips Knot to join 20# or 25# fluoro to 20# or 25# braid. If you use a larger connection you may need larger runners, but 6s seem to pass everything well. If you use lighter leader (or straight braid) you can get away with smaller runners and tip top. This set up on this blank is so light that I am adding a Fuji rubber mushroom butt cap just to help it balance.

For what it is worth, the MHX P843 is a great floating worm / Fluke Jr. rod as well.

Thanks very much for your help! I was hoping the p843 would work out as the 844 specs seem a bit heavy when speckled trout are the norm. Thanks for the guide train idea too Bill, he's using braid with a short leader on a 3000 size spinning reel. I'm not familiar with saltwater guides, looking at the Ti Microwave set, but will check out the Fuji guides also. Thanks again!

For this application it's hard to beat the microwaves.....I've built a half dozen light tackle rods with them and they handle specks and slot reds with no problems.....do they cast farther than others? That issue is way too subjective as far as I'm concerned. Do they cast far enough? They do for me.......