Started flushing out the rack and building. Rod will be used for lipless, squares, and flats in MOSTLY open water. I've used a mod fast KLX, glass Dobyns, and Cumara reaction in the past. None felt perfect. Glass is out for me. I'm debating 4 blanks. Phenix X10 composite, Croix SC3 mh moderate crank, Batson RX8 popping blank, and an NFC moderate standard modulous blank. I'm afraid the sensitivity in the X10 with a glass tip won't be what I'm after, and I don't know what the popping blanks will fish like. I have a mh RX7 crank blank, and the action is really close to what I'm after, but the blank is a little light so I use it for pointers and such. Any feedback and suggestions would be much appreciated. Right now I'm meaning toward the Croix.

I think you should go with another RX7 crank specific blank, there is a 7' MH with a mod-fast action rated 3/8oz to 1oz and is just a tad softer than my Fenwick ET smallmouth MF rod. I know this well as I have fished with it for 3 full days as a local builder recommended it to me as I wanted a cranking rod in graphite that is a little more stout than the Loomis CBR series but more moderate than my ET smallmouth rod. He told me it is the most popular crank specific blank he builds on because it comes in a 7' and a 7'6", I was so impressed with the rod he made that I'm doing something I never thought I'd do again, and that is getting another custom but it will be ordered in the fall for the start of next year.

I've never fished the Phenix composite blanks but the other composites I have fished fish a lot like glass.  If you don't like glass, you probably won't like composites either.   The only blank on your list that I have fished is the RX7 cranking blank, specifically the 7' MH.  I built one last year and really like it a lot.  I use it for square bills down to larger mid divers and it is also fantastic for bladed jigs and some spinnerbaits.  It's a good, versatile graphite cranking blank.

Thanks guys. I have the 6'6 version of that blank and I think a full ounce is wishful thinking. It feels pretty taxed with a 5/8 oz trap. The 7 footer may fish a little more powerful, but based off specs it can't be much. The 844 popping blank seems like it may be the ticket. Plus they are priced at a pretty steep discount till they are gone.

I've never tried to throw anything close to an ounce on mine but I don't think it would have enough power.   Where are you finding the RX8's on sale, if you don't mind me asking.

GetBit. The 7,8, and 8+ are being discontinued. I think the Revelation is the direct replacement for the 7, and two new lines are coming this summer. One with a nano resin.

Cool, thanks.  I always forget about Getbit.

Thanks for the advise guys. I went with the Batson RX8 844 popping blank. Couldn't resist the sale price!

You might end up liking a popping blank for this application. Typically a popping blank has a fast action but softer tip. This might work well ripping off the grass. I usually use a mod-fast graphite blank for shallow cranks & traps. Let us know how you make out.

Will do! If I don't like that titanium chrome finish I'm stripping it off. Should be fine and look pretty nice with some green trim and thread to match a Curado E.

I like that finish. It looks rich but not gaudy.  

I generally don't like glass rods.  But there is glass and then there is glass.  I built a Seeker BS706 S Glass rod for SB's, lipless, and square bills that is nothing like the tip heavy, slow action glass rods that I had tried.   It's moderately fast action, light, tough, with a ton of backbone.  The Seeker was talked about a lot some years ago but since it's no longer the "latest thing" I haven't seen much on them lately.  But that blank makes a great rod for those presentations if you're among those who are used to fishing graphite rods and are put off by the weight and casting performance of typical glass rods.

Well I got the XP844 today. Way faster than I was expecting. Gonna exchange it for the SC3 moderate MH.