Some here have fished with me down PINS way through the years and in turn have seen some of my gear. I build rods...been building them off and on since 1972. A lot has changed and building them seems to be easier than it used to be. A lot of quality components to choose from including tons upon tons of rods, actions with dozens of awesome reels to choose from. Each rod/reel combo has a magical setup and it is here where I work.
Wrapping several rods right now....all single blank, split grip models...each exactly 7ft per rod with various actions to match what I want based on various fishing techniques.
A pair of them will be IM6 graphite spinning blanks matched to Penn 260 and Penn 360 Slammer reels. Reel and rod held in hand....balance perfectly without lure....add lure....it goes a bit tip heavy for feel in the cast. These rods will be live bait and ultra light jig/lure setups, used when lures are way light, water super clear and wind next to nil. Those days when casting 6lb or 8lb test mono is the only way to present a lure due to weary eyed fish in gin clear water.
The others will be ultra light weight RX7 graphites to match the new super small and ultra light Shimano Curados. Purely lure casting machines...made to go all day without fatigue...casting super small lures with zip and control with enough spine to handle oversized surprises smothered in salt.
One thread at a time and all I can say is this new gear is super strong, ultra light and when it's matched with these new ultra light palm sized or smaller baitcasters.....long range with super small baits without backlash dead into the wind. It's been a long way from my early years building Fenwick fiberglass sticks with chromed brass pistol grip reel seats matched up with red reels
CIRCA 1972.
The wrapping station.



Thinking offshore next.....
Wrapping several rods right now....all single blank, split grip models...each exactly 7ft per rod with various actions to match what I want based on various fishing techniques.
A pair of them will be IM6 graphite spinning blanks matched to Penn 260 and Penn 360 Slammer reels. Reel and rod held in hand....balance perfectly without lure....add lure....it goes a bit tip heavy for feel in the cast. These rods will be live bait and ultra light jig/lure setups, used when lures are way light, water super clear and wind next to nil. Those days when casting 6lb or 8lb test mono is the only way to present a lure due to weary eyed fish in gin clear water.
The others will be ultra light weight RX7 graphites to match the new super small and ultra light Shimano Curados. Purely lure casting machines...made to go all day without fatigue...casting super small lures with zip and control with enough spine to handle oversized surprises smothered in salt.
One thread at a time and all I can say is this new gear is super strong, ultra light and when it's matched with these new ultra light palm sized or smaller baitcasters.....long range with super small baits without backlash dead into the wind. It's been a long way from my early years building Fenwick fiberglass sticks with chromed brass pistol grip reel seats matched up with red reels

The wrapping station.



Thinking offshore next.....
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