Muskie First
Published February 14, 2008

Slamr: MuskieFIRST welcomes Keith Terlinden of Professional Edge rods to the Chat Room! Thanks for coming in tonight!

Professional_Edge: thanks again muskiefirst

lambeau: please allow Keith time to answer the questions before overwhelming him with more!

Professional_Edge: I will type fast

Bret_Wold: how long do you think the rods will keep gettting?

Professional_Edge: I have an order for a 10 footer

Professional_Edge: it is a big bald guy that throws weagles

Iowa_Muskie: what action is possible in a 10'

lambeau: why the demand for longer rods?

sorno: did you build rods for yourself before deciding to go the selling custom route for others?

Professional_Edge: I built a 9 footer and loved it..sold all my 8 footer

Professional_Edge: action stays the same...it just added length

Professional_Edge: lots of up side to longer

Professional_Edge: can move a bait..easy casting

Professional_Edge: I did build for myself..dad...brothers

BenR: Do telescopic handled...where the blanks slide into the handle hurt performance and do you make them

Professional_Edge: then decide to build for others...now look

Professional_Edge: my wife would like the basement back

Professional_Edge: I do not do telescoping at this time

Iowa_Muskie: when does length start to become a problem?

Professional_Edge: I am really interested in finding a blank that would work

BenR: Me too, thanks

Professional_Edge: i am not sure...it is all preference

BenR: I would order in a minute if they were available

Professional_Edge: i think over 9-6 is to long

Professional_Edge: i will continue to find something

Slamr: what percentage of your customers prefer the 'fat cork" versus the skinnier cork styles?

Professional_Edge: everybody but one

Bret_Wold: with the added length, does it put more stress on the rod when handling/fighting bigger fish? Doesn't the rod have to bend more during the fight?

Mike_Hulbert: I wish I could get thicker cork!!!!

Slamr: no, seriously, I am actually asking a question

Professional_Edge: I have not sold thin cork in a long time

lambeau: when you were starting out, how/why did you settle on emphasizing Diamondback blanks?

Professional_Edge: it is true....you and one other guy...that is it

Professional_Edge: at the time they offered the best action in a blank that was not heavy

Professional_Edge: and they have a awesome tip for casting

Professional_Edge: there are very few blanks like the DB

gtp888: Is your new style "cork" gonna be standard equipment on your rods
in the near future, or is it just in the "we'll see" phase right now?

muskie_tim: Keith, what's the advantage to the longer rods, say an 8'6?
better casting distance or ability to handle larger baits (like pounders)

Professional_Edge: it is good stuff

Professional_Edge: syncork is the future...i promise you that

Professional_Edge: longer sticks

Professional_Edge: i watched a couple movies this year where they were using my sticks

Pointer: Why is syncork the future?

Professional_Edge: deep figure 8s without bending over

Smokin_Joe: Keith, explain the warranty you offer, and also the blanks, and what is your fee for re-building a warranty rod?

Slamr: what is the advantage to syncork over traditional cork?

Iowa_Muskie: does syncork have a better grip than cork when wet and cold?

Professional_Edge: I tried to paste my post on my web page for syncork didn't work

jigstop: Other than the foregrip who even touches the cork?

netman: Is syncork the same make-up as the wine corks have gone too?

Professional_Edge: one year warranty on all my customs

Professional_Edge: most blanks that are bad will break within a year

Professional_Edge: manufactured sticks can offer them when they are imported...you can change them out several times and still make money

Professional_Edge: no it is like styrofoam that is more dense

muskie_tim: what about the ones that make it past one year, longevity it a rare thing in the musky tackle business

Professional_Edge: very light weight...

Professional_Edge: muskie tim...confused what you are asking

Professional_Edge: all the orders in Chicago except maybe three were on syncork

muskie_tim: just historically, how long do your rods last

Professional_Edge: I have very few warranty issues...there are always bad blanks no matter what name is on them

Bret_Wold: Do you have the exclusive on syncork or will other makers be following in your footsteps?

Professional_Edge: right now myself and throne bros have it

Professional_Edge: it will be out there by later in the year

Mike_Hulbert: muskie_tim, I have one that has over 500 muskies on it....they last a LONG TIME!

muskie_tim: that is a LONG time

Professional_Edge: mike uses one rod all year

Professional_Edge: that is almost a lifetime for others

Smokin_Joe: Is the "edge series

Smokin_Joe: as good as the DB

lambeau: what do you enjoy most about making rods for people?

muskie_tim: more than a life time for me probably lol

Professional_Edge: as good????? very close....very close

jigstop: No offense but I have seen different synthetics come and go over the years and after a year or two fad cork is still king

Smokin_Joe: Thanks

netman: What is the best set-up for throwing the cowgirl or the new 13 blades?

Professional_Edge: DB has its place...anything 6 ounces and under it is the best

EdBZ: for someone that is used to 7'6-8-0 rods and was interested in going longer would you reccomend 8'6 or the 9'

Professional_Edge: good cork is hard to come by...I have seen that stuff to...time will tell on syncork

Professional_Edge: the heavy action db or the new edge series

netman: How big are they going to go?

Professional_Edge: the new edge allows you to throw mag dawgs with it

Iowa_Muskie: what rating does the edge go up to?

Professional_Edge: edbz...I built a 9 footer and sold all my 8 footers

Professional_Edge: all my new sticks will be built 9 feet with syncork

netman: Dipsy rods

Professional_Edge: the new edge will handle a big Suzy sucker....pounder

Smokin_Joe: Does the Edge have a softer tip than the DB?

Mike_Hulbert: I had Keith make me a 9'6.

Kreegz: where can we go to buy professional edge rods?

Professional_Edge: softer no...the same yes

Professional_Edge: only one place to get them and that is by ordering from me

Tdiddy_and_Abbie tells you: Lots of dipsys coming our way

Professional_Edge: I am in no stores and I am not sure I will be in any
Kreegz: what's your website

Professional_Edge: that takes the custom out of it and makes it a manufactured stick

Professional_Edge: proedgefishing.com

gtp888: Keith, you mentioned to me that really good cork is the
differentiator in price points on rods...what will syncork do to pricing?

Bret_Wold: what can we expect for a turn around time from when we place the order til we receive the rod from you?

Professional_Edge: plus I will never be caught up to build inventory at this pace

Slamr: have you ever, or have you ever thought of, building on Lamiglas or Loomis blanks?

Professional_Edge: syncork is the same price...I make no more money using it...I am selling it because it is that good of a product

lambeau: what makes your custom rods, "custom" as compared to manufactured/retail sticks?

Professional_Edge: yes on those slamr..I am not held to use any blank

Professional_Edge: if folks want something different I will build it

Professional_Edge: guides...type of cork...thread color...I put two coats of glue on

Professional_Edge: keeps water off the threads

Professional_Edge: cork length is another big factor

EdBZ: what is the standard handle length on your sticks?

Professional_Edge: lots of folks do not care for the short 12 inch handles offer

netman: What type of reel do you recommend for you 9ftr throwing a magdog?

Professional_Edge: it is custom so I will build to any length but 15 inches is standard

Professional_Edge: I build about 90 percent to that length

Professional_Edge: I sure like the Okuma

muskie_tim: What's your best advice for guides not freezing up?

Professional_Edge: good reel at a good price...never had a problem with it

netman: thanks

Professional_Edge: that is a hard question on guides

Professional_Edge: I had a guy that wanted batteries hook up to his guides to keep the ice off

Professional_Edge: rec has a guide that bends easy and will knock off the ice

Professional_Edge: okuma with a power handle that is

Smokin_Joe: What reel seats do you use?

curleytail: Many people say a custom rod "feels" better/different. What factors make a rod feel different besides the handle?

Professional_Edge: I use Fuji and some other stuff...Baston has some very good quality components that I use

EdBZ: are the zirconium guides that you use Batson guides?

Smokin_Joe: Thanks

Professional_Edge: yes on the zirconium

EdBZ: sweet

jigstop: What kind of tip do you use

jigstop: how do you rate carbaloy tips

Professional_Edge: curleytail...all I can say is I have lots of repeat orders with happy people... I think there is a big upside to custom

Professional_Edge: I have been using stainless steel tips

Professional_Edge: musky guys reel the leader in to far and knock rings out

batman: yup, I will have 5 Pro Edge rods in my boat this season. two 9 foot db's last year sold me

Kreegz: never.... hahahha

Professional_Edge: there is no ring in stainless steel

Professional_Edge: I do not want rod returns for warranty work

Professional_Edge: so I use the stuff I feel will keep performance and eliminate breakage

Dave_Jonesi: The balance of rod to reel is an interesting subject, is this your most important aspect in building a rod?

Professional_Edge: it is very important

Professional_Edge: what I have found is use a blank that is not heavy and you are in good shape

lambeau: there's a lot of emphasis/discussion on what is the proper reel for hard-pulling baits (magnum plastics, double-X bucktails, etc.)...what role does the rod play in reducing strain?

Professional_Edge: I think the rod helps but to be honest

muskie_tim: Do you have a "center point" that tells you when a rod is perfectly balanced?

Professional_Edge: it is the reel...I started using power handles and it make all the difference

EdBZ: do you use Fuji soft touch reel seats?

Dave_Jonesi: what is the weight difference say in a 7 foot blank that you would normally use as compared with a 9 footer??

Professional_Edge: rod helps in the casting

Professional_Edge: depends on the blank....if it is extended it adds more weight in the rear to balance it

Professional_Edge: I do use soft touch

Professional_Edge: one thing to remember when going longer

Professional_Edge: the base of the blank has a larger diameter

netman: Is there a balance weight available

Professional_Edge: so it limits the reel seats you can use
EdBZ: are the soft touch standard?

Professional_Edge: like a db 9 footer takes a 22 reel seat

muskie_tim: That makes sense, more weight in the rear for balance

Professional_Edge: there isn't many of those on the market

Professional_Edge: balance weight? You mean the perfect balance from tip to butt?

Professional_Edge: you do not feel tip weight on a good blank

Professional_Edge: st croix tournament, db and the edge series are not heavy

netman: so the ultimate set-up is what, 9ftr, Induron and 100lb powerpro?

muskie_tim: The perfect balance weight for ease of casting is what we mean, I think.

Professional_Edge: so you do not have a bunch of weight up front

Dave_Jonesi: what is the most expensive rod that you have put together, what were the components??

Professional_Edge: do yourself a favor and use bronzeback

Dave_Jonesi: right on with the bronzeback

Professional_Edge: fuji cermet guides gold....was over 400

Professional_Edge: I do not do much thread art

Professional_Edge: I try to build sticks to use for fishing

Ballistic: Describe the 'spine' of the rod and how you set up guides etc. in relation to it.

Professional_Edge: spine...million thoughts on spine

Professional_Edge: i build on spine....there are some that build off to increase power

Professional_Edge: spine is something that manufactures do not take into account in most cases

BenR: What is the worst condition a rod has been returned in for warranty?

Professional_Edge: for the average guy they would not know without being shown

Professional_Edge: I have 6 of 9 guides stepped on and the rings out

Professional_Edge: made me wonder what happened

curleytail: spine and balance...maybe explain that good "feel" of custom...

Professional_Edge: it is hard to explain spine on a computer

Iowa_Muskie: what % of higher end factory rods are built "right"" say Croixs, Loomis ect

BenR: are any of the blanks starting to incorporate kevlar

Professional_Edge: I have two loomis imx walleye rods...they are built off spine

Professional_Edge: makes a big difference in the walleye world

Professional_Edge: I have not seen any Ben...how about carrots? You see the carrot stick in Cabelas?

Iowa_Muskie: my Loomis say muskies though lol'

Professional_Edge: I think they are built on spine if they get lucky
floyd
ss: loomis?

BenR: carrot stick?

Professional_Edge: you will feel the rod roll if it is built off spine on a walleye rod...rod is under more load

Iowa_Muskie: gotcha

Professional_Edge: check out cabelas...there is an orange stick made out of carrot material

EdBZ: can you still get your hands on Croix SCIII blanks or is that all done now?

Professional_Edge: more load meaning more bend

gtp888: What is your breakdown percentage-wise between the various species specific rods you make? I'm guessing the vast majority are musky rods.

Professional_Edge: the SCIII is done...I was told the premier was upgraded so close to the avid they decided to stop making the avid

Professional_Edge: the fast growing part of my business is bass and walleye

Professional_Edge: the walleye stuff has been getting some press

curleytail: do you agree that the premier rod is very close to the Avid?

Professional_Edge: Diamondback makes the best live bait walleye rod I have ever seen

muskie_tim: that's interesting, I thought you were mainly a musky rod guy

Professional_Edge: I have not build on the premier so i do not know...i think they are nice looking at them in the st croix booth

Professional_Edge: no I build more walleye rods then musky and a bunch of bass stuff

BenR: any fly rods?

lambeau: what are some things that muskie fishermen could learn about rods from the walleye/bass world?

Iowa_Muskie: is there a blank made to throw baits between 3-10 oz?

Professional_Edge: yes on the fly rods...float rods...ice rods...
Professional_Edge: 3-10...st croix tournament and the edge series...the tournament is a great blank

EdBZ: do you build many glass trolling and sucker rods?

Ballistic: I can vouch for the ice rods, very nice sticks

Professional_Edge: lambeau....catching fish is fun:)

muskie_tim: Do you make many of the old time beef sticks, like the 5 and 6 footers

Professional_Edge: I have built some sucker rods

Professional_Edge: here is my take on trolling rods when asked...same the money and get an ugly sticks

Professional_Edge: put your money into a casting blank

Professional_Edge: having said that i got a bunch of 9 to 10 foot fiberglass two piece trolling blanks that i might build on

crackpot: what are some new technologies or materials you see coming in the future for blanks and components

Professional_Edge: I cannot remember the last time I built a musky stick at 7 feet or less...I will build them to any length it is just there has not been a demand

Professional_Edge: st croix really changed blanks last year with the tournament

Professional_Edge: I think others will be playing catch up

crackpot: how so?

Professional_Edge: the design of the tournament is just out of this world...almost over designed

Professional_Edge: they changed the taper every half inch

Professional_Edge: most rods that three tapers total in an entire blank

cowboyhannah: What are your thoughts on number of eyelets on a stick? What are the drawbacks to placing additional eyelets?

Professional_Edge: along with that they increased the hoop strength without adding material

Professional_Edge: making not heavy

gtp888: Just so I'm clear, Keith, you recommend the DB blank for 2-6 oz baits and Edge or SCLT for above 6 oz. am I correct?

Professional_Edge: additional eyelets will stiffen the rod blank

Professional_Edge: yes on that 888

crackpot: do you build muskie sticks on the tournament blank?

Professional_Edge: I have built a bunch of tournament stuff

Professional_Edge: fuji did a study on guides

Professional_Edge: they added guides and it increased casting distance

Professional_Edge: line did not explode as much between guides

muskie_tim: With everyone in the fishing world contacting you to make custom rods, how many hrs do you work per week?

Professional_Edge: but the distance was not enough for me to think it is worth making a blank stiffer

Professional_Edge: i have a real job and sneak downstairs when the kids are at school...i love building

Professional_Edge: i do not build much in the summer

Professional_Edge: it amazes me to be doing this volume out of my basement

Professional_Edge: with no store front

Slamr: where do you get most of your business?

floydss: for someone just starting out what advice would you give them?

Professional_Edge: I would read lots of folks articles and now I am building for them

muskie_tim: That is amazing, congratulations on such a successful business!!!

lambeau: have you ever, or have you considered, offering rod-building classes?

Professional_Edge: almost all word of mouth

Professional_Edge: I have not been part of any paid advertising

Professional_Edge: I am doing one for some troubled kids next week...i am looking forward to that

Bret_Wold: website??????

netman: phone number?

Professional_Edge: 612-802-4629

lambeau: http://proedgefishing.com

Professional_Edge: I hate saying it but do not wait to order

Rebel9921: Did I miss anything about your new Edge series???

Professional_Edge: I am getting behind and my biggest show is coming up in a month

Professional_Edge: people here have been good to me

lambeau: so when you're through with teaching the kids is there a Rod Building Road Rules in the future??? Maybe the night before the Blaine and Chicago shows each year???

Iowa_Muskie: got a feeling I'll be placing an order at Blaine

Professional_Edge: if anybody is in the leech area call and come fishing

Professional_Edge: I do this for the love of the sport....this allows me to meet a bunch of good people

netman: Thanks PE

Professional_Edge: that would be a good idea lambeau

Professional_Edge: lets think about that

lambeau: MuskieFirst thanks Keith Terlinden of Professional Edge for spending time with us in this chat tonight!


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