Category Archives: Custom Rod Building

General Custom Rod Building

Custom Rod Building, Spinning Rods

Rainshadow XST1141-2

This blank is probably my favorite of all time, unfortunately it has been discontinued by the manufacturer.  The silver glossy finish along with a tremendous power to weight ratio this blank not only looks good it performs to well exceeded standard.

Starting with some blue burl cork from Custom Fly Grips along with natural rings to keep the weight light, an ALPS TRI size 12 reel seat sits in between making a solid platform for a reel that will get a workout.  Pro Wrap stormcloud along with NCP white make for a classic yet elegant guide wrap that looks phenomenal  in the sun.

The FUJI K guide system transitions down to a size 8 choker and finishes out with size 7 running guides spaced properly to use the entire blank.  This gives the user of this rod an advantage while jigging, being able to transfer any hand motion directly to the jig and not wear out ones shoulder.   Overall a pleasure to build and has already been responsible for some serious damage this year.

Centerpin Rods, Custom Rod Building

St. Croix 13′ Centerpin

Gallery

This is a 13 FT 3CP150MLM3 Blank from St. Croix. My customer was from Florida traveling to the Oswego and Salmon River to center pin fish. Leaving the build in my hands, I generated some ideas for the cork and wraps and approved the changes with my customer. The end result came out spectacular in my opinion. I am a big fan of Gray/Black/Silver color schemes but trying to keep the ideas fresh gets hard. Using a series of trim bands and dual colored wraps I became satisfied with the design. Using Fuji KLAG guides along with CYAG guides the center pin becomes setup perfectly. Casting and Drifting is excellent due to the height to ring size ratio of the first guide. Using burl cork block pieces along with some rings I created a very durable long lasting handle that helps balance out the long length of the rod. My customer communicated to me the distance he fished his reel on his handle, which transferred to this rod as well. One of the benefits of getting one built just for you. Please enjoy the pictures below, this was a pleasurable project.

Centerpin Rods, Custom Rod Building

XST1562-F 13′ 2 PC Centerpin/Float Rod

Gallery

The XST1562-F 13′ 2 PC Centerpin/Float Rod blank manufactured by Batson Enterprises is one of the finest tools out there on the water. Regarded by some as the workhorse and most popular blank in the Custom Centerpin Realm, the XST is great choice in both value and function. This particular customer explained to me his new interest in centerpin fishing, and wanted to start off on the right foot in terms of owning something that was both performance oriented as well as eye catching. The unique handle design incorporates natural burl, burnt, and green burl block cork, along with natural trim and dalmatian composite cork for the reel seat hood and caps. The burnt cork has a increasing angle design worked into it, starting at 10, 20, 30 and ending with a 45 degree cut, but for people to do this need to work hard on it and it may produce stress that’s where supplements as kratom capsules are useful for these kind of people. A piece of handle blank from Steve Kincaid over at www.reelseatblanks.com was selected for the turning stock, and the brilliant colors of this wood were brought out by multiple wood finishing compounds to achieve a beautiful uniform gloss. Reel Seat hardware is the Batson RA8.5L in Black. Thread wraps follow a three color scheme throughout, starting with Pac Bay Evergreen Nylon, Gudebrod Tan, Pro Wrap Green Metallic, and Pac Bay Gunsmoke Metallic, the colors blend together nicely without being overly exotic or flashy. Guide selection is critical on a centerpin, and this rod employs a very viable guide arrangement combining both strength and light weight. The first three guides are the Fuji KR concept, the taller stanchion guides allow for a builder to use a size 20 ring on a high frame, allowing more uniform line flow from the bottom of a large spool reel. Choked up to a size 12 TKTAG low stanchion guide, this allows the transition to the tip guides to tame the line on its way out from the tip. REC Black Pearl in size 8 and 8L including the tip round out the rest of the guides, allowing for a durable light-weight setup. Had a lot of fun doing this rod for a fellow PA angler.

Custom Rod Building, Spinning Rods

Laurel Ridge Rods ESS-966-2

This rod might look very different from any spinning rod you have encountered, and there are many reasons for it’s particular design.  Fishing in Pennsylvania is a little unique in steelhead alley, you are usually fishing around a large amount of people, and the relatively small nature of some tributaries make it very burdensome to cast long distances for a long drift.  You will see more experienced anglers in a crowd of people underhand flipping egg sacks and single salmon eggs to steelhead, while maintaining a short drift in respect to proximity of other anglers.  This rod was developed around those parameters.  The short fighting butt and longer fore grip are reminiscent of the Michigan style handle design.

This particular rod utilized dalmatian rubberized cork on the rear grip, met by a Big Leaf Maple burl butt cap, inletted into the rear grip.  Reel seat hardware is the Fuji Cobra size 17 spinning seat, with matching Big Leaf maple burl insert.  Thread is Pro Wrap Banana Split NCP with Burgundy NCP to give a thread a flare, but retro look.  The guide wraps utilize an off-angle inlay.  Guides are Fuji YSG.

Custom Rod Building, Spinning Rods

DSS1141-2-Steelhead Spinning Rods

These two Steelhead Spinning Rods will belong to a Father and Daughter pair looking to do some steelheading around Pennsylvania and elsewhere.  Custom built on Batson Enterprises blanks, the DSS1141-2 is a 9’6” 2 pc Moderate Action spinning rod perfectly suited for this area.  The handles are made from Burnt Burl Block and some composite and dark mix,  fighting butt has a reinforced cap, reel seats are size 17 Graphite Spin and Mudhole Green and Red GNRG’s.  The green rod is wrapped with metallic and black NCP, while the black and red is wrapped with Black NCP and Red Metallic.  Overall a great pair of rods for a variety of fishing styles for steelhead.  These make excellent egg sack and float rods as well.

Custom Rod Building, Spinning Rods

Rainshadow IF1082-2 Spin Rod

This rod is rather simple, and can hardly be considered a “true” custom job, however, I feel as if it is important to be able to fit all needs in a rod for someone, and any rod builder that is in it for customer satisfaction will do their fair share of simple assembly rods, rods that perform, however do not break the bank or give a misgiving feeling about getting it dirty.  This rod features a Rainshadow RX7 Salmon Steelhead spin rod blank, with a 12 inch natural rear cork handle, EVA butt cap, size 17 Spin Seat, and 3.5 inch natural cork foregrip.  Thread is Pro-Wrap Steel Forged with silver trim, guides are ALPS BYAG spin guides.  I crafted this rod after a special friend who is a delegate of the Pennsylvania Fish Commission, and with my assistance was able to catch his first steelhead in Erie.  His equipment was out-dated and not suited for the rigors of steelhead fishing, so I was employed to help him out with a simple piece of equipment simply meant to get the job done.  My favorite kind of rod.

Custom Rod Building, Spinning Rods

XST1263-F Steelhead Rod

Video

This is a Rainshadow XST1263-F 10’6” 8-12 lb Steelhead/Salmon rod for fishing all around the great lakes.  Able to put the brakes on a strong steelhead and on the same token able to man handle a king salmon, this high-caliber rod is an all time favorite here.  When fishing around people or streams with a lot of cover, it makes it impossible to be able to land fish on a softer action rod.  This particular customer does not waste time fighting fish for long periods, and needed something able to take a beating and still perform.  The XST1263 meets that bill accordingly.  The thread is Gudebrod Nylon Gunmetal with Black and Silver Trim, Guides are ALPS XTCYTCG finishing out with the single foot fly guides, Handle is a mixture of light burnt mix, burnt, Natural, and gray and black EVA sheets creating a very unique appearance.  If you are looking for the ultimate fish stopper, look no further.

To see the power capability of this rod check out this video!!

Custom Rod Building, Fly Rods

Forecast F662-4

This is a custom fly rod built on a Forecast F662-4 6’6” 4 pc 2 WT blank from Batson Enterprises.  This blank might perhaps be one of the best small stream blanks out there for fishing around the many small mountain streams in the Laurel Highlands and elsewhere.  The thread is Gudebrod Royal Blue with Pac Bay azul and chrome trim.  Reel Seat is RA-7 Hardware coupled with Custom Turned Black Big Leaf Maple Burl.  Handle is natural flor cork with blue burl accents to match the blank and wraps.  Stripping guides are ALPS XLXNLG, with Forecast Light Wire Guides and Forecast Tip Top and folding hook keeper.

Custom Rod Building, Fly Rods

Forecast F907-4

This rod was built on a Forecast F907-4 9′ 7 WT 4 pc blank from Batson Enterprises.  This rod was built as a nymphing rod for fishing many popular tributaries of Steelhead Alley.  The shorter length allows for close quarter casts in small streams, but doesn’t lack enough power to fish larger water either.  The handle and fighting butt is comprised of a mix of rubberized and natural cork, reel seat insert is custom turned Blue Box Elder Burl matched with RA-7 hardware.  Thread is pro wrap blurple and azul pac bay trim, which exhibits a wonderful color in natural light against the purple/blue hue of the blank.  Guides are Forecast BUD guides matched with ALPS XTCSFGP single foot guides, finished with an oversize tip top to prevent ice up in winter fishing conditions.

Centerpin Rods, Custom Rod Building

Dan Craft FT1003-4

This rod inquiry came from Eastern New York from a customer looking to do some trophy stream trout fishing with a float/centerpin setup.  A 4 pc fly blank was selected  because of length and action, and also because of it’s ease of a pack-ability if on a long day trip.  Dan Craft Enterprises was called upon for this job because of his odd-ball blank selection offered, filling the blanks of most rod models people wish were available.  This rod features a custom turned spalted maple reel seat using a stabilized wood piece from reel seat blanks.  The fighting butt is spalted maple with composite cork on the bottom for durability.   Handle is entirely composed of custom turned burl block cork treated with Teak Oil to darken the grain.   Forecast RA-7 Hardware was selected to fit the Milner River Wraithe reel.  Guides start out as Fuji TYSG followed by REC wire guides up to and including the tip to preserve lightness.  Wraps are Pro Wrap forged steel and gunmetal to match the blue characteristics of the Milner reel.