I have been looking for some time now for a new 8' rod to fish 5 and 6" swimbaits and the 7" plugs on. On Leif's advise I drove up to the Rod Rack in Hayward after work today. What a cool shop! They had pretty much every calstar blank that exists along with a big selection of Seeker, Graphite USA, Loomis, and Raid Shadow. I pulled all of the 8' Calstar's and Seekers. There were definitely some contenders. I liked the 196 Calstar. But then I picked up an 8' rainshadow blank and it just felt right. Interesting action sort of a stiff parabolic if that makes any sense. It's a composite rod, a good comparison would be an STH7 Castaway just longer and a little stiffer. The blank was the SW967 rated 12-25lb. Anyway for 42 bucks I said it's a deal. Can't wait to get it built and rip some lip.

Right on Rob, not that i've EVER heard of that company, but that's ok. Man good thing you didn't guy the 196, i would have had to give you crap for it lol. the gx's are basically a composite verion of that rod. are you having steve wrap it?
-leif-

Damn, I am pumped. Brian, the rod wrapping machine, did the entire rod in one night this weekend for me and it's sweet! This is the rod I have been looking for for so long now. The action is just like I was hoping with the guides on. Very moderate action, the rod bends a long way into the handle. But at the same time very stiff and very light. Kind of an STH8 if you know the Castaway numbering scheme. 8' with 10 guides plus tip, single wrap (no under wrap) and jet black just like my 800L. This rod is for 5 and 6" big hammers and 7" slammers. Hopefully I can break it in on a good one like I broke the 800L in on an 8lber at Spring Lake }>