I want to build an 8’, 4wt 4pc. med action rod and need some ideas for a blank. I want to try and stay around $100 for the build but might be able to go as high as $150. Do you good folks of the forum have any suggestions? Thanks and God Bless!
I just did an American Tackle 8’ 4 wt and really like it - something like 35 bucks is hard to beat. It is what I would call a moderate action, and has a cool finish to it.
I agree with the above suggestion. American tackle Matrix series. Great little 4wt blank and a nice smooth moderate action that still has some nice crispness to it. Hard to beat for the price.
Steve
Thanks for the info!
I built a Forecast 9’ 4wt and absolutely love it. Hook and Hackle has an 8’ 4wt 4pc for under $40.
Regards,
Scott
Don’t discount the Sevier blanks–3/4wt;8ft blank. More of a 4wt than a 3, it casts smooth. Cost is even cheaper than the Matrix.
Randy
I was going to suggest the Sevier Tiger Eye also. I build a lot on the 7’6" 3/4 but I would think the 8’ would be similar. I use it with a 3wt line which makes it feel more med-fast. With a 4wt, it would feel more medium. Great blank for the price.
Forgot about Sevier! Thanks for your input. James
Great post John 3:16, I have been shocked at how reasonable the prices are on these blanks. I guess the ol’ lifetime guarentee is the reason Sage and Winston are so expensive? 
Oh, I’d probably have one of those high-dollar rods if I could afford it. That’s usually the problem though, right? I’m guessing the Lifetime guarantee adds a chunk to the price tag. Too bad the price is so high that not everyone can enjoy them. Oh well, if it will sling a fly and hold a fish, that’s all that counts in my book.
The lifetime warranty is a big part of the cost, but the high dollar blanks are lighter. For me, that really does not make a difference. I can’t stand long enough for my arm to wear out from a slightly heavier rod.
Lifetime warrantee is only part of the higher price. Sage, Scott, Gloomis, etc. compete at the cutting edge, so they have a lot of R & D and marketing expenses they have to cover. Add to that higher quality control costs on new technology and you have a significantly higher production cost. More economically priced blanks are second generation technology, so production cost is much lower. We all benefit from the higher priced blanks even if we don’t buy them since the technology eventually filters down.
That being said, I would never buy a high priced blank for a rod under 5wt. Generally, in that size range, a little more weight and a little less action doesn’t make a lot of difference to me. Higher weight rods are another matter.
Great info Dunfly! Makes sense to me. James
Who would be best to purchase a Sevier blank from? Sevier direct?
I used to buy them from Schnieders Rod Shop because I could get all of the components on the same order and save shipping. I’m not sure if he still carries Tiger Eyes though. Last time I ordered the blanks directly from Sevier, however, his component selection and inventory seemed limited, so I bought the components elsewhere and paid two shipping costs. I’m not sure who carries Tiger Eye blanks anymore.
I have a 8’ 4wt 2 piece Batson RX7 that is real nice. I haven’t tried the 4 pc though.
Dunfly reminds me of why I never buy the high priced brands: I don’t feel like paying for their marketing expenses (even though my wife is in marketing). Nobody that has ever looked at my rods has ever heard of Batson or Pac Bay, but they’re great rods.
Greg
Buy direct from Sevier
Randy
But call rather than order online.