We have had a ton of ice fishing derbys here in North WI today. I got to see a lot of gear on it's way to the ice, and it hit me - almost all ice rods have TN handles, and most I saw had reels taped on, not even using rings.

Come spring these guys won't touch open water rods with TN handles. Frustrating!!!

I find that most my customers in the graphite rod end,,, prefer the TN. Handle... they tell me that they like to tape the reel on and they say that they are more sensitive. Each their own. (particularly the perch fishermen,,, and we are in SE Wi.)

The only way a rod has left my shop in years has been with a Tenn handle on it. All we have is open water.

Thats all I use on my casting rod and hand held rods, in the past all cork, but now I am using graphite tubes on my new builds. And I think I'm going to really like them. I have a few Fuji plate reel seats to try also.

I love TN handles. I hate graphite slip rings. I hate aluminum slip rings. I don't mind plate seats, but they are a bit heavy for light rods. I think the design of the old sliding seat that Rick's Rods sells has merit, but they are a bit light in their construction and a little spendy. On my own rods I use electrical tape, but have trouble making a rod for someone else and handing them a roll of 3M tape with their new rod. Some bright mind some where has to be able to come up with a better way.

[www.rodbuilding.org]
If you don't have a copy you may want to order one.

I'm not claiming to be a bright mind, but this is in my oppinion a better way



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/27/2008 11:41AM by Steve Gardner.

Hey Guys - thanks for the feedback. If it was up to me, I would ONLY build spinning rods with TN handles - love them!. It the general fishing public that seems to be a hard sell. Taping the reel on looks fine and feels great, I have always considered it the mark of a serious angler. Most guys won't go for the wrapping a reel on with thread because they wan't to be able to change reels themself.

I guess what I am asking is - has anyone found a good way to educate people on the benefits of this great, classic style?

Thanks,
Marc

Marc.
For the most part I have been able to educate them to the benefits of having the reel wrapped on.
Most times all it takes is some explaining as to why the benefits outweigh the negatives (not being able to remove it without some effort).

Then let them use it for a couple of hours. Actually most of the people that I build one for have either fished with me and used mine, or come to me because of seeing, handling or using some one else’s.

But like you alluded to earlier it could be the market I am in. There are many fishermen in this area that don't bat an eye at purchasing top notch equipment, if it will give them the edge over their competition

I may be mistaken, but I think I had read in a post some time back that there are more Custom Builders in NC per capital then most other places, This may also be due to the market in this state