Help with Fish Poison options

[Virginiaducks]

New here, first post, so please have patience. Caught my first saltwater fish out of an old rental boat in the Shark River. Moved south, haven't been back for many years. I'm now in a position to come back to the area to fish the party boats. I have been in touch with Kevin Bogan to build me a blackfish rod. I would like to solicit your opinion on 2 specific upgrades to the fish poison tog rod : a cork grip and/or a composite blank. For those of you who fish them, what are your thoughts?

[shrimpman steve]

I'm a die hard cork guy. But that is purely a personal preference.

[SplitShot]

I prefer my glass rod for blackfish and the handle is whatever you like, not going to catch more fish either handle you choose :D

[frugalfisherman]

I bought two 7 1/2 ft blackfish rods from Kevin last fall. I got the fiberglass because it is less likely to break than a composite and they are only a few ounces heavier.

[jlrotary]

I personally like cork and composite blanks. I even had some fish poison ones. Great rods for the $. Kevin stands behind his products and the rods are very durable.

[RussH]

I have a 7' composite with foam grip. I love it. If I get another one though I'm gonna upgrade to cork.

[Virginiaducks]

Thanks for the advice. Sounds like the grip is pure preference and doesn't affect how the rod fishes. The E-glass/composite question looks like it's generating some differing opinions. Wish I didn't live 5 hours away so I could handle them. At some point soon I'm going to have to decide. I think l talk to Kevin this week.

[Gerry Zagorski]

I prefer cork too. Just a personal preference.

[Mike S.]

You will need to bend the blanks yourself to really decide. 50 guys will tell you composite is best for tog and another 50 will swear by glass only. I personally like both. Depends on the day!

[Virginiaducks]

You will need to bend the blanks yourself to really decide. 50 guys will tell you composite is best for tog and another 50 will swear by glass only. I personally like both. Depends on the day!

This is exactly what I was worried about, although I suspect it's very good advice....5 hours is just too far for me to go bend them. One trip to pick it up and fish it the same weekend is about the best I can do. It's also why I picked a fish poison-sounds like they are all nice, functional rods and I won't go wrong no matter what I pick.

[Kevin Bogan]

The rod that I sell the most is an FC 70MH, $155 foam, $195 cork. The foam will last much longer, the cork does wear, but most guys don't care. This rod caught a 22lb 13 oz. Tog back in January, and a whole lot of fish in the teens.
You can dream up new ideas etc., forever and never have a better rod.

[rubberheels]

I read your post the other day so I stopped by Bogans and damn if I didnt buy the 7ft. w/cork. Nice rod I'll try the PP Canal this morning for Mr. Tog!

[Man Workin]

In my opinion Kevin is in top three rod makers in the area. He has built three rods for me since December. Not familiar with VA, but no makers down there that you could work with and get a feel and taste of how the blank tapers down and how the handle feels. Five hours is a far drive to feel a rod.

[Virginiaducks]

Sorry I was a bad influence. Did you get glass or composite? What made you choose the cork?

No one here building these type rods that I am aware of. I have a lot of nice rods, but the type of inshore fishing I do here and in NC dictates much lighter tackle.

[Virginiaducks]

New Fish Poison blackfish Rod ordered today! Can't wait to get it in my hands in May. Thanks Kevin and others for all the advice.

[Mike S.]

New Fish Poison blackfish Rod ordered today! Can't wait to get it in my hands in May. Thanks Kevin and others for all the advice.

Don't leave us hanging, what did you go with :D

[Virginiaducks]

After much deliberation, I went with Kevin's advice: 7' MH E-Glass with foam grip. Looks like it will get broken in in May.

[milhouse]

After much deliberation, I went with Kevin's advice: 7' MH E-Glass with foam grip. Looks like it will get broken in in May.

That's what I went with a few years ago. I use it with blackfish and even striped bass. I had the same questions as you and took his advice of glass and foam. I really appreciated the fact that he told me to go with the cheapest option. I fish it with 40lb or 50lb braid and have caught blackfish in the 9lb range with ease. I also caught bass just short of 35lbs on it.

[SplitShot]

Good Choice!!! ...... believe me you'd be happy with either handle and the rods are a workhorse! I have a bunch..... Happy Catching when you come visit the Jersey Shore!! :D

[Virginiaducks]

Just a couple more weeks until I make my trip north. Picked up a new gold Avet SX for it. Haven't even picked up the rod yet and I'm already thinking about another....think I might order a 7'6" cod rod.