I posted this under another topic that is older and didn't get any response so I'm re-posting. I'm new on this board and will learn how it operates as far as time passed so here goes.

I'm going to build a trolling rod for a dual purpose. King Macks here in Pensacola Florida and Musky when I take my annual trip to Northern Minnesota & Canada. I found a blank that I think I want to work off from and I'd appreciate any input. The blank is made by United Composites and is a GUSA DHX US85 Monster. Specs are 8'6" long, MOD action, 30-60 line weight, 1 piece, 1-8 oz lures, 8.5 tip, .800 butt, cost $153.35 + shipping. I'd appreciate your comments and input. Thanks in advance.

That blank is a beast and longer than most use for trolling. United Composites makes great blanks and has something that will work. The CP70H would be my choice.

Hello Doug.

I do not know much about Musky, but I have caught kings from a few ounces (Minnows caught on a Sabiki bait rigs) to over 50 pounds and have 3 rods for catching keeper sized (24+"):

1: MudHole MHX-FP76, 7'6", 12-30#, Butt: 610, Tip: 6.5, American Tackle A Frame Ring Lock BTRLA-20, -12, & 7 -6'S, With an American Tackle HHRLLT-6-6.5 Tip Top. Baitrunner 450 with 30# Braid. (For 20# & Under)

2: Seeker GTS 70L, 7' 2" With fighting Butt, 15-30#, Butt:.645, Tip: 7.5, American Tackle Titan NIRLC-12,-8, & 7 -6'S, With an American Tackle TTRLT-8-7.5 Tip Top. TLD 20 or 25 with 30# or 50# Braid. (For 20# & Over)

3: Rainshadow SW967-M, 8', 15-25#, Butt: .680, Tip: 7, American Tackle Titan NIRLC-20,-10, & 6 -6'S, With a Pac Bay CFM4CT-4-7.0 Tip Top. TLD 15 or 20 with 30# Braid. (For 20# & Over)

NONE of these will work as listed from the shore or from a non mobile platform unless you get a smaller king on one of the larger rods, you have to be able to follow if you run out of line, these rods were built to fight big fish with relatively light gear from a boat slow trolling or float or drift fishing.

P.S. Anything over about 40# is going to take a while and when you do get it in you will know you were in a fight!!!

Tight Wraps & Tighter Lines.

Bob,

New Bern, NC.

Very little experience with salmon, but lot's with musky casting and trolling rods. I'd say 8'0" is long enough, and power would depend on the baits you are pulling - 6" minnow type baits or some of the 12"-15" monster crankbaits.

I prefer to fish the "normal" side of baits, and the Rainshadow SW967-M would do a really nice job, and still be enjoyable to catch fish on.

Thanks - Marc

Keep it simple - that's all I can handle!

Been fishing for king mackeral for fifty years. Like a rod with a limber tip and a strong butt section. For me that equates to a live bait blank.

Have recently played around with musky blanks as a bottom fishing rod for bigger snapper/smaller grouper.

Couldn't think of two blanks so totally different. Hard pressed to see how any one blank could be good at both.

So I'd be having two rods and not one. Seeker CLB for kingfish and St. Croix for the musky blank. Plenty of other good choices of course.

Russ in Hollywood, FL.

Hello Russ.

Which CLB do you like, the 804 or 806 or?.

I have built on the 806 a couple of times, and seems a good rod also, I have not tried the 804, if you have tried it, how well does it work for the 40+# kings? and what reel and line do you match up to it?

Thanks.

Tight Wraps & Tighter Lines.

Bob,

New Bern, NC.

If your kingfish average 40# I'd go with the 806/708. For kingfish I tend to go a little lighter on the line and let the fish make a nice long inital run. So I'm looking for line capacity and a good drag. For trolling I think the Avet reels offer nice value.

Kingfish down here have gotten much smaller...something in the teens is now a decent fish. My current outfit for them is rclb80xl paired with a penn 525 mag....have it spooled with 17# pline. Also have a rclb70ml paired with avet lx and 30# pline as a general purpose trolling rod. That might be closer to suiting your needs.

Lots of good live bait blanks out there.....just not thinking the average musky blank would be the right tool for kingfish.

Russ in Hollywood, FL.

Thanks Russ.

Tight Wraps & Tighter Lines.

Bob,

New Bern, NC.