a serious blind man rod question

[Fish Tales]

I have a friend of mine that just got married, she married a blind man..(this is not a joke or set up i am serious) well he really is a nice guy and is very independent. He wants us to take him out on the bay during striper season, which we are of course...He just got accepted at Duke to become a lawer, (pretty cool hugh) (I do want to add he is not one of those people that has a cough or something so they go to the doc for a handicap tag, this guy wants to be treated like evryone else, with no special treatment at all period)
To the point, I want to give him sometihng for him for their wedding present, not the usuall towels and toaster stuff, they are moving close to some ponds and lakes around the school...So I was wondering, before I spend the $, I want to get yalls' opinion on a fishing rod, we came up with that rocket launcher thing and the auto bobbers, what do you think? He will just have to be carefull wich way he aims it cause he could "accidently" hook his new wife
so what do you think?

[knock down]

Fish Tales , one of my very best friends is blind , His name is Brian , He goes by Wave Loudly on this Board. Brian hands down is one of the finest people that I have ever known !!! I am proud to call him my friend I can tell you this much , treat your friend normal when it come to fishing & let him tell you what would be comfortable for him. I think it's a great idea for a gift by the way. And for anyone else out there with friends or family with dissabilities remember , thats all they are is dissabilities other than that they are no different than you or me. One last note Wave loudly can fish circles around me as well as others just ask O-SEA-D ! Once again Fish Tales I think your idea is a great one !

[Wave Loudly]

I am blind and fish, the feel of a fishing rod is key. My favorit rod that I have fised so far is one that I had made from a St. Croix blank with a Rosewood handle. I'm sure that there are other more expensive blanks out there that are better than the one I picked, but St. Croix is in my budget range and "transmit" vibrations extremely well. The wood handle adds to the transmision of vibration, especially when bottom bouncing for soft striking fish or feeling for holes and rocks.I chose a less expensive rod seat because the reel fit with NO WIGGLES. Again this is for the transmission of vibrations. (Funny thing, the seat holds almost every reel I have wile holding it firm. might be luck or devine intervention...) I spool with power braid, above 20 pd test, lower is to hard to feel for knot tying, but not higher than 35, I don't like the sound of the higher test passing through the eyes. (That's only on this rod, so I think it is a personal prefferance.) I use a short mono leader of about 6 foot. Acts as a shock line for setting the hook, something that I think is an over reaction to my feeling for every bump and nudge. Might be a personal thing again. I don't know how experienced of a fisherman your friend is, but if he is pretty much starting out, I also suggest "upping" the size of the eyes on the rod. Especially the tip eye. Feeling a well tied knot to leaders takes a little practice, and I like my tip to acept a swivel passing through it. (Signals me to stop realling without jamming up against it.)

This is a spinning out fit, but I am in search of getting some other rods made similar to it. (The guy who built this one is not where I can find him, and it seems that the wood handle was something he specialized in. If anyone finds wook andle supplier for rod building, I'd like to know about it so I can get some in hte future.) I suggest starting off in the spinning world because a backlash can be frustrating when you can't see, and are the independent sort. (Especially with the power braids, too fine and limp to go by feel alone)

I hope this helps, and I didn't over or under inform you. (if you need more from me, I'll be monitoring this thread, or PM me.)

Knock Down... Thanks for the kind words. I only fish circles around you because I can't see where I'm going, so I just naurally go in circles! LOL

Last word on "treating as normal" Define normal??? I have yet to meet a fisherman that society would call "normal"!! LOL

[knock down]

You know what I mean. well anyway I hope others chime in this is a good thread

[flatbottom]

I like a light jigging or casting spinner for school rock to medium rock.

A St Croix 7' md heavy fast action graphite. 8 to 14 lbs. 3/8 to 3/4 ounce weights. the style is a premier ps70mhf. the reel on this setup is a spheros 4000fa

[Fish Tales]

Wow thanks guys for the info. I am getting ready to leave again for a week, so as soon as I get back I will of course ck this thread. If yall' have any more ideas please post up.

Thanks