Hi All,

A buddy of mine has asked me to build him, (after the 1st of the year), a two-piece, 7'-6" crapping rod. I welcome any suggestions you can make for a blank. He is fairly young with new baby and I don't think he wants to get real expensive with the blank. I don't know how "married" he is to the 7'-6" length, but I am sure he wants to stay with the two-piece blank. I've done a little checking for blanks on the web; but I am sure you guys back East are more familiar with Crappie Blanks than I am. I live in CA and 90% of the rods I build are for LMB.

Thank you for your help,

Don Campbell
don@sensorfishingrods.com

I built a nice crappie rod that works well be me. I used the Batson XP840 which has been replaced by IMMP70UL. The blank is only 7'-0", but if he really wants a 7'-6" you will have to keep looking because this model line doesn't have one that long. My rod is coupled with a 500 series Shamino reel and incorporates the Fuji CR Concept for guides. It really is a dream to cast very small jigs and the action is easy on the crappies tender lips.

Methinks S871-2-MHX might do the job. A cute blank, light, sensitive tip, gentle on light lines and fish mouths. I would suggest PacBay Minima or other very light guides. Would be a pity to waste its natural action.
Cheers,
Michal

Could try the Batson S781-2, have built quite a few of these for crappie rods. The MHX blank in the same configuration will fit the bill. They're both relatively inexpensive. A second thought might be a fly blank in an intermediate modulus (if he likes a slower action). I'm building a 7'6" 0wt fly rod for a guy who likes them really whippy. But as was suggested by lots of guys on here, a 2-4 wt fly blank makes an awesome panfish rod and there are a few in that length that are 2 piece.
Good luck and let us know what you decide on.
Jared

For longer crappie blanks that I want to cast baits a good distance using bobbers, I really prefer to use light steel head rods. They work wonderfully well and you can cast a very long distance with them.

Be safe

A 2-3 wt. fly rod blank would work great.

REVS72UL-SB
UL Trout & Panfish
7'2" 2-6 1/32-3/16 0.393 5 Fast 1.48 UL

Rainshadow Revelation, has garnered some really good reviews. I have used a 3 wt fly rod blank for this and find it very nice. I think the Revelation may feel more precise/tight than a fly blank.

I would also suggest to find out the lure weight he wants to cast All rods load well with the Propper Weight Lure / or line It is still weight to load the rod or blank

Bill - willierods.com

Thank You all for your suggestions. It helps a bunch. I was thinking about cutting down a flyrod; but I need to get some details from him as to what he wants to be casing, action etc.

Thanks Again,

Don Campbell
don@sensorfishingrods.com

Don, it's not really necessary to "cut" down a fly rod. There are lots of blanks in the 7'6" range. Lots are 4 piece but you can find blanks by American Tackle (matrix series), Batson (Rainshadow RX-6 and RX-7), Pac Bay and lots of others in 2 piece.

Agree with Jared on lots of good blanks that don't require cutting down. My 3 wt is a MATRIX and it is a typical traditional fly rod action that works well with lures like 1/8 oz cranks. With this kind of length in an ultra lite the hook set will be much more reliable than it will be with shorter rods. (7 1/2).