I just want to know if any of y’all have fished and/or built the new Forecast rods from Hook & Hackle, and if so how would you classify the rod action and taper?
I’m looking to build my first rod, and want to build a 9’ 4pc 5wt primary, that will mostly be my “go to” rod from the kayak in fresh water streams. I prefer a progressive taper medium action rod with some backbone in the butt section and a sensitive tip. And I’m always on a tight budget, and have to buy the whole kit including good instructional materials in one shot. That’s why I’m looking at the H&H Forecast (Complete Kit).
Hello and welcome to FAOL flyguy66, you might try calling H&H, then ask
for Ron…if he’s not there, he’ll get back to you. I’m pretty sure he’ll be
able to tell you everything you’d like to know about the kit you’re looking at.
I’ve spoken with Ron a few times and he’s great to do business with and
knowledgable in the rod building realm.
Now that’s too funny!! But completely understandable!!
I’ve not built that particular blank before, but I have built a good number of the Forecast blanks. The ones I’ve built, I think are in the moderately fast (medium slow??) range. They’re pretty true to the catalog description. Dandy little rods!
I believe the blanks are Batson Forecast blanks. I have built one rod on that blank and ended up giving it away. I found the blank clubby and heavy. I am a big fan of Batson/Rainshadow blanks, but this one is not on par with the rest of their line. I would spend an extra $25 and get a Rainshadow RX7 (I think H & H calls it an IM6). It is a much better blank.
I have built rods on the 6.5’ 2 wt and 8’ 4 wt Forecast blanks. The 2 wt is a mighty mouse of a rod that will zing a 4 wt line and land a carp. The 4 wt makes a lovely dry fly rod that lays down the line soft as a spider web.
On the other hand, the 7 foot 3 wt Rainshadow that I built is a real dog. The tip continues to bounce at the end of the cast, and it feels unpleasantly stiff.
I’m not sure what this says about the 9’ 5 wt Forecast. Perhaps the low modulus graphite would feel clubby in longer rods with higher line ratings. The blank is pretty cheap, so it might be worth a try.
To answer your question : I would rate the forecast blanks as medium action. Not slow, not fast. A good starter blank that lens itself well to most new casters. …Ed
