After 4 months and a botched rod, I dumped my rod builder today.  Absolutely terrible customer service, and he would not listen. Tried to get ahold of him for over 3 weeks without a return call or email. I left him a VERY UNFRIENDLY message demanding a refund, and got a call back in 15 minutes :. Anyway, thats over and I have four or five bills floating around for a rod.

Who have you had success with? I don't need somebody who can deliver in a week, I just want somebody who will deliver WHEN THEY SAY THEY WILL! And who will build me exactly what I ask for.

Any help would be much appreciated.

I will build you a nice rod.  And $500 just happens to be my going rate.

Delivery will take place on 7/1/25.

;D

I think there is 1 or 2 around here some where  

i have one from reel mech ..... i love it ... he made me a split grip 7 ft med hev jig stick .... i really like his work .... easy guy to deal with too  ;D

I can refer 2 members

Flechero- Made me my first freshwater custom rod and I couldn't be happier with it. (pics below)

Reelmech, would prefer to build for someone he can fit the rod to in person as opposed to an on-line relationship

BOTH do top notch work.

I didn't think that Flechero built for people.

i believe kistler does custom work if you know what you want.

I have seen pics of ReelMech rods and they look phenomenal, he has some for sale at his web page frecuently and in my expirience from working on my reels, no one can ask for a better service.

This builder made 4 rods for me on 2004-5. I'm very satisfied with him. I have two friends who also use him and I know he has done some rods for the Tackle Tour team that are use in reels and lures testing.

http://www.georgescustomrods.com/index.html

Good luck

fourbizzle,

I remember a quote that you made on another thread on Powell Max rods..

The best rods I have ever owned.

Simple as that.

Maybe you should look there for your rod...

Good Luck and Tight Lines!!!!   8-)

I didn't think that Flechero built for people.

Well, I try to only build 1 or 2 per month. (since I have a wife and a day job) If you are looking for a casting rod, chopped and dropped, I might be one to consider.  I'm backed up for about 2 months right now.

What are you looking to have built?  That may change who you want to consider.

-keith

I have one rod from Reelmech and love it. Showed it off to a bunch of guys this last weekend and they couldn't believe the weight and feel. Custom rod, my vote goes to Reelmech.

While we are on the subject of cutom rods.....I had a 7ft spinning rod made with a HVY/Fast St croix Blank and the handles were made from cedar. Boy, this rod is beautiful. Now the bad news......the first time I fished with this BEAUTIFUL rod with cedar handles I was using braid and carolina fishing. The first three times I attempted to set the hook, the rod jumped out of my hands. I could not hold onto that beautiful cedar handle to save my life. Now, I have a custom cedar handled rod with my name on the blank that sits in my garage. I guess I could wrap the handle, but that kinda defeats the purpose of the custom rod. Lesson learned. This is not a practical rod usless you want one to just look at.

The first three times I attempted to set the hook, the rod jumped out of my hands. I could not hold onto that beautiful cedar handle to save my life.

2 options for you that won't "ugly it up"  

1.  try wax - as in surfboard wax.  That will give you some traction.  (Can be ordered online, it's cheap and requires no mods to the handle)  

2.  #0000 steel wool just enough to break the slick surface.  I don't think you'll need to do this if you try #1

It would be a shame to waste a custom...

I didn't think that Flechero built for people.

Russ ain't people

I am quite familiar with surfboard wax from back in my younger days on the coast surfing. I wouldn't recommend using it on your rods grips. Just sitting it in the direct sun will soften it up enough were it becomes a sticky mess. In extreme heat it will actually run off onto anything the rod is sitting on.

I would say, a cork wrap done properly, or a flocking. But then you paid for custom turned Ceder grips. I personally would suck it up, and would hang the rod on the wall and get into another built the same way only with cork grips. I have built plenty of rods that I would just hang, and then build again to the ideas that came afterwards..

Call it a learning experience...

Tight Lines All!!!  

fourbizzle,

I remember a quote that you made on another thread on Powell Max rods..

The best rods I have ever owned.

Simple as that.

Maybe you should look there for your rod...

Good Luck and Tight Lines!!!!   8-)

They don't make what I want.

I didn't think that Flechero built for people.

Russ ain't people [/quote

Did you ever eat dinner with him?

Flech, I will shoot you over what I am looking for in a PM. I have contacted a couple other builders to see who is interested/available. Thanks man!

Seems like alot of builders are just arrogant old codgers that want to tell me what I want!

Flech, I will shoot you over what I am looking for in a PM. I have contacted a couple other builders to see who is interested/available. Thanks man!

Seems like alot of builders are just arrogant old codgers that want to tell me what I want!

Unlike Fletch: an arrogant young codger

Now that was not the point I was trying to make muddy >  

Flech, I will shoot you over what I am looking for in a PM. I have contacted a couple other builders to see who is interested/available. Thanks man!

Seems like alot of builders are just arrogant old codgers that want to tell me what I want!

I've met a bunch of em'! Most of them (not all of them) think they are the only ones who can build a rod and then they turn you down when you ask them to build you one. That's why I started building my own rods about 10 yrs ago. Now I can only complain to myself.

If I had the time... I'd help you out. I haven't even had the time to build myself a rod lately! Maybe you should take up rod building yourself? No one can do a better job then you making exactly what you want for yourself!

This was the last rod I built for myself a few months ago. It's a St Croix MHF blank and I built it for my new Calcutta 100.

fourbizzle,

Glad to help you out if I can.

Muddy,

was that a drive-by mooking?  ...lol

fourbizzle,

They don't make what I want.

Would you mind posting some of the details of what you want. There are about five or six of us "arrogant old codgers" hanging out here..

ive never had a rod custom built, what sort of attributes would you get in a custom build  that a nice quality rod would not have?

ive never had a rod custom built, what sort of attributes would you get in a custom build  that a nice quality rod would not have?

Spined, better guide placement, top quality components, balanced for your reel, better looking, better performing, one of a kind, ETC...