I’m looking for a 3 weight blankfor my next project, preferably 3 or 4 piece, minimum 8’6" length. Anyone have any suggestions or recommendations?
Thanks,
Cliff
I recently made a 8’6" 3wt 4pc on a Batson RX7 blank and love it. Excellent casting characteristics, light weight.
St Croix is now selling their Imperial series blanks (SCIV/SC2). They have a VERY nice 3wt in an 8’6" 4-piece for a great price. I can promise you that the blank rivals those at more than double the price.
Depends how much your looking to spend. There’s a lot of good 3wt’s out there in that length range but most are 2pc. In 4pc the first 3wt 8’6" that comes to mind is the St Croix SC III. It’s about $160 retail but I deal with them all the time and could probably save you a bit on their blanks if you wanted one of theirs.
Tiger eye also makes a 8’ and 8’6" 4pc 3/4wt blank. Think that one runs around $35 for it.
I think Batson also has some 4wt’s in 4pc in that length in their RX7 or RX8 series but cant think of their price off hand.
Steve
I’ll second that. Ive got one and love the little thing…but evidently the price has gone WAAAYYYY up in almost 10 years now. WOW!!!
Agreed.
What do you like to cast? Moderate, Fast, XFast? I like the more moderate actions instead of the Fast/XFast that seems to be the current trend, so I’m biased toward that end of things.
Dan Craft has his FT 9’ 3 wt on sale, but chances are you’ll like it overlined. The FTs are rockets and a true fast action. He also has an 8’6" Sig V. Sig Vs are more moderate in action than the FT line, and I really like them. The RX7 is more moderate as well and I really like most of Batson’s stuff, too.
I don’t think you can go wrong with either the Dan Craft or the Baston RX7, or the St. Croix for that matter. But my favorite blank in that weight class, on a value basis, is the Tiger Eye 3/4. It has a very nice action and is the best looking blank of the bunch. I particularly like the 7’6", 4 piece, but the 8’6" is good also.
Many thanks for the input guys! You’ve given me some places to start looking where I was really finding nothing other than 2 piece options.
Cliff