What do you look for in a blackfish rod?

[Jay]

Originally Posted by JerseyCoast

Tough topic to get a majority to agree on. You have 3 types of blackfish rods and fishermen.

1- Soft Tip - rest backbone
2- Fast Action, with progressive/moderate action half way up the rest of the rod
3- Medium, slow action

Most important, is the ability to fish some heavy weights. You want to be able to hold that sinker in place, under rough conditions. Too soft and you will bounce the sinker around, keeping the tog away from your bait.
Too soft and you will be taken into the hole almost every time. Me, well I like both a fast action and a medium action. I always bring 2 rods, with the fast action being the rod for lighter sinkers and my medium action rod being used for the heavy stuff.

You will get a ton of opinions here, and NONE of them will be wrong! Its all dependant upon the fisherman.

I agree with you 110%.

[Kevin Bogan]

Here's my view:
some anglers like graphite some glass. I happen top like glass. In a medium taper it offers a "softness" as it loads up that plays the fish right while he is going crazy on the other end of the line. 7' is a popular length.
Graphite is claimed to be more sensitive, however sensitivity is actually an ability of the fisherman to "know" what he is feeling. Graphite is generally stiffer and has less stretch, or the ability to absorb shock. I have been building blackfish rods for Thirty Years. I offer both glass and graphite. They start at $145 for a rod that will kick ass on blackfish, all day every day. Graphites start at $160.
Slow Load-= Dead Blackfish!!!!

[JerseyCoast]

Mike & Kevin bring up good points here, in addition to all of the different types of fishermen out there.

I wanted to add that, if you notice....the builders prefer a glass/composite rod over graphite. I agree, sensitivity is 99% the fisherman. I have seen many graphite rods snap when snagged, or maybe being too sensitive, causing an early swing.

Best bet is to try some friends rods as mentioned. When it comes to tog, no 2 fishermen are alike it seems. We may be close, but hardly ever 100% alike. ( plus, the conditions will vary, trip to trip).

I think you got some great advice here from everybody. ( sponsors & members alike).

[MrAC1980]

This might sound retarded, but anyone ever compare physical weights of above mentioned rods? Can someone weigh a Bogan Fish Poison and other custom rods without the reel? Be interesting to see once for once how they compare.

[Sea Bear]

Originally Posted by MrAC1980

This might sound retarded, but anyone ever compare physical weights of above mentioned rods? Can someone weigh a Bogan Fish Poison and other custom rods without the reel? Be interesting to see once for once how they compare.

Comparing apples to apples the bogan rods are heavier every time.

[Kevin Bogan]

Originally Posted by MrAC1980

This might sound retarded, but anyone ever compare physical weights of above mentioned rods? Can someone weigh a Bogan Fish Poison and other custom rods without the reel? Be interesting to see once for once how they compare.

Lightweight rods just dont hold up. The lighter you make it, the more they are likely to break, have guide failure etc. This is why I say that hunters are tougher than fishermen. They carry a rifle all day that weighs 10-12 lbs, and a few guys that fish worry about a rod that weighs an ounce or two more.