Hook and Hackle has what they call a “Forecast” rod. Multi pieced, really inexpensive, blanks. Anyone have any experience with them…no not H&H…they’re great! I mean the rod blank! Looks like it may make a good grandchild rod?
Trouts don’t live in ugly places
I have built a few rods using forcast and rain shadow blanks. They are a decent rod for what you are paying.
I got one of the Forecast 7 1/2’ 4-weight multi-piece blanks from H&H last year. I just couldn’t pass up the price, what with their online discount, etc. I was pretty impressed with the quality. I built it for a back up rod and to take on plane trips. It turned out real nice.
Betty , watch out for this blank. You just may want to keep it for yourself.
I built a 5wt 5 piece and two 9wt’s. I have not had much time to try out the nines yet but the 5 wt is one of the nicest rods I ever owned and I never leave home without it. There is no better way to enter into the rod building hobby than with a H&H Forecast kit… FB.
Betty,
Several years ago I built 8 of them. Gave one to my son (9’ 5wt 2pc), one to a friend (7-1/2’ 4wt, 4pc) and I have the remaining 6. Very happy with all of them and use them all the time. I had an excellent caster cast my 9’ 5wt. From the tip top, he was able to cast 105 feet of line plus leader. He dubbed the rod a ‘line eater’ because he kept feeding it line until he reached that maximum distance. Oh, I’d have to say the action is moderately fast.
Allan
I thought you were an excellent caster allan ;-]
mgj
I got a forecast rod…every time I try and use it, it begins to thunder and lightning blasts from the sky. Even the wind blows like the dickens…nice rod, I figured I’d try and sell it to some corn farmer in Iowa that is goin’ though a drought, or a sailor with a new sail boat that needs wind. All they gottta do is take it outside and say, “I’m goin’ fishin’ now!”
Don’t want to highjack the post, but does anyone have experience of their 5’0" 2 weight rod??
Born to fish, forced to work.
Garic,
Not trying to be funny. I wonder what you’d get if you use the top 2 sections of a 9’ 4 piece in the lightest weight Baston manufactures? That’d be about 4-1/2 feet of something in a 2 piece.
Anyone have an idea about the end result?
Oh, in answer to your specific question - No.
Allan
Garic, the 5 piece 9ft with three sections works out to 5.5ft Its a good match with Janns netcraft all cork grip and seat…FB.
Hi Betty,
I don’t have any personal experience with that particular rod but if H&H sells it you won’t be disappointed.
Eric “nighthawk”
Your attitude determines your altitude!
A friend of mine built a 3 wt with the Forecast blank and uses it every time we get out. I have cast it and is a good casting rod. For the price from H&H it is a great rod. I think he only paid like 12 dollars for the blank.
Just recently bought a 7’ 4wt I want to build for my 6 yr old step son But, I hav’nt been able to get started on it as yet.So I to, am glad to hear such good things on these blanks…poses one prob…if they are as good as some here say…I may just have to buy a second in 8’ 4wt for myself…
“I’ve often wondered why it is that so many anglers spend so much money on,and pay so much attention to.the details on the wrong end of the fly line.If they took as much care in selecting or tying their flies as they did in the selection of the reel and rod,They might be able to gain the real extra edge that makes it possible to fool a fish that has,in fact,seen it all before” A.K.Best
“Wish ya great fishing”
Bill
Betty,
I built my first rod on the Forecast 7 1/2 foot 3 wt 2pc. It is my favorite small creek, bluegill rod and it casts wonderful. I have it strung with a Cortland DT line and an Orvis Battenkill 3-4 reel. I cant say enough about the rod and is more than I expected after it was completed. Not to mention great service from H&H.
Seege
Wild brownies from a wee burn near to me JC, nothing bigger than 8 or 9 inch but great fun and so many memories, as this is where I first fished for trout 
Born to fish, forced to work.
Betty:
I built a 9’ 4wt on a Forecast blank over the winter. I love the rod. The action is nice and soft and it casts just beautifully. I use it for grayling here in Fairbanks. I paid $16 for my blank off E-bay. I think it would be a great rod for any experience level.
Ben
I built a 7wt out of a forecast blank and love it I use it for steelhead on the Wilson River to red sided on the Deschutes. I also have a casting rod I built for steelhead out of a rainshaow blank and have never had a problem with it after several steelheads and a couple Chinooks. rp
Betty, I’ve used Forecast rods for several “entry” level folks, plus an 8 wt. I wrapped for bass and pike flies. They’re fine rods for the money. JGW
Thank you, one and all!! I called Batson Ent., and visited with them yesterday. Had a return call (!!) yesterday, assuring me they would have a catalog out to me in the next mail, and giving me the name of someone, and phone number, to contact if I have any questions! What a group! Looks like I’ll have many building projects coming up! (It’ll keep me off the streets and out of the malls…)
First one will be the 6’4piece2#!! And it’ll be for ME!!
Trouts don’t live in ugly places
[This message has been edited by Betty Hiner (edited 23 June 2005).]