I am looking to invest in a Punching rod and luckily I have a brother and nephew who are really good at building custom rods. Neither one of them do any punching or flipping, so I was hoping someone can tell me the right blank and Guides to buy for them to put together. I am willing to spend roughly $200 for this rod, do not like Micro Guides, so what is a good blank to buy. I need it to handle 1.5-2.0 oz. and be light. Light Weight is probably my main priority & want to have confidence boat flipping bigger fish.

 

I keep breaking the rods I buy in the $70-$100 range and it is time to make a smart investment.

 

Any help would be appreciated. I had the chance to use a Kistler rod yesterday, and I don't think I have ever fished with anything 1/2 as nice. I need one, but was hoping I could have something similar built in the $200 Price Range.

 

Thanks.

Personally I am not sure what rods you have broken. Pay very close attention to the rods lure rating. You should look at rods designed specifically for punching.  Take a look at an Irod designed by Bub Tosh.

It is called an Irod Genesis II IRG7114P “Bub’s Punch Rod”.

 

That rod does run $150. I fish other Irod Genesis rods and they are light, well balanced and do exactly what the rod's advertisement says it will.

 

Another option would be a Dobyns  DC 805FLIP/PUNCH  These rods were also specifically designed for the job.  It would run around $260. I do not own this rod either but do fish other Champion XP rods.  I have no doubt this rod will balance well and fish extremely well.

 

You might also want to ask this in the rod building and custom rods area.

X2 for Bub's Punch Rod.

If you are breaking rods in the price range you mentioned you will break rods that are more expensive.  The more expensive, lighter, more sensitive rods/blanks are more fragile than the cheaper ones, generally.  

 

The only way to get this rod custom built for under $200 is if labor is free.  Since you have fished a Kistler that you like, just buy one.

 

http://www.rodbuilding.org/library/rodusage.pdf

 

There are many good flippin/pitching blanks, some telescope if you're interested.  Go to Mudhole.com or GetBitOutdoors.com or Utmostenterprises.com, or any other supplier of blanks.  Call and talk to them;they are all very helpful on a personal basis in helping to meet builders' needs.

 

They can help with guide selection, too.  Good to avoid micros for this kind of a rod; no reason for them.  I would use a good two footed casting guide (no need to be bigger than 6mm) for the first two or three, then single foot fly guides for the rest of the way, 6 mm.  Since "light" is a priority you might consider Alps titanium for the double foot guides and Fuji SIC titaniums for the running guides.  But really, there are tons of options in guides that will work fine.