Hello Everyone,
I need some help. I'm new to rod building and not super knowledgeable on blanks. I'm hoping you guys can help me out. I want to build a Halibut rod for myself. I've never been a bud fan of really short super stiff rods and want to find a blank that is around 6'6" to 7'6" at the most. I would like a fairly sensitive tip, good flex to the rod but have great back bone. Is this unrealistic? I've read some tuna jigging rods can work, but I don't know. I've never tuna fished. Being this will be my third build, I don't want to break the bank on a blank but I'm not opposed to bucking up a bit if it fits the desired attributes. I've been looking at Gator glass and the TX3 jigging rods.
Here are the fishing conditions. We usually fish 36 or 48 oz weight, with 60lb mainline, in about 150' - 600' deep water. Fish are usually 30-60 lbs but potentially larger. I guess you could say a lighter action with all things considered, but with a solid back bone. Please tolerate my ignorance and educate me.

Thanks

Rainshadow RCKJB 600 or 606-325., or go to the 606-250 for more fun. All are skinny things with brutal strength and nice sensitive tips. I know Utmost Enterprises gets them from Batson's in one day if they are in stock, and I bet they are. Great blanks, good price and perfect for our northwest butts.

Rainshadow TS66MH, has been a mainstay for over a decade for myself and customers I've built for. SWB70H is a blank I've also used and built on for fish 100 pounds and lighter for many years before that.

Those look like great choices.
Grant, on the 606-250, though it's lighter, will it have the needed backbone if I hang into a bigger than 60# fish? I'm pro light action but don't want to shoot myself in the foot.
For the record, I've been known to catch seabass on a 6' ultralight trout rod with 6# test. Firm believer in having fun with the catch.

Some other well known blank suppliers also provide alternatives.

Have a look at the following:

Seeker
North Fork Composites
United Composites

Get your line and bait/lure situation figured out for the current and depth you fish and you can venture into lighter weight gear and all graphite rod blanks like a musky blank. Batson had some rods that they caught 'buts on with good results, if my memory is still good one was a IMU76XXH, they've gotten oversize stugeon on them also. If you can't find any specs on the discountinued IMU blanks to help you maybe correlate to other blanks pipe up and someone will pull out an old catalog.

I think so. My biggest is 67 and that was on a tough stick (66mh). To me, anything over 30 is just work, may as well use a rail rod and electric reel. The 250 would be fun and get the job done. I have several RCLJB's on local boats and have had no complaints. With the way our halibut seasons are going, it's nice to have one rod for halibut and the same one for bass and lings on the way back.

Well after researching the mentioned blanks, I've decided to go with the 606-250. I guess the nice thing about rod building is, if you don't like it, it gives you an excuse to build another...but this sounds like a winner.

I think you will be very happy with that blank. Check Utmost Enterprises for availability...good people, good price, excellent shipping costs.

Grant,
I called Utmost Enterprises and spoke with Carol. Very nice and helpful. I ordered an rckjb606-250. It arrived today. I can't believe how perfect it is. It's everything I wanted. I'm so excited to build on this blank, I'm going to lose sleep just thinking about it and researching guides and spiral wrapping.
Thank you for your help and generosity.

Derek.