New Calstar & Seed Blanks

[MarkR]

Hi guys,

Popped by Sabre last weekend and had a chat with Mike.

Turns out that the new 6 foot Calstar GF 600 30-80lb blank is also known as the Calstar "jigging special" (not to be confused with the GF 410). Very sensitive and fast tip

Also had a look at the new range of Seed 1pc jig blanks that will replace the 2pc Shiren and DJ next year...4 blanks in the series, very nice, slim diameter, light, thick walls...a look at the blank cross-section revealed a distinct inner core of lighter material (less carbon?) and outer darker layer (higher graphite %?)...pulled on the PE 5-8 blank, very strong butt section with a lot of torque, fast action and nice tip

tight lines

[Makaira]

Originally Posted by MarkR

Turns out that the new 6 foot Calstar GF 600 30-80lb blank is also known as the Calstar "jigging special" (not to be confused with the GF 410). Very sensitive and fast tip

Hi Mark,

So .... is the Calstar your cup of tea?

Best regards,
Makaira

[MarkR]

Yo Mak,

Think it will make a better bottom than jigging rod. Great for medium sinkers say less than J16? Fantastic bite detection I bet!

cheers

[Makaira]

Not a jigging connoisseur, but it worked out alright for me. Fantastic as a bottom stick for light to medium sinkers as you noted -- a baitsoakers delight!!! The whippy tip makes it a fantastic livebait rod too. The pulling power is amazing though.

[stickbom!]

Hmmm... if I was to crop off few inches off the butt... it would probably make a great Calstar Tunamania Dogtooth 58 Pretty sure the boys @ AO can wrap the blank up as brightly colored as I want

[mark]

why use a copy when an original is readily available..

[stickbom!]

It might be cheaper... and will still get the job done Was kidding about decorating the rod actually. I'm not too fussy about what rods look like anymore.

[Makaira]

Originally Posted by stickbom!

Hmmm... if I was to crop off few inches off the butt... it would probably make a great Calstar Tunamania Dogtooth 58 Pretty sure the boys @ AO can wrap the blank up as brightly colored as I want

Hi Mike,

Just curious ....... but what is the objective of cropping the blank? To shorten it to the your desired length ...... to change the action of the blank to better suit it for jigging ... or both, or any other reasons?

BTW ..... I think the blank in question is only avaiable from Sabre.

Best regards,
Makaira

[mark]

crop to make it 5'8" so that it'll be similar in length to Tunamania 58...lol

[rolexking]

price of the blank, if it's convenient.
thans,
rolex

[stickbom!]

Originally Posted by Makaira

Hi Mike,

Just curious ....... but what is the objective of cropping the blank? To shorten it to the your desired length ...... to change the action of the blank to better suit it for jigging ... or both, or any other reasons?

Best regards,
Makaira

I'm not sure how high the lock-up point is for this new GF blank but I usually like the lock-up to be just above the foregrip. This way when the fish dives right down, you won't find your back strained so badly. I usually request for blank cropping to achieve the above action in rods

[Makaira]

Originally Posted by stickbom!

I'm not sure how high the lock-up point is for this new GF blank but I usually like the lock-up to be just above the foregrip. This way when the fish dives right down, you won't find your back strained so badly. I usually request for blank cropping to achieve the above action in rods

While the strain on the back definitely has something to do with the blank action, the posture, or lack of the correct one, when fighting a big fish, is what contributes MOST to backaches.

After seeing many videos & fishing photos of jiggers fighting fish, imho, the current jigging rod designs need some rethinking. The sight of anglers on teetering the edge of being pulled overboard whenever the fish makes a run clearly demonstates that current rods may have the wrong fulcrum point (be it fast or parabolic action blank) and hence high centre of gravity for the angler. The insane drags they fish on also has a big part to play in it I guess.

Some of the "new world" jigging rod configuration, faster action blank with the reel sitting higher up on the blank with a longer butt allows the angler to use the lower body with the back straight to fight the fish. Imho, I think that is there way to go, pretty much the same principle as the standup fighters of the early days long range tuna fishing. If tackle allows for the angler to fish in the right posture, a lot less hurt will be incurred on the part of the angler & directed at where it should be .... the fish. Opinions differ, of course.

[stickbom!]

Guess its important to know your own physical limits when choosing heavy tackle. Hard to say who's right and who's wrong... but following what others are doing blindly would probably be a big mistake.