What makes a custom rod better than a factory rod?
Freedom of choice a custom rod is produced to your specifications using the best possible blank and components available today. Some (not all) manufacturers use smaller and fewer number of guides on rods to save a few cents. Others use components that may look like their name-brand counterparts, but are of considerably less quality. Handles are sized to your needs not the average Joe that a factory rod was built for. You may prefer thicker grips or maybe a longer fore grip or a shorter butt grip, with the factory rod you get one choice take it or leave it. Blanks and guides are tested to determine the optimum position of the butt guide and the best spacing of the rest. A company that mass-produces fishing rods use average spacing is determines where the guides are placed despite the fact that no two rods are exactly the same. Each custom rod I build is both static and dynamically tested to help determine the optimum guide spacing. All rod blanks have a preferred stress curve referred to as the “spine”; we can orient it to provide you with optimum tracking on the cast or set it up so that you have maximum response and power. Combining proper sized guides and optimum spacing and alignment of those guides we can maximize casting distance and accuracy, commercial producers can't afford to take the time to do this. Often overlooked is rod balance and the role it plays on the fatigue you feel after a long day's fishing. A properly balanced rod can do a lot to reduce strain and stress on the angler. The balance point well vary from angler to angler depending type or style of rod, what the intended use is and the individual fishing style of each angler.