I am thinking of putting together a rod that I can use in the Canal for Jigs and some big plugs. I could tie up an Amtak or Rainshadow 1209 or simply buy a Tica 10C (which seems to get quite a bit of praise). Would build it up conventionally to use with my Ambassadeur 7000.

Any ones thoughts. I don't fish the Canal enough to warrant anything like an Arra.

I would go with the 1209 Patroit, in the long run you will be happier

How so? Is the Patriot stiffer than the Rainshadow. I guess what I need to know is which of these three isn the stiffest. Which will do the best job lifting a jig off the bottom of the Canal.

Judging from the specs, the Rainshadow 1209 appears to be nearly identical to the old Sabre 1209. And the fast tip might labor a bit lifting a jig off the bottom.

Never held an Amtack, but they claim it's somewhere between an All Star 1208 and All Star 1209. If so, that'll be the better of the two 1209 blanks for jigging. Unless you want to take a few inches from the tip of the Rainshadow.

The Patriot was made for Amtack by AllStar right?

Yes the AMTAK Patriot is made by Allstar, and Mike is right just a touch lighter than the others.

Chris

Assinippi, I wrapped a Patriot 1209 this spring for jigging the canal. Am very pleased with it. I throw mainly 4 & 5oz jigs and have no issues lifting them off the bottom. Although it is a little light in the tip, it still performs well. It also throws 3 - 4.5 oz plugs very well.. (much more so than I had thought it would.)
My advise to you....
If you want a rod purely for jigging.. All Star (breakaway)1209
If you want a rod you can use to jig, and yet still plug with.. Amtak 1209

Either way.. your not spending the money you would on the Arra.

Picked up an Amtac 1209 blank today from Mike at M&Ds. Looks like that will be my new Canal Rod set up conventional. My old one is a cutdown Fenwick S Glass from the late 70s. 12mm ring Alconite tip, 6 guides from 12mm to 25mm. Thinking I will keep my 25 year old, red Abu 7000. I just replaced the bronze bearings with ball bearings last year. Now if I can find someone interested in my Newell 235F "Blackie", same vintage, almost no use, I would like to upgrade to a Abu 7000 Rocket.

Abu Rocket 7000 works very nice on that blank.:D