custom rod builders ?

Hi Guys

I've decided I'm going for a custom rod build.

Can anyone make any recommendations for custom rod builders - preferably lure specialists ?

Any advice/leads greatly appreciated.

Thanks

just a quick one - why would you consider a custom built lure rod when there are several suitable 'ready mades' available?

cos maybe he wants one custom built to the way he wants it the same way some one mite want a custom car instead of standard car

and maybe i'm just asking a simple question!

I have a hand made fly rod and although expensive its one of the best I've ever used . I used several rods and picked what i liked about each one . There's nothing like it , its got a fast crisp casting action , very comfortable to hold and something I'll have forever . Its like a suit the one you buy off the rack might be your size but a tailored suit fits and fits perfectly in every way .

I don't doubt the merits of a custom build in any way - the reason I asked the question is that I noticed the chap has had a 'tough time' with rod breakages.

If I remember a Sakura and two Mike Ladle Surepsins in a reasonable amount of time - this may be due to a run of bad luck or maybe just circumstances - I'm sure you can get a reasonably priced quality rod custom built and I know you could get a very expensive one - custom build wont sort an issue that might not be related to material however.

Three breakages is a lot , if the breakpoint is low as in above the grip but below the first ring it could be that he's overloading the rod and the builder can give him a rod with a stronger backbone if its above this point ie. the vip section then its usually either taken a knock and weakened the point so snaps under strain or just put under too great a load. If it was me I'd look at my lures weights check the ratings against the rods used and go to the builder and tell him the required rating then get him to look at my casting style and he can go from their . When I had my rod built I also found out my casting was a bit too sharp whilst the builder watched my casting style. I know it was a fly rod and lure rods differ but hope it has some relevance

One thing I can tell you is that my breakages had absolutely nothing to do with the way I handle a rod... I've been fishing for over 40 yrs and it's only recently that I've had any breakages, I know how to handle rods.

If you look around you will find there are plenty of other reported breakages (tip usually) connected with that one type of rod, I've had 3 with it, two in this past season - both tip and one last season which was the butt section after two years of frequent usage. My only mistake there has been not changing rod quicker. The only other break I've ever had was the tip of a Sakura a couple of years ago and at the time of that there were around 6 other reported tip breaks of Sakuras on a number of forums.

Once you start looking into this you will find an incredible number of reported breakages, one just recently on another forum of a top notch new Daiwa Branzino.

My only mistake has been an unfortunate choice of rods recently.

For example - from another forum : a few years ago i had a custom made beachcaster done for me, on the 3rd outing it snapped mid cast, last year i got a new lure rod (maver prestige) 3 snapped on me in under 2 months all on the cast and the lads snapped a 4th one in the shop testing it

Dont mean to be stating the obvious but as much chance of a breakage on a custom rod as any other if u have any spinning/ lure rods in the shed that were once loved but very scruffy why not consider getting it rebuilt with the latest handle style/ guides at least then you know the rods action (which shouldnt change to much on a rebuild) and you wont have to fork out on a new blank which if its one of the more modern lure blanks will be that bit more "lite" and i presume costly

I didn't mean to say your using the rods incorrectly just that rod builders can design rods with tougher backbones or whatever to suit your casting style, everyone's style is different and some people have more strenght than others thus requiring different actions in a rod

and maybe i'm just asking a simple question!

And I just gave a simple answer.
At the end of the day a custom rod won't catch you more fish or will it stop rod breakage
What you do get is a rod built with the correct ring spacing on the correct spine of the rod so you will get the best out of the blank unlike most factory built rods also you get a choice of colours and rings and so on.

I think bob moss used to make custom rods if he is still working

there was another guy recommended on here too a couple of years ago

OP do a search and see what is on here..

After a lot of deliberation over several weeks I've actually decided to get a Tenryu Ultimate One......

Cheers everyone

I hope it serves you well, you could do with a break sorry couldn't resist that one.

I hope it serves you well, you could do with a break sorry couldn't resist that one.

You should have tried...........