Flukinoff

What is the highest Im rating you would use in composite rod for tog ?

__________________
You can respect the sea or she can take the respect from you.

Capt Neil Faulkner

Happy New Year,

Have been out of touch lately but the New Year is here and I hope everyone is feeling well right now.

Im rating? Guess I am still asleep. You have me guessing. Are you referring to the modulus numbers? Help me out as I caught the word composite.

Thanks.

Capt Neil

__________________
Custom Fishing Rods by Capt Neil
Home of The Long Islander Series of rods
Sayville, Long Island, New York

(631) 567-8049

Unclemeat

IM6, IM7, etc.... These are trade names for particular graphite produced by the Hexcel Corporation. These numbers are not industry standards or an indication of quality, especially since other companies use the designations to refer to graphite not made by Hexcel. At best, they allow you to compare the quality of the material used to build different rods by the same manufacturer. You can be confident that the IM7 rod would use better graphite than the IM6 rod if both are made by the same manufacturer. It's more difficult to say the same about rods from two different companies, since they could be made from material from completely different manufacturers.

You will not find IM numbers on composite rods/blanks, only on graphite.

__________________
North East Rod Builders

Flukinoff

Wow, unclemeat..good stuff ! I thought the IM# for graphite was a standard the entire industry used (I primarily fish shimano rods and they list the IM#). So, I guess there is really no way to compare the graphite in one rod to another ? Unless you have them both in hand.

__________________
You can respect the sea or she can take the respect from you.

Capt Neil Faulkner

Flukinoff,

Okay now I am awake and on target. The composite thru me a curve.

You will see graphite blank/rod models called different names. It could be IM6 or IM7, Standard Modulus or high Modulus and anything else the manufacturers wish to call it.

You will read 30 million modulus, 33m, 43m, 54m and even higher.

So what does all this mean? Basically the higher the modulus number the lighter weight the blank is, the stronger the blank is for lifting power mid blank to the butt, the more sensitive the blank, the more expensive the blank/rod, the thinner the blank walls are and the greater the chance you will break the blank more easily. The very high modulus blanks are like a piece of glass, scratch/score it and it will break.

We are up to generation #7 in graphite material. I believe that is IM7. The basic graphite blanks/rods are the 30 or 33 million modulus. They are less expensive, they work and will take a beating. To a degree! High stick'em, use braid with too much drag, swing big fish and grab the tip of the rod as you swing fish and YOU WILL BREAK them. For these reasons as a rod builder I rarely build a graphite boat rod. I can not afford to have customers breaking rods.

The advent of the composite blank, fiberglas and graphite material combination I believe is a hugh improvement. You get the best of both worlds.

For tog I use either E glas fiberglas and/or composite rods. I like both. If you take care of your equipement go up to a 43 milliom modulus designed rod/blank. If you have lots of money go for the most expensive and likely the best.

I hope this helps to answer along with Unclemeat's post.

Capt Neil

__________________
Custom Fishing Rods by Capt Neil
Home of The Long Islander Series of rods
Sayville, Long Island, New York

(631) 567-8049

Flukinoff

Captain Neil thanks for the very helpful information ! I found a very high graphite content Tsunami rod for toggin. They are called the Tsunami Magnum Series 2006. Only two models are made the TSMG-661XXH (6'6")and the TSMG-701XH(7'0"), these rods feel like they were made for white chins & we have tested them during our last tog trip. I think outside of going custom these rods are perfect for black fishing ! Oh yeah, I totally agree with you about graphite boat rods...but the killer with these is the price .... $65.99 ! Now the kicker, only one company I know of sells them over the net http://chumbagtackle.com. Check'em out.

__________________
You can respect the sea or she can take the respect from you.

Capt Neil Faulkner

Flukinoff

Hi,

Thanks for posting that info. Sounds like you found a winner. I was hoping the site would describe the rod. Have fun using it.

Capt Neil

__________________
Custom Fishing Rods by Capt Neil
Home of The Long Islander Series of rods
Sayville, Long Island, New York

(631) 567-8049

Flukinoff

Thanks Cap Neil. I am still looking forward to meeting you in the spring for that custom flounder rod !

__________________
You can respect the sea or she can take the respect from you.