I'm sure many of you have been there. A customer wants a rod and has absolutely no preference. In fact, zero input. Doesn't even care about what thread color you use, much less guides, grip material, etc.

I try and match something... their boat, truck, something that I think speaks to their personality. Even though I know that I could probably use yarn and get away with it, I like to give these folks that little extra just to think about a next one... some inlay work, a small yet interesting butt wrap, etc.

Do these folks cause the rest of you as much distress as it does me? It's sort of like shopping for my wife who "doesn't care what I get her" even though it is truly a game of russian roulette. If it's good, I'm king... if it isn't what she wanted, (though she doesn't care)... I'm not exactly king.

Hi Mick,

That is almost a terrible situation. You find it so hard to believe that the person is willing to spend a great deal on money and not have preferences.

This is when you build a Johnny Cash rod. All BLACK!!!!! Can look very sharp and you can always wrap over it.

Good luck!

Capt Neil Faulkner

With a thin silver trim ring to accent all that black. Ralph

Mick,
Us Aussies seem to only like something that is plain but practical, the rods I have built and thats not alot the ideas, colours have been left in my hands. Got another order the other day and the guy only specified the size of the grip. I think the next job the customer leaves for me to do will get something like Kens post in the photo page (excellent work but brave). I'm a frustrated artist wanting inspriation.

Myles
Brisbane, Australia

Capn Neil and Ralph,
It is a bad feeling isn't it? You want the customer to like it, but also his fishing buddies, without going overboard or looking like a factory wrap. My go to colors are black, cobalt or garnet with either silver or gold trim and inlays.

Myles, I feel your pain. I think that most fisherman don't know what can be done. They see factory rods and think that only one color of thread can be used, so they don't know the art that can be done. It's trying to find a fine line between personal expression and going overboard.

I'm wishy washy and hate wishy washy folks. lol

Mick -
Faced with that dilemma there are few questions: What type fish? and
How big are they? What kind of reel are you going to use (conventional / spinning)? From there make it so that it is pleasing to you to look at - and remains within the cost you've decided on.

All I can add Mick, is to get paid in advance.

Tight Lines

Art
mrparramoure@yahoo.com

Mick,
This is where some of your education skills come into play as what points you out as a custom rod builder.
You'll need basic input from the customer such as what species they will fish, type of bait, etc. After all, that is what they should know for a start. From there, if there is no particular preference, then the customer is relying on your expertise in providing them a product to do the job. Your product as a custom rod builder is the skill you put into the rod by it's ultimate performance and appearance. When the customer receives your finished custom rod and knows it's something special, you also want them to be satisfied when they apply it to fishing. Encourage feedback on the finished product from the input you've received. That's a communicative/educative stage between you and the customer which will pay off in the long run, and with your sense of gratification for a job well done.

Also, Myles pointed out the plain type of rod that might seem to be preferred. I've run across this many times, but when encouraging the customer to choose at least some level of personalization and they always can give you some hint of their color/metal preferences. From there you build them a custom rod that is for THEM, and they will know it's different and better. Don't underestimate that a customer might be comparing what is available in drab factory rods which is what you want to avoid as a custom rod builder. They want to know what the extra they are paying for, and it's your service, expertise, making a better rod, and one that has the appearance of custom that they recognize.

Rich Garbowski
Richard's Rod & Reel

What is actually worse, is the customer who knows exactly what they want except that it is wrong for what they want to do. It is like going elephant hunting with a 0.22 or ant killing with a sledge hammer! You talk to them and they sound like they understand, they even shake their head "yes", but when you finally get to the bottom line, they still want the wrong rod. And if you convince them to buy the right rod, they never seem to be happy because they didnt get what they wanted! It is not a win-win situation....the best you can hope for is a draw with no one getting hurt!!!
You know you are never going to hear from them again and you just go on wondering what you should have done differently, if anything. Maybe next time you refer them to someone else!

Mick:

I like this type of customer; it stretches my abilities and imagination much more than someone who tells me exactly what they want. Doing one of these rods helps me reach farther into the bag...

Putter

If your are putting your name on it, make it nice! If you know it is the wrong rod, but can not talk him into the Correct rod, maybe you should not build it! Other people will see and try it, your reputation is there.

....I should add that nearly all rods I build here are for walleye. Once I know their favorite style of fishing (cranks, jigs, Lindy's, spinners, etc.) I can run with it. And I've probably known the person for 20 years and seen them out fishing 100 times, too...

Putter

Putter; You can't build a bad rod, they all know where you live LOL

I have made a couple of sets and also do my own rods in Black with Fire Opal Metalflake. Simple but eye catching. Jesse

Bill- You got that right!!

LOL....I second Randy comments. I got three rod orders today and all the info I got was 1-5'2" and 1-5'6"....It was more like "You know what I wont" and I said "You got it"!

Capt Neil....I'm slowly making black my favorite color!

Mick. An easy suggestion. Come up with a design that you find pleasing and in line with what you know about your client, then tell your client what you are going to do (e-mail is good). If he has a hidden preference, he will surely express it then. If he is still indifferent, so be it.

The answer for me is always dark earthtones. Sometimes, when I'm feeling brave, I use a little goldish yellow. Since almost all my rods are built on black, dk. gray, or dk. green blanks (occasionally plum), almost any combination of green, brown, olive or burgandy thread will work. I also usually include a little 9004 ole gold metallic trim.

Since I almost always have some sort of wood trim on a rod, I try to match one thread color to the wood (I have more varieties of brown thread than I can count), then make my main thread color a dk. green or a burgandy/merlot/garnet color. Add a little splash of 9004 ole gold, and I've never been disappointed. Neither has the customer.

With this dark earthtone color scheme, I usually include some sort of feather inlay on the butt. Jungle Cock nails are great with almost any color(s), but they look especially great with the dark earthtones.

I have had that same problem with relatives wanting rods and they tell me it doesn't matter what I do. So I usually torture myself by going overboard and spending alot of time on it. Try to find out what their favorite colors are and go from there. To me, an all black rod just doesn't do it for me, unless that's what they want. As long as it doesn't look like something Liberace(probably butchered the name) you should be safe. Good luck

Mike

Cool responses. When I'm completely stuck, I go with garnet or black with some silver or gold. I like having the freedom to do what I want, but I also want the owner to feel that it is theirs. It's hard for me to understand how some people simply have no preferences.

I always worry that I'm giving them something too simple, or too busy. What I think is simple and elegant may not be what other's think. I enjoy doing them, but there's a part of me that is worried that they won't like it in the end. Hasn't happened yet, but someday it might.

Doing two now and even after seeing my rods with some examples of what can be done and butt wraps from simple to complex, no preference. Colors, pattern or none, eva or cork, just doesn't matter. Still working on colors and patterns. Eyes brightened at a couple of things, so I'm not completely at a loss.

Was very interested to see how others work with what are basically, dream customers.