Anyone have comments on their custom work? Doesn't matter whether it's fly/spin/etc, just curious what other folks have experienced with them... Thanks (in advance) for your replies!

-Scott


Scott Kinney
The Longest Cast Fly Rods
[www.thelongestcast.com]

I have just had a very good experience on the build of an 16/18 wt one piece 8' 4" Revo Fly Rod Blank. I had a number of custom issues to resolve concerning the construction of the blank and materials. The advice given on options available and delivery were completely addressed in prompt email communications. I am taking delivery of the blank day after tomorrow in High Point. All indications provided by the distributor, who has seen the blank, indicate I will be highly pleased. After I get the blank I will let you know the final results. The preliminary consulting work on this blank was not available from any other source.

Gon Fishn



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 02/15/2007 06:11PM by Bill Stevens.

I can't comment on "custom work" per se, however I am now on my third build on CTS products. I am finishing a 7 foot casting rod, the Elite Pro 2/4 kg. I did some test casting with it yesterday and I am very happy with it. This will be my primary lure rod for fishing the Texas Gulf Coast. As soon as I finish this one, I have another of the same blanks to build a second one for my son.

I had a spin blank built to my specifications. The customer service was very helpful and I always recieved quick replies. The blank took a while to be rolled, but that is expected for a custom job. the color and finish on the blank was fantastic, not to mention the feel of the blank itself!

I also have one of there blanks that was custom set up and it is an awesome blank

I've built a couple CTS's, not a custom order, but plain jane bass blanks and my CTS is my favorite rod PERIOD. BEST finish on a blank I have seen, I worked in paint for years and the guys that are spraying these are doing an OUTSTANDING job.

DR

DR I don't think they are sprayed. I was told that "multi-piece blanks get coated using a squeegee method which works well with some paints and not others. One piece blanks get coated via a dip method which works with some paints and not others".

I wish they were then you could get the really cool colors in one piece blanks

Stan,

Seems reasonable......they look great no matter how they do it. I agree, they need to offer ALL the colors on ALL the blanks......I never understood why 2pc blanks came in neat colors that 1pc's do not....

DR

I just tried to order a one piece in silver and they said no, they were having problems with that color for some reason and they weren't comming out well. Oh well maybe next time?

Stan,

I have heard the silver was a "problem" color in the past. I think the tangerine color would make a great crankbait rod color in a popping blank! :-)

DR

Duane, the reason the 2 pc. blanks come in certain colors that the 1 pc. do not is because the multipiece blanks get coated with a "squeegee" method as opposed to a dip method for the 1 pc. The squeegee method only works on 2 pc. blanks because the difference in diameter between the butt and tip of the individual sections on a multipiece is much less than say the difference in the butt and tip on a single piece. If you run a single piece flip stick through a squeegee you end up with a much thicker film of paint on the tip section, than on the butt section. The add to that that only certain colors like Golden Plum and Golden Olive don't look right when they are dipped....they have to be run through a squeegee to get the right effect.

As for Custom layups, the client doesn't actually get to draw out their own flag pattern, specify material types and mandrel specs. What normally happens is the client needs a certain length, or a little more (or less) power or a more distinct lockup in a certain section of an already existing taper. So we really modify existing tapers to suit the clients needs.....more of a variation on an already existing theme rather than a whole NEW design. Certainly the possibility of developing a whole new taper is there, but those types of projects are normally reserved for large quantity orders for private label builders.

We'll probably be requiring a minimum quantity or an upcharge for these types of custom designs, as they require quite a bit of extra labor and time.


Andy Dear
Lamar Fishing

Thanks Andy!! :-)

DR

I've been very pleased with the 1 and 3 piece blanks I've worked with. My golden plum 3 piece spinning rod has been mistaken for a Sage TCR custom spinning rod more than once. LOL.