Rod building tips, fishing techniques, gear breakdowns, and stories from the shop.
Most anglers shop for rods by power — medium heavy, heavy, extra heavy. But if you're ignoring action rating, you're missing the most important variable in how a rod actually performs on the water. Here's what taper does to sensitivity, hooksets, and casting feel — and how we dial it in for every custom build.
Read ArticleSaltwater blanks need to handle corrosion, resist UV degradation, and perform in tough conditions. Here's how I source and select blanks for inshore builds.
Read More →Both have devoted fans. Both have real advantages. Here's how I help customers pick the right handle material based on how and where they fish — not just preference.
Read More →A walkthrough of a recent tournament-spec flipping rod build: blank selection, Fuji components, color wrap design, and the finish work that makes it competition-ready.
Read More →Took three custom builds out for a full day on the St. Johns. Here's what worked, what didn't, and which rod I'd build differently next time.
Read More →Two of the most popular blank lines for custom builders — I've built extensively with both. Here's where each shines and how I decide between them for different fishing applications.
Read More →First-time custom rod buyer? Here's exactly what the process looks like from the moment you submit a build request to the day your rod ships.
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