There are several companies that sponsor this site and Fly Anglers Online including TackleWorks.

I would like to hear what response these advertisers have to this type of "journalism". I would hope, they would not want to continue their support of FAOL.

REC, Dan Craft, Batson and TackleWorks.

If you have not read this article it is available here:
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Christian

Mr. Castwell simply offered an opinion. Surely he is free to do that, especially on his own site. I'm afraid I don't see it as all that important and it's certainly not worth a cry for sponsors to leave his site.

I very much like the first paragraph on the Tackleworks page about "The Truth About Custom Rods" where it mentions that most people do not need a custom rod. Let's try to keep this sort of thing in perspective.

Personally I don't see anything wrong with his article or for him to express his opinion. Point of fact is that if it is built correctly for one buyer with his choice of components and wrapped to his specifications on color it is certainly understandable that another person might not like it -- most expecially if it has the original owner's name on it. He also makes an excellent point about warranteed 'breakages'. I can't afford to replace rods (for free) that are broken through carelessness (car doors, trunk lids, clumsy feet, sildes down slippery embankments). I do offer to repair them at cost - and replace anything that is defective due to workmanship or failure of components. I think that's fair and I believe most other rod makers offer the same or similar services.

Authur -

Sorry, but I have several problem with the JCastwell article.

A "fair idea" is not an opinion. That is a phrase used when presenting research.
Quote from JCastwell's Article:
"Just wanted you to have a fair idea of some of the things you may be getting into by doing so."

His article is laced with poor anecdotal evidence and non sequiturs. If he presented some good research to back up his opinion I don't think he would've written the same article and come up with the same conclusions. I don't think it was a "fair idea" of custom rod building.

Quote from JCastwell Article:
"And don't forget the guarantee. Do they both have the same one? Chances are they do not, in fact, probably not. That has to count for something. How about when you break the tip of a two piece rod?"

This is presented with no evidence and is completely wrong if he is talking about someone building their own rod. All major fly rod companies I know of supply the same warranty on the blank that applies to their finished rods.

These advertisers, specifically TackleWorks, sell to the custom rod building market and this article, opinion or not, is harmful to them.

Christian

I am not sure where I am on this article myself. I find some maddening things said there and JC (IMO)may well have put his foot in his mouth.
I agree that JC has the right to post such an article on his own site. On the other hand, such an article reaches many people and carries weight with many of those people. In that, he could have successfully taken away business for many custom builders and those selling components as well as some sponsors on his site which in turn may have taken money out of his pocket.

Dan Craft

Fishing rods are fast becoming in the tackle trade a type of fashion ,we the rodbuilders fashion rods our way ,the way we want and our customers want,if a customer asks me to tie him a particular killer pattern with a red head ,i tie him a fly with a red head,if the same guy wants a Sage Tcr blank built with differant cosmetics i will build him a tcr with differant cosmetics these are the differances that we can make and do make in the tackle trade.
However everyone has an opinion to his or her conclusion of the rodbuilding industry and in fact the tackle industry.
Me myself I offer a service to customers who want something more specialised / diifferant / unique to the run of the mill of other anglers.

I wonder if Mr J Castwell has a custom fitted suit for those special occassions ,or a differant / specialised / unique / cd- sound system in his car or his home.I know i have,
and as long as Mr J Castwell doesnt tell me how to build my rods,i will not tell him how to write his articles of which i will still continue to read because he himself offers a service to the trade which is unique to himself and on accassions i enjoy

Thank you for listening/reading...

I was planning to buy a Sage XP blank to hand craft a rod for Mr. "Kastwell" as a surprise Christmas gift. I guess I'll send him a card instead.

I'll take that .

I think Mr. Castwell is missing the point of building a rod for your self or someone close to you. The pleasure in creating something that you can take a little pride in, not to mention the time passed in doing something you enjoy. Factory rods may be superior to custom made rods, but the enjoyment of landing that first fish with a rod you built with your own hands and mind is something you can't get from a store bought rod.
Murf

I after reading Mr. Castwell article I saw a lot of humor in what he says. I my self believe after reading Mr. Castwell article, that he has never talked to a real custom rod builder. Number one a experienced rod builder always warrantees his work. Just like the mass produced rods that cost is included in the custom rod. Now don't get confused with cosmetics of a rod, cosmetics does not make a custom rod. What makes a custom is how it feels, casts and works a fish. As those of you how have been building rods for a few years know, no 2 blanks of the same model and series well act the same. It is the experienced rod designer that takes a blank and designs it to work a certain way even if that blank was not designed for that type of fishing. We all know that besides the blank the components that go on the blank is vary important in the design of a custom rod. Custom rod builder are changing the way manufactures now build some of there top end rods. I wish when a party makes comments like Mr. Castwell they would do a little research before condemning a specialized trade, like the custom rod builders. Just my 2 cents
Good Wraps Bob

I read the article also, and I of course, think he has every right to his opinion. However, I did think his article was a) poorly-written, and b) biased against custom rod building.. Maybe his concern was to protect the jobs of factory workers. If it was, at least his heart was in the right place. I did email the site publisher and I did post a response to illustrate the other side of the issue. It is posted on the fly anglers bulletin board.

I read it. I think it all comes down to - who is building the rod-. Like any thing, who does the work, do they give a dam? Communication? Is the owner telling the builder what he expects from the rod? Does the builder have a name? A lot of people would rather buy some thing off the shelf only because of the name. They are well known. This takes time. If you have your car painted will the paint start to peal after 6 months. Did you get a cheap price. The guy has sponcers that pay for the site. Of course he is going to prase them. That is what he is doing. Heck it also takes time to explain to a customer what you will do, and why you will do it. Plus does the customer care? I have some one that wants a rod. After a clean up on another rod, I asked him what color thread he wants, he said - it's just a fishing rod - Don't know if I want to build for this guy? This bothers me??

I know Castwell is entitled to his opinion,but I really wish it was an educated one.His article was poorly writen indeed and his lack of knowledge where custom building is concerned is obvious.There were "some" 1/2 truths in there,but hard to find amongst the inaccuracies.

He made a post on one of the threads regarding this topic in the bulletin board on FAOL that pretty much speaks volumes.He basicly says that he built his first rod without aid from a book or anything,on a cheap/crappy blank,and put too much epoxy and thread on the guides and made it heavy and ruined it.Then,before the rod was even dry,he threw it away and never built another one again.

'Gee',it sure sounds like he is the guy to go to for advice on building rods.Glad he was the one to print such an accurate and objective column on the subject since he knows so much about building custom rods.

Honestly,I can definitely see where a sponsor to there would be more than just a little ticked off.That kind of column doesn't exactly HELP them any at all.

Fred M.,what factory rods do you consider to be superior to custom built rods?I know I have yet to see one.

Take the very best factory rod you can find in any shop,any where,and it won't EVER be remotely close to the quality of a rod built on that same blank by a highly reputable builder.I still consider myself a total novice in this but I have yet to find a factory Sage,Winston,or anything that can compare with even my work,attention to detail or choices in components.To compare these factory mass produced rods to the work of many of the experienced builders and masters here is an insult to their skills.

I've always said that the only things factory rods have going for them over custom rods(and this isn't even true in many cases with good builders) is the speed and ease of using the warranty and the rod's resale value(and I have NEVER bought any rod based on resale value so to me it's barely any advantage at all).It's no contest when it comes to quality of fit and finish,workmanship,or components.That's not bashing factory rods at all,it's just the truth.

Compare the final products and the product never lies.You simply can't pump out 1000's of rods as fast as you can,and have the same level of overall quality as a single rod done by a master craftsman(or even a fast learning and talented beginner for that matter) with access to better components and materials.Of course if Mr Castwell was comparing factory rods to his own attempt(if you can call it one,LOL),then I can see how a facotory rod can indeed be better than a custom rod.Better than HIS custom rod that is.

Not one of the better written columns of his unfortunately.

I've known Jim and Deanna for several years. They're nice people and reputed to be excellent casters and fishermen. There is a lot Jim (J. Castwell) doesn't know about rod making but that doesn't change the fact that his article was an simply expression of his own thoughts, many of which are opinions and not facts. I do not believe he intended any malice toward custom rod builders. He's not that type of guy.

Jim made some good points while overlooking some others that run contrary to his thoughts on custom rods. And, we must remember that there are good custom rod builders and there are not so good custom rod builders. It's a hard category to generalize.

I know that those of you who sell rods probably feel somewhat slighted or maligned by what Jim wrote. You are, of course, free to offer a contrasting opinion on your own custom rod websites, advertising or conversations with potential customers. Jim's article is not going to make or break your custom rod business.

In 25 years of making and repairing rods, I learned early on that the so called "premium" rods that cost hundreds of dollars, are not exactly finely crafted pieces of sporting equipment. The $700 rods are assembled in the same way and with about the same quality as most of the $50 discount store rods. We've all experienced the often sloppy or shoddy workmanship that goes into the best and most expensive commericlally made rods. But, we also know that in most cases, these rods satisfy and work well for probably 95% or more of the fishing public. High quality custom rods will always be in the minority and will only appeal to the most avid or passionate anglers. And they make up only small portion of the total fishing rod market. That's never going to change very much.

Companies that sponsor these various sites can make up their own minds on what they want to do with regard to articles such as Jim's or those opinion pieces I've written in RodMaker. At the end of the day I suspect they'll take a look at whether a particular advertising venue is adding to their bottom line and not worry so much about the opinion of the guy who owns the site, the magazine or whatever. And I strongly suspect that most of those who sponsor FAOL will continue to sponsor it because it's a great site, gets a ton of traffic and benefits their bottom line.

...................

I think that Mr. Castwell may very well have written this article with the intent of doing just what it has done, started a discussion about custom versis factory rods. I certainly do not agree with everything he says but frankly I think he makes some good points and we as custom rod builders should be able to counter with the case for custom rods.

Mr. Castwell has the right to express his opinion just as we do. Getting all emotional and calling for an advertisers boycott is in my judgement overreacting and would be, in the long run, counter productive.

I think that Arthur Mercer is right on target, we should keep this in perpective.

The problem is that he's not allowing any contrary opinions to his. There have been some custom builders who have offered differing opinions and those posts have been removed. Not because they had bad language or were inflammatory, but because they had facts that Castwell either overlooked or doesn't want known.

Tom I'm a little more than surprised that you're being this gracious towards what was written on the Fly Anglers Online Site. The last rod company I visited was the RL Winston company. I got to see their equipment and the assembly process for their rods. When I moved to NC last year I stopped in your shop. Your equipment is WAY more sophisticated and your assembly is much more precise than anything I saw going on at Winston. In fact I'd have to call their whole operation downright crude by comparison. How can you not take a firmer position on the advantages of custom rods particularly when you are a craftsman and publish the only custom rod building magazine out there. This affects your bottom line too you know. Just seems like you would consider the impact it could have on the magazine or this site if nothing else.

I have to think my commitment to the custom rod building craft is pretty well known. I guess I just don't see Jim's article as that big of a deal. He made some good points and in other areas he really doesn't know what he's talking about. So what? I find it hard to believe that successful custom rod builders are suddenly going to find their sales drop off because of an editorial that's been written on a fly fishing website. And let's also keep in mind that for most fishermen, commerically made rods are more than good enough and in fact may well be the better overall choice.

Custom rod building and custom rod builders have always been a bit maligned by most fishermen. This isn't anything new. Anyone who wants to promote the advantages of custom rods to new legions of fishermen can come to the National Rod Building Show in Charlotte and see what custom rod building is really all about. This does a lot more good and convinces a lot more people about the advantages of custom rods than calling for Jim's head on a platter ever will.

TackleWorks will continue to sponsor and advertise at FAOL because their site gets a ton of traffic. Many of those fishermen who visit FAOL will see the TackleWorks banner and seek out rod building and repair services from the people who are listed at Tackleworks. And that isn't going to change just because Jim thinks commercially produced rods are all around better than custom made rods. Just like the other sponsors there, TackleWorks isn't there to support FAOL - it's there to gain new business for its members. I won't cut off their noses in order to spite Jim or FAOL.


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Hey all... I want to add my two cents worth regarding the "article" by Jim Birkholm at FAOL. If you have read the article, towards the end of it you will note an excerpt from an ad that was in the Buy, Sell, Trade section of the FAOL BBS. The ad was used by Mr. Birkholm to try to make a point about there not being a market for custom rods. That was my ad (BTW he never contacted me about using it but I guess that is the perogative of a "Grand Poo-Bah") and I was a little PO'd that it was used in such a manner. The truth of the matter is that I am recently unemployed and also separated from my wife, am selling my home, and money is a big issue. I just couldn't wait to sell that Xi2 for what it was worth and needed to recoup my investment, so I sought a trade for another rod that might sell easier. I was successful and not only got a factory built, warrantied RPLXi 890-4 in return, but I also feel that I made a new friend who is a big fan, now, of my custom built handiwork. The gentleman with whom I traded used to be on Sage's Pro Staff and has many years in the fly fishing industry and I am sure that he wouldn't mind if I quote him as to his opinion of the Xi2 690-4 he now owns:

"I ended up trading a brand new sage rod with a blank warranty card for a beautifully crafted rod. The reel seat , components, and cork are heads and shoulders above any factory rod. No warranty...who cares. I do not break rods and if I did I can still get a new section from sage and have it re-wrapped or just do it myself since I can build them as well.

Plus it is an heirloom quality piece and I am the only one who has one
like it."

(S. Ransom - Submitted to FAOL on 11-14-04 and deleted that same day)

I responded to Mr. Birkholm's article last Friday evening, laying out my objections to the use of my words without my consent (or even attributing them to me!) and to set the record straight on the reasons behind the ad I ran. Mr. Birkholm's response was to delete my post and to bar me from the FAOL website (BTW - I was in no way in violation of the site's policies regarding posts)

Perhaps Mr. Birkholm was just trying to "stir things up" as others have suggested, but I believe there are ways that he could have accomplished that without the inflammatory language. And as to editorial integrity, I have to say that repressing contrary opinions, quoting people without attribution, and banishing the people with opposing opinions is a best spitefully petty and at worst, discredits everything he has written.

My primary reaction is the same one that's already been made by a couple of others

What atrocious writing.