|
|
| Hammskie - 2/19/2014 3:49 PM
You can get a Chevy Suburban with aftermarket rims, pinstripes and ground effects or you can drive your Cadillac Escalade home from the rod shop and start crushing muskies with it.
Why limit yourself to GM when there are plenty of other high end options out there? Especially since GM was a part of a huge government bailout:) Since you are making odd analogies. BR |
|
| |
|
Posts: 4343
Location: Smith Creek | A little foresight can go a long way. Is the builder in your area? Shipping a 9 footer out of Speedee territory will cost someone, likely the consumer.
Service: s**t happens. will the builder take care of you in a TIMELY fashion if it gets stepped on, or are you SOL? And again, where will you be shipping it if it does need service?
Reel seat shims, is polyurethane used or cardboard or tape? If the builder claims tape or cardboard is just as good then take your business elsewhere.
Underwraps are nice but not necessary, spining is a little more important. Overbuilt rods get heavy. Massive ALPS reel seats look cool and indestructable but are overkill. So are massive guides.
Some guys build works of art, some build terrific tools that are quite plain looking. Some make terrific tools that are works of art and cost 6 month rent.
Research before you choose. There are some great builders out there, there's also some lousy ones.
One last piece of advice, if the builder wants less for a custom than what you can get a similar factory rod for, look elsewhere. I've seen some cheap customs. You'll pay more for them in the long run.
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 127
| Flambeauski - 2/19/2014 4:26 PM
Overbuilt rods get heavy. Massive ALPS reel seats look cool and indestructable but are overkill. So are massive guides.
Great points all around Flambeauski! The point above is one of my pet peeves of customs! An ideal rod would have the smallest guides possible, made out of the lightest material, with the minimal amount of wrap (without sacrificing durability). The less weight on the blank, the better the blanks properties shine through!
One other thing to check out on a casting rod is spiral wrapped guides - only way to have a truly stable rod under load! |
|
| |
|
| The new super light small guides are awesome, really takes weight off the rods. Worth the investment:)
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 45
| That is the great thing about custom rods. If you want micro guides with sic rings and a skeleton real seat, order it that way. Cookie cutter rods are not custom. A true custom is made to your specifications. As comparing to the drive off the showroom suv, might as well buy a LT St Croix off the shelf. Lots of good blanks and rod builders around. Don't get hung up on what is the trend this week. Once you fish with a well built custom rod built for the proper application you will never go back. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 696
Location: Northern Illinois | Financials is not an issue so I'm not too concnerned about shipping costs. We live in Northern Illinois and have a cabin on Kentuck Lake so we can get it shipped either place. We've had numerous customs before but nothing we cared for much-which I will not name names. We've had numerous LTs and GLoomis rods and liked them but wanted some differences that you can get with customs. I like some of the crazy designs but they might not be what my Dad wants. I definitely want him to get a Predator but as from who; that is up in the air still. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 4343
Location: Smith Creek | RStien321 - 2/19/2014 4:45 PM
Flambeauski - 2/19/2014 4:26 PM
Overbuilt rods get heavy. Massive ALPS reel seats look cool and indestructable but are overkill. So are massive guides.
Great points all around Flambeauski! The point above is one of my pet peeves of customs! An ideal rod would have the smallest guides possible, made out of the lightest material, with the minimal amount of wrap (without sacrificing durability ). The less weight on the blank, the better the blanks properties shine through!
One other thing to check out on a casting rod is spiral wrapped guides - only way to have a truly stable rod under load!
Spiral wraps are a pet peeve of mine!
I don't disagree that it adds stabilty and reduces torque, IF you're jigging or fighting a fish tip up (lifting). If you're burning a double ten with the rod tip close to the water then the guides are on the wrong side of the blank.
JMO- When guys are using muskie blanks to jig for grouper or rockfish or use Bondy's or Fuzzys I'll recommend spirals all day long.
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 4343
Location: Smith Creek | Brett Carroll - 2/20/2014 8:28 AM
Financials is not an issue so I'm not too concnerned about shipping costs. We live in Northern Illinois and have a cabin on Kentuck Lake so we can get it shipped either place. We've had numerous customs before but nothing we cared for much-which I will not name names. We've had numerous LTs and GLoomis rods and liked them but wanted some differences that you can get with customs. I like some of the crazy designs but they might not be what my Dad wants. I definitely want him to get a Predator but as from who; that is up in the air still.
My first choices would be:
Frank's (IL)
Lake Lady (MN)
B&B (WI)
Thornes (MN)
Not to take anything away from Jeremy @ Tuscarora, his rods look very nice, just don't have any experience with them. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 127
| Flambeauski - 2/20/2014 10:26 AM
Spiral wraps are a pet peeve of mine!
I don't disagree that it adds stabilty and reduces torque, IF you're jigging or fighting a fish tip up (lifting). If you're burning a double ten with the rod tip close to the water then the guides are on the wrong side of the blank.
JMO- When guys are using muskie blanks to jig for grouper or rockfish or use Bondy's or Fuzzys I'll recommend spirals all day long.
Not quite following what you mean by "wrong side of the blank." Two of my custom muskie rods are spiral wrapped, and even when I am burning double 10's with them, they are a pleasure to fish with. Plus, I find that I don't have to use as strong of a grip on the foregrip (I am a foregrip guy) when using it either as the rod doesn't tend to rotate around. From my point of view there are literally no disadvantages (aside from looking different and possible difficulty with storage) to spiral wraps.
Gary Loomis (probably the single most respected individual in the fishing rod world) mentioned that the first year he offered finished rods for sale, all the casting models featured a spiral wrap. He said that there were no disadvantages, except that fishermen were slow to accept them and thus sales were not what they had hoped. He went to the standard guides-on-top style after that and sales went up.
At the end of the day - that is the beauty of a custom though. Allows everyone to get what they want! |
|
| |
|
Posts: 4343
Location: Smith Creek | LOL! You had to get me started...
Gary's idea stemmed from the type of fishing he did, and market he was reaching (salmon and bass) where there is little load from the retrieval of lure and the tip is typically sky high. The idea is that when the blank is loaded, the guides should be on the same side the load is coming from, or underneath, like a spinning rod. When you are throwing double tens the torque you deal with isn't from fighting a fish, but from fighting the lure. Now if the rod tip is up, that's fine. But with tip down, often in the water, the load is on the opposite side of the guides.
That's the theory anyway. Results obviously will vary:) |
|
| |
|
Posts: 696
Location: Northern Illinois | So I've seen numerous rod builders that offer regular cork and some that offer syn-cork. What is the differences/advantages to having one over the other? Does syn-cork only come in black or is there other colors as well? |
|
| |
|
Posts: 357
Location: Duluth, MN | Syncork is a lot harder than regular cork. Probably more durable and will last longer. Not sure if there was a discernable weight difference or not though. Maybe someone else can chime in there.
That being said, as the owner of a custom predator with split grip syncork hande, id never do it again haha!
Its hard a rough on your ribs, certainly the split grip doesnt help either. I would entertain doing a full grip with it. Now I have filled the split grip gap with tennis raquet tape....makes my $600 stick look less desirable lol |
|
| |
|
Posts: 752
| So I have 5 Pred's and all but one have split Grip with Syncork. The other is a full length Syncork. I love the stuff. It wieghs a little less, last alot longer and is 10X's grippier when wet than standard cork. I have some trolling customs with Syncork Full Well's front grips and cork rear section too. That is an option if you do not like the feel but want the advantages of syncork up front when casting/setting hooks. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 209
| I am going to order a 9 ' x hvy from them I do see there not cheap but I found it better to buy one good one than 3 crappy ones and every time I fish be thinking "what would the Thorne Predator be like"
LOL!!!!!!!!!!! |
|
| |
|
Posts: 209
| I am just going to have to buy one and try it
Bill |
|
| |
|
Posts: 981
| eightweight - 2/20/2014 5:26 PM
I am going to order a 9 ' x hvy from them I do see there not cheap but I found it better to buy one good one than 3 crappy ones and every time I fish be thinking "what would the Thorne Predator be like"
LOL!!!!!!!!!!!
good choice, predator XH > all other rods (big nasty close second) IMO. you'll be extremely pleased |
|
| |
|
Posts: 209
| That made it for me I will be ordering a Predator Saturday at Madison
T_Peterzen55 - 2/19/2014 3:32 PM
The "Predator" rod is very exclusive rod. Lonnie, who is the head rod builder and has been there for many many years helped design this awesome blank. In my opinion, it is the best Muskie blank out there, weather you go with the H, XH, or XXH. Other smaller guys or companies buy the blanks from Lonnie at Thorne Brothers. Most "custom" rod builders actually will buy the blank from Lonnie at Thorne Brothers and then build on top of it. There is a reason that the Thorne Brothers Predators series is so popular amongst the top of the line Muskie fisherman all the way down to the guy who is just getting into the awesome sport. Its a blank that has extreme performance and I would put it next to any Muskie blank out there right now.
Lonnie's craftsmanship is second to none. He has been doing amazing designing, inventing, and implementing some of the best rods in the industry. The amount of different options you can get with a Thorne Brother custom rod is second to none. I would highly recommend to just go the top of the game and give Lonnie a call.
Shoot me a PM if you want some more info, wont try to "sell" you on anything, just will give you a avid Muskie Fisherman's opinion.
:) |
|
| |
|
Posts: 696
Location: Northern Illinois | How about some pictures of some customs you've had done. Not sure what color schemes I like and want to see some of the stuff you guys have had. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 109
Location: Pewaukee, WI | On the Gray colored Predator blank the main wrap looks nice black and the ascent wraps can be whatever and it seems to look good. I like red, gold, silver. The "Big Nasty" they did for me a few years back looks nice with blue and powder blue.
My buddy had one made to match his boat colors.
Personally I like the Simcork over the regular cork. All my Simcork handles look the same as when I picked them up. You had mentioned that you where looking into a split grip rear handle. I had them flare the butt end out and that’s how the handle on the rod there doing for me this winter. When casting, its comfortable.
That's the nice thing about a custom made rod, you can have whatever looks good TO YOU!
Attachments
----------------
 100_1596.JPG (146KB - 753 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 696
Location: Northern Illinois | Do you think crazy colors will matter during a figure-8 at all?...I thought about doing a bright color as the main wrap but didn't know if that would affect anything. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 209
| I went to a show at Madison and when I saw one in person it sold itself, ordered a 9'3" with titanium guides . could not be happier paid for it and not looking back
now the wait to get it
Bill |
|
| |
|
Posts: 696
Location: Northern Illinois | Did you get a Predator and what Power did you get? Right now I'm looking into the XH Predator but not sure what size I want to go on the rod yet. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 750
Location: Minneapolis, MN | Just got the call, my rod is finally done!!!!! Now if only June 7th would hurry up and get here I could actually use it... That and deciding what reel to put on it, at this point I'm tempted to just put my 400B on it instead of spending the money on a 400D or Tranx and then feeling I made a mistake. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 209
| Congratulations !!!!
what was the over all time from order to when it was done ?
Bill
dami0101 - 3/4/2014 2:04 PM
Just got the call, my rod is finally done!!!!! Now if only June 7th would hurry up and get here I could actually use it... That and deciding what reel to put on it, at this point I'm tempted to just put my 400B on it instead of spending the money on a 400D or Tranx and then feeling I made a mistake. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 750
Location: Minneapolis, MN | eightweight - 3/4/2014 2:32 PM
Congratulations !!!!
what was the over all time from order to when it was done ?
Bill
dami0101 - 3/4/2014 2:04 PM
Just got the call, my rod is finally done!!!!! Now if only June 7th would hurry up and get here I could actually use it... That and deciding what reel to put on it, at this point I'm tempted to just put my 400B on it instead of spending the money on a 400D or Tranx and then feeling I made a mistake.
Took 9 weeks. I stopped in this weekend to see what was going on as I had originally been told it would be 4-5 weeks, was told that when the order was placed the sales rep didn't put down a due date so that's why it hadn't been done in the quoted timeframe. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 209
| WOW
they also told me 4-5 weeks 2 weeks ago. glad I ordered when I did
Thanks
Bill
dami0101 - 3/4/2014 3:17 PM
eightweight - 3/4/2014 2:32 PM
Congratulations !!!!
what was the over all time from order to when it was done ?
Bill
dami0101 - 3/4/2014 2:04 PM
Just got the call, my rod is finally done!!!!! Now if only June 7th would hurry up and get here I could actually use it... That and deciding what reel to put on it, at this point I'm tempted to just put my 400B on it instead of spending the money on a 400D or Tranx and then feeling I made a mistake.
Took 9 weeks. I stopped in this weekend to see what was going on as I had originally been told it would be 4-5 weeks, was told that when the order was placed the sales rep didn't put down a due date so that's why it had been done in the quoted timeframe.  |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1638
Location: Minnesota | Just order my X Heavy Predator . needed one for a Tranx PG that was just sitting in a box. Went with a 9'8" (extended) 18" Handel Gold Titanium guides. I have many of Thorne Bros custom rods so I have each rod a new color this one went main wrap Yellow accent Black look like a bee.LOL |
|
| |
|
Posts: 35
| If I were to buy one thorne bros predator rod to throw cowgirls mag dawgs, and pounders, is the the 9'6" XH the best option. How about one rod for cowgirls only (9'6" H? or would it still be a XH). |
|
| |
|
Posts: 357
Location: Duluth, MN | bcram555 - 3/4/2014 7:59 PM
If I were to buy one thorne bros predator rod to throw cowgirls mag dawgs, and pounders, is the the 9'6" XH the best option. How about one rod for cowgirls only (9'6" H? or would it still be a XH).
I have a XH extended to 9'6" and i use it for all of those baits, handles them beautifully in my opinion. I really like the stiffness for those fast figure 8's with blades. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 750
Location: Minneapolis, MN | bcram555 - 3/4/2014 7:59 PM
If I were to buy one thorne bros predator rod to throw cowgirls mag dawgs, and pounders, is the the 9'6" XH the best option. How about one rod for cowgirls only (9'6" H? or would it still be a XH).
That’s 90% of what I’ll be throwing with my new predator, I went 9’, and TB recommended the XH. |
|
| |
