blank selection tuna rod

[silver slayer]

I need to build a couple live bait,swimbait rods for the boat. I usually use rainshadow blanks but calstar seems to be pretty tuna specialized if you guys got some input that would be great. I am thinking about the rclb from rainshadow but don't know if they would double as a swimbait rod, or the calstar graphiters.

[Tinman]

For 25 pound line, the Calstar 270 is a great stick. This is my goto rod for casting swimbaits. For 15-20 pound line, the Calstar 196-7 is perfect. The 196-7 is almost freakish in that the taper is so fast. But the very flippy tip casts live bait and swimbaits very well, and the butt section "shuts off", giving good lifting power.

Regarding rod construction, I am a big fan of the deckhand style. This means a simple cork tape grip, without a fixed reel seat. Use the rod clamp that came with the reel to affix the reel wherever you want it. It's very light, easy to build, easy to replace, and has a classic look to it. I also favor stainless steel Perfection guides, rather than the more popular ceramic guides, again for the classic look.

For a 30# live bait stick, I hear the 670 is good, though I don't actually own one.

Originally Posted by silver slayer

I need to build a couple live bait,swimbait rods for the boat. I usually use rainshadow blanks but calstar seems to be pretty tuna specialized if you guys got some input that would be great. I am thinking about the rclb from rainshadow but don't know if they would double as a swimbait rod, or the calstar graphiters.

[StickFish]

Silver to answer you specific question on RCLB's I have built the L and find it too stiff for live bait. I think it makes a great jig rod for iron however. THe XL is lighter, but I'm thinking it would be probably more rod than the 270 that Tinman talks about.

THe 270 is basically the go to industry standard. Seeker also makes the same type of rod, but Seeker's are generally less expensive and softer especially the tip. I have both the 270 and 196 Calstar blanks and the 196 is nice, but talk about a whip look at the Seeker 870

[jcft2007]

I would go with a Seeker 270-H or 670-L in the glass version.

Another idea is going to an 270-8H and cutting 2" off the tip and 3" or so off the bottom to make the blank length approx. 7'7".

This gives you a minor longer length while giving you more power in a lighter rod. If your grip is straight cork tape, it's a decent feeling not cramping your fingers.

[silver slayer]

thanks for the feedback. when you use the cork tape do you put it under the reel to or do you clamp the reel directly to the blank. that sounds like a good idea and it saves some money to I was gonna use cork and alps reel seat like I do on all my rods but I will try out the tape allways cool to do something new.

[Tinman]

Originally Posted by silver slayer

thanks for the feedback. when you use the cork tape do you put it under the reel to or do you clamp the reel directly to the blank. that sounds like a good idea and it saves some money to I was gonna use cork and alps reel seat like I do on all my rods but I will try out the tape allways cool to do something new.

Just apply cork tape to the entire butt area, and finish it with electrical tape or, better yet, heat-shrink tubing. Coat the electrical tape with the same epoxy you use for the guides. Then clamp the reel right over the cork tape. One advantage is it lets you move the reel to wherever feels most comfortable at the time.

[StickFish]

You can also use heat shrink right under the reel clamp to keep it from chewing up the cork tape.

More on the RCLB, the RCLB70M makes a great trolling rod for tuna so does the Seeker 665

[silver slayer]

think I will try the 196 first see how it works then go from there. Hopefully I can get it done before next weekend and try it out

[StickFish]

The 196 is nice, so is the 270. Having one of each and add an 870 and you are pretty much done. Read some of Mark Mc's posts on swim baits, 196 with lighter line and floro leaders for shy fish, 270 with say 25# mono for regular days, and 870 with 30# for when the fish will take anything. Happy rod wrapping

[Booja 1]

Originally Posted by jcft2007

I would go with a Seeker 270-H or 670-L in the glass version.

Another idea is going to an 270-8H and cutting 2" off the tip and 3" or so off the bottom to make the blank length approx. 7'7".

This gives you a minor longer length while giving you more power in a lighter rod. If your grip is straight cork tape, it's a decent feeling not cramping your fingers.

I tend to agree with jcft. To each his own but the 196 and reg 270 blank to me is on light side while the 270-8H is great. It has abit more length to help casting as well. 870 (30lb) and 670 (40lb) are nice too. If you do the graphiter the 700m works nicely but is heavier than a 270 for comparison. The 800xlh is a nice 25lb stick too. Sneaking up on jumpers later when the fish sink out after an approach is the only time where the albies up here seem to be bluefin like finicky, but tossing the live stuff, in my opinion you can go in with 40lb and get bit fine. I just like to go in with the heaviest gear that can get bit. But lots of guys like to use the lighter stuff so whatever works for you.

If possible maybe you can try a 196 or 270 from someone else before you build one. May make your decision easier............good luck on whatever you decide...............

[CRD4Liberty]

The Calstar Graphiter 800L will work for tuna and will work very well as a swimbait rod as long as it's the bigger baits. It's a monster as most swimbait rods go, but a dandy as well.

[silver slayer]

check it out I did'nt get the blanks in time for otc last weekend so I take my downrigger rod wanted to see just how tough they are, so I use a rainshadow rdr86mh 12-25 with an iron hook 4 fish on it, not a lot of back bone on it for tuna, but it held up and was pretty darn fun, if it will catch tuna it will handle any salmon we can catch, anyways should have the 196 and 270 done by the next trip in 2 weeks thanks for all the input guys

[StickFish]

The RDR86MH is an excellent blank, that and the M - Glass front section, composite rear. I bet that was fun with a tuna on it

[silver slayer]

it was a blast