Shop review

We decided to make this blank pack because it’s the blank Goulven uses for albacore tuna when trolling. It has proven itself. It has even landed small bluefin tuna and held a blue marlin for a few minutes. The big plus is its progressive action in the fight, which keeps albacore from coming off.

A 1.98 m blank and everything you need to build it

• Rodbuilders’ Republic PPS 66 XXH blank, 1.98 m (6’6″)
• Power: 50 to 150 g (casting weight), line power: 30 lb
• X-Fast action, one-piece tapered blank with a fiberglass tip
• Blank weight: 156 g, matte black finish
• Diameter: 20.32 mm at the butt and 3.2 mm at the tip
• Build-it-yourself pack: blank, gimbal, butt, fore grip, reel seat, grip, finishing rings, 6 guides and a tip guide

Albacore tuna with the paeta and dentex on slow trolling

A fairly light blank that keeps fish on

The PPS 66 XXH blank suits slow trolling. It can bring in fish up to around twenty kilos, even a bit more if you take your time. It has a nice progressive action in the fight, which helps avoid pulled hooks. Goulven uses it for albacore tuna with the paeta.

It also works for dentex on slow trolling, and amberjack is among the incidental catches this blank may end up bringing in. On the other hand, it is not a blank for big bluefin tuna. Beyond 30 kg, you will have to take your time and work the fish.

A Shimano TLD reel in size 30 suits it perfectly. If you are seriously going after albacore, bring 3 rods to maximize your chances.

A complete pack, with Fuji MC series guides with a size 16 tunnel

This blank build pack brings together the parts you need for a trolling rod. All that’s left is wrapping and varnishing. Here is what comes inside.

• 1 PPS 66 XXH blank
• 1 RRAG gimbal (Inox Silver, 22)
• 1 Slick Butt (12, Slim)
• 1 Tapered EXO EVA fore grip (20/27, 15.8, EVA black)
• 1 AHD ALPS reel seat (Silver, 20)
• 1 XHW finishing ring (silver, 15.5)
• 5 Series MC guides in size 16 and 1 Series MC guide in size 25
• 1 Series MN SiC Polished tip guide (16-3(7.5))

The Series MC guides are Fuji’s latest guides, in stainless steel with SiC ceramic. They are light, but strong. Why size 16? To let a swivel, a snap or a roughly tied leader pass through.

Here is the guide spacing in centimeters, starting from the tip guide: 10 – 11.5 – 13 – 16 – 19 – 23. Small tip: painter’s tape or drywall tape is enough to wedge the handle parts before gluing with epoxy.