If you ever run into me jigging the Canal, you'll find me with 2 set-ups. A 10' JKF (cut 5" from the butt) for throwing jigs up to about 4 oz and most of the plastic I throw, with a Penn 525 Mag and 65# Whiplash, or an Arra 126 1MH with an Abu 7500C3 and 50# Spectron for the real heavy jigs.
Flap I think the blank numbers on your Fishers are 8720 for the 10' and 8708 for the 9'. I've heard the same rumors about someone buying the mandrels and starting to bring back the blanks soon, but nothing definite as yet.
Pat Abate, who sold me my JKF, says they're very durable because they actually are a graphite/glass composite. Very small amount of glass, just enough to give it more hoop strength.
Of course, when I feel like really going "retro" I can ise either my Lami 121 3M or my Harnell 542 and a squidder with 50# Micron
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