Has anyone used or built on these blanks , traditionII and the RainforestII want to do a 10ft 5# on the 3pc as its a moderate- fast action?? pretty resoanable prices from rodbits
Any info would be nice

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If in doubt, get the montys out

Intelligence is relative to your environment

Yes i have check out my thread there fantastic for the price IMO and i'll be doing another one this winter so i've got a matching pair

My first rod build

I bought all my stuff through DEAN from rodbits he's spot on to deal with......

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Chris (RAGGOT) Roberts

www.iomff.co.uk

I built a rainforest II 9' #6 4pc a couple of years back intended for streamer fishing on the river - bad choice - i certainly wouldnt put 'fast' anywhere in the desscription, id say it very much a mid action, or soft rod, it certianly wasnt up to throwing streamers comfortably (I now use a 9' #5 diamondback flawless for the streamers and it manages to throw the same streamers easily that the #6 struggled with). If you looking for fast(ish) I wouldnt go there.
On the same theme, Ive built quite a few rods, but have fell into the same trap at least three times now without learning my lesson - dont buy a blank based on someone elses desription/opinion - TRY BEFORE YOU BUY - difficult I know with a blank, but ive been dissapointed and moved at least three rods on, including names such as Loomis and harrison!

Rover

Hi Rover

Couldn't agree more. The over use of the term 'fast' in todays market is unbelievable.

I'm trying to concentrate only on fast rods and I am removing certain blank options from my list for exactly the reasons you mentioned.

Keep twiddling the rods out!!

Regards

Steve

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Steve Parkes

www.atomsix.co.uk

info@atomsix.co.uk

Terenzio silk fly lines

Atomsix furled leaders

previously
www.zenithflyrods.co.uk

so what do you rate the rods action, pacbay says mod-fast ?? Gaz

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If in doubt, get the montys out

Intelligence is relative to your environment

Pacbay do say mod- fast but thats not a great discription, i normally use harrison ballista blanks, but fancied something different and alittle cheaper, cant afford lorhics also an alconite fan too, just put new guides on my old shaky, nearly cost more than the rods worthbut ti was my first one so got a few memories thereGaz

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If in doubt, get the montys out

Intelligence is relative to your environment

My friend and I built our first rods together, his was Pac Bay and mine was Batson blank (Rain shadow i think) he was dissapointed with the action, it was very soft actioned when it should have been fast.
Mine was as described, fast, couldn't fault it.
Hope that helps.
Cheers
Richard

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Richard Jackson
Fly fishing instruction and guiding in the heart of Devon
www.devonflyfisher.com

I would agree it's certainly not med/fast i'd say it's more of a through action but saying that it will still very easily put a full line out and in my opinion is a loverly rod to use.

I mainly use a dry or intermediate on it and i've also had an 8lber on it which it handled no problem what so ever

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Chris (RAGGOT) Roberts

www.iomff.co.uk

I can't speak for their casting action as I haven't fished with them - yet. However, my cousin in Austria has had a lot of trouble with an 8' #5 four piece rod. It's a long story, but basically he has had three of these rods, 2 made up by a professional supplier in Wales and one by me. All have broken within ten minutes of being used for the first time and all in the same spot to within an inch - 2nd section down and 6" up from the joint. The breaks were total - ie snapped completely rather than simply collapsed.

I sent photos of the last two rods to Pac Bay and they told me they had tested similar blanks to destruction and all had exceeded the design limit. Apparently the test is simply to add increasing weight suspended from the tip until the blank breaks. This it did at about 7lbs I was told. However, my cousin told me that this was not how the rods broke in use. I think the problem was caused by sudden stress as in lifting into a fish rather than steady stress as in their tests.

Pac Bay sent me two sets of blanks to replace the broken ones plus a further set as compensation. I am making up two of those as I write and will see what happens as I intend to fish with them before I take them out to Austria at the end of June.

Right thats put me off them will stick to harrisons , as ive thrown them about quite abit and not a single problem with them

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If in doubt, get the montys out

Intelligence is relative to your environment