Looking for recommendations for a 9 ft. blank to pair with a lexa 400 (with 50# braid) to fish 1-2 oz swimbaits and small snipers around kelp paddies and kelp beds. Thanks

What pound test top shots do you plan on using? I'm guessing somewhere and the 20 to 25 pound range, right?

20 to 30#... correct

20 - 30 on light rods is a big range really, and not many firms can produce a rod that does well with that kind of spread. What works at 20# will be too light at 30 and vice versa. It's a 50% difference on the lighter side. Keep that in mind. At 20# plus or minus 5 lbs, the RCE 900 XF stands out, at 30 it's a Mega. At 20-30 with a sweet spot at 25# RCE 900 MAG. A lot of folks LOVE that blank to cover those tests and it will fish that range well. UC's will fish their range. Might consider that rod in a deckhand build, then run a Duran clamp on the Lexa. Saweeet!

Any Rainshadow opinions/ recommendations?

I 100% agree with Mark. 20 to 30 lb is a wide gap in test range. I have a Lexa 400 that I use for bass, bonito and barracuda mostly with 20 lb test toppers. With that said I have caught YT with it on 25 lb topshots.

Can the reel handle more? Sure, but even spectra backed it may not offer the yardage I'm looking for when I start to get in the 30 lb topshot range, meaning bigger line shy fish that may need a long soak to get a bite.

I have mine mounted to a 8' rod, for me it just works better than a 9 footer considering transport and storage on sport boats. If your mostly fishing private boats or shore then a 9' may be better for you.

You may want to split the difference at look at some 8.5' rods?

The blank manufacture I use Charkbait does not sell anymore so I won't go into that but with that said if I were you I'd diffidently look at composite or strong full graphite blanks, like UC Composites. For a light setup these can't be beat IMO.

I have built a arsenal of rods from one manufacture and I'm not looking to replace them all as it would be to costly. They still fish great so for me why change?

I do love UC rods and if starting to get my quiver together now I'd look very hard at them.

Narrow down the lb test you will fish mostly with that reel and I'm sure Mark can tell you some fine blanks to look at

This message has been edited. Last edited by: SoCalAngler,

How would you compare the ce900 mega and mag to the rainshadow rclb810L and ML?