I'm looking to build a couple of new Steelhead rods and was curious how tough are the Rainshadow blanks.

BUT can they withstand a good punishing?


I built a couple of 'Clearwater' rods back in the 80's and they have lasted till now. I broke one this year and only have one left. In my opinion these bad boys are almost bulletproof.

I put them to the test that is for sure.

I've broken St Croix and Loomis rods in the past. Not to impressed with either. I'm sure they both have a great return policy but what good does that do on the river or big pond?

Any info would be cool

On a side note: Has anyone checked out the rainshadow website.... Cool bit on making a rod blank

I've built a Salmon,Steelhead and trout rod from RS blanks. I havn't used the trout rod yet,but the other two are great rods,and I'm sure are plenty durable. Are they bulletproof?...no but most rods aren't. The more sensitive the rod (higher modulas graphite) the more likely they are to break from ABUSE. RS rods are 43 million mod,with 51 million coming soon,I think that's a good compromise between sensitivity,and toughness.

Looks like you may need to use an Ugly stick blank. :p

Speaking of Clearwater rods.My brother has one that was built in the early 90's.I fished with it one day,and it was like fishing a limp noodle. I couldn't tell what was going on with my bait at all. That may be why you think they're bulletproof. It sounds like they used a low modulas graphite.

This might be something to consider Pickled:

Use a rod that's matched to the task that your asking it to perform. For example - don't fish chums in a fast moving river from the bank with an 1141. As was previously suggested, high modulous graphite rods are designed to be sensitive and reasonably strong. If you're looking for extra durability, chances are you'll have to sacrifice sensitivity.

What would be considered a lower modulus Graphite... How about brand name... Lami?

I do need a rod that can take some abuse. I typically use them for silvers in the salt as well as river fishing steelhead... Let me tell you after running a few miles in a flat bottom aluminumin boat in hood canal things tend to get banged around a bit.

I suppose I could spring for a nice foam case... Nah!!! too easy

I have quite a few Rainshadow rods. I am known to be pretty tough on my gear and have not busted one yet. I dont own a rod case or sock, and usually toss them in the back of the truck or boat and head fishing. My boat doesnt have fancy rubber gunnel guards. I cant say I havent seen or heard of a busted Rainshadow blank, but I think these rods are as tough as any rod in a matching modulus.

I have handled a few of the 51 mod Rainshadow fly rods and you can feel the lightness of the higher mod over their 43 million mod RX7 rods. These 51 million mod. rods would not take the same punishment as a 43 million mod rod. But they are so light and sensitive, very sweet!!! Soon the 51 million mod salmon/steelhead rods will be available.

I am in the slow process of weeding out all my rods and replacing them with Rainshadow rods. I am very impressed with them. For anybody who has built a few rods you know how tough it is to line up the guides when the blanks are crooked. Rainshadow blanks are extremeley straight. And the sensitivity is great.

You said you had broken Loomis rods in the past. They make more than one style of graphite. A Loomis GL2 or GL3 is a lower end Loomis graphite,but is better than most others. A RS rod is comparable to like a GL3,as far as graphite goes. A GL2 is gonna be pretty durable as rod's go. Some of the low end Lamiglass rods ( NW Special) will be more durable than their Titanium rods,but far less sensitive.

Graphite modulus means how stiff the fiber is. The stiffer the fiber,the thinner you can build the walls of a blank. Thinner blanks=more sensitive=less durable.

Look at the Berkely line of Salmon, Steelhead rods. Most are under $100 and have a good reputation as decent rods. Shimano also makes a good line of lower priced rods.

I didn't say I wanted Cheap. I want durable.

The Loomis I broke was a 10 wt. fly rod. Not sure what the make on it was, but it had the matte black finish if that matters... it was a demo that was given to me... set the hook on a silver headed in the opposite direction, cabooom sounded like a 22 going off.

May have had a defect...
who knows?

thanks for the input

I agree with BOE. Nearly all my drift and spinning rods are Rainshadows. I love them and will continue to use them.
Congrats Roy on your new web business.

Cheap and durable go hand in hand.

I guess that goes for women as well, eh?

Bait O Eggs

Do you happen to know when the 51 million mod. will be coming out?

The RX 8 (51 million mod) is available now in several fly rods.

Currently Rainshadow is developing the RX7 (43 million mod) series of rods in the Olive Green color as well as the Matte black they offer them in. Developing and stocking all the RX7 series in a second color is taking time.

I was told today Rainshadow hopes to have the RX8 rods available in the salmon/steelhead series of rods this spring.

Is the olive green a matte finish as well?

The rod blank building is very interesting, in case anyone would like to see it, here is the link!

http://batsonenterprises.com/blanktour.html

I am on my 3rd Rain shadow rod. They all broke on fish so far. The fist one broke on a 30lb ling cod the second one broke on a 5 lb silver and the 3rd is just finished and I am waiting to catch a fish on it!!!

The good thing about rainshadow is they back their product 100%.

The rainshadow blanks are a very durable rod!
the olive green blanks are a gloss blank, very attractive and worth a look.

As Roy mentioned the 51 million mod blanks should be avail. this spring...

We have been getting very few warranty claims on the RS blanks...