Rod Builders? 2024
EvanT123 reply :
Do you guys have any factory rods in the rotation?
I have 2. One that I like very much and will probably always keep but I go into the store and handle a few rods and meh 
None do it for me. I know you guys said it was addiction but I didn't know there was no turning back.
Jrob78 reply :
I do still have factory rods in the rotation. Just because I build my own rods doesn't mean I'm not still curious about certain factory rods. Frankly, sometimes I just want a new rod sooner than I can get one built. I am particular about the rods I buy and most of them are very similar to the rods I would build.
My last 2 factory rods are a Dobyn's Champion 805 RM cranking rod and a 7'3" HXF Kistler Helium 3.
Ozark_Basser reply :
I don't really see a point in going back. I've only done one build, but I scrutinize every rod I look at now, and instantly find something I'd rather have on it that I could do myself, and most of the time for cheaper. Plus it's fun.
S Hovanec reply :
I have some, but its only because I haven't sold them yet. I did fish some factory rods for a while cause I was too busy building customer's rods that I didn't have time to build myself any. I'm slowly finally starting to get my arsenal built up.
FishinDaddy reply :
IOn 4/17/2015 at 10:59 AM, S Hovanec said:I have some, but its only because I haven't sold them yet. I did fish some factory rods for a while cause I was too busy building customer's rods that I didn't have time to build myself any. I'm slowly finally starting to get my arsenal built up.
Same here. I have given away or sold most but I still have several veracity's and a fenwick that I fish. Their replacement blanks are on the shelf but I have not had time to build them.
Delaware Valley Tackle reply :
I have a few. Mostly loaners ad tournmament beaters/back ups. I like to check out factory stuff just to aid in communicating with clients & forum members. I don't have the time or budget to fish a lot of factory rods just for the sake of experimenting. St Croix and Fenwick would get my attention first if I needed an off the rack rod quick.
clayton86 reply :
All of my rods are factory rods at the moment except one ice fishing rod I built. I've got a build waiting to take one of my factory rods out of rotation I'm just waiting for my new grips from mudhole so I can start the build.
MickD reply :
I still use a few factory rods for special stuff that I've not built for. One of my favorite rods is a factory rod I stripped and rebuilt with new handle/grip and guides. I just didn't like the grip, and hated the dull grey guide rings. Now it is one of my favorites because the blank is very much like the St Croix SCV 7 foot medium fast. One of the best. And the grip and guides are what I like.
Ben Eipert reply :
I do not have any except my trolling rods. That is only because they have not been switched over yet. For the price I cannot buy a better rod than one that I can build
papajoe222 reply :
I still have three Browning rods that I keep in among my most used. They were my first technique specific rods and if I could find the blanks that they are built on, I'd make three more. They aren't 'factory' anymore as I've upgraded the guides on two of them and added some bling to them.
Batson reply :
No factory rods here since I have access to a huge inventory 
woody osborne reply :
On 4/24/2015 at 10:37 PM, Batson said:No factory rods here since I have access to a huge inventory
LOL!!
basscatcher8 reply :
I'm slowly getting mine changed out as I go. I get one changed out then I think of a new one I would like to have that I don't yet. I just built a little 6 foot crankbait rod with the original intention to throw jerk baits or small spooks but I found out it works great for tossing square bills up under trees and caught a few fish doing this.
Slowly as my factory rods get retired they get set aside to be used for pulling bottom bouncers for walleye.
.ghoti. reply :
Almost all factory rods at this time, nearly thirty of them. I've just gotten started in this rod building thing. I'm planning to follow in Roadwarrior's footsteps, and get it down to eight rods, since I have a rod rack built into my jeep that holds eight rods against the roof.
I have one almost done now, a bait finesse stick I can't wait to try out. I have yet to decide what the other seven will be, but I'm betting I may not be able to stop at eight.
Batson reply :
No you won't stop at 8.. its a great obsession to have 
Big Bait Fishing reply :
once you have custom rods , fishing factory rods doesn't cut it at all ....
.ghoti. reply :
On 4/24/2015 at 10:37 PM, Batson said:No factory rods here since I have access to a huge inventory
The bait finesse stick I've almost finished is built on an Immortal blank, one of yours listed for walleye spinning. 7'2" ml-f, cut down to 7'. Winn grip, no foregrip, an Alps winding check in front of an ACS reel,seat, black Alconite stripper and tiptop, Recoil running guides, spiral wrapped. The whole thing weighs 3.4 ounces. Got an SS SV spooled up and ready to go.
Batson reply :
Wow that is great!! And how does it fish? Show us some pics! 
That Immortal for Walleye is going to be a great rod for you. Looks like you have an awesome rod!
.ghoti. reply :
On 8/26/2015 at 9:55 PM, Batson said:Wow that is great!! And how does it fish? Show us some pics!
That Immortal for Walleye is going to be a great rod for you. Looks like you have an awesome rod!
Sad to say, I haven't had time to fish with it just yet. I thought I had it done. I was wrong. I screwed up the finish on the area right in front of the reel seat. A holo wrap / hook-keeper / decal; all basically one entity. Cut it all off, scraped off the epoxy and started over. I'll post some pics when it's done.
Backyard casting told me it will be a very nice rod for casting very light plastics, with that reel. I expect it to fish very well. I've built other rods with Immortal blanks, and they are superb in their price range. Easily the equal of an SCIV in my hands; maybe better. I say that being a St Croix fan. I have three Avids, several LTBs and one Extreme. The Immortals I've built have been better than the Avids, equal to or better than the LTBs. Can't compare to the Extreme. Haven't built one close to that particular action power and length. I'll be buying more Immortal blanks.
Batson reply :
No problem at all. They should be equal or better since the blank designer that was with them is now ours! Mike Thorson is one of very few that fish competitively, research, design, and know manufacturing processes to insure our blanks are the best out there. Not to say of course we miss some, but on those Immortals, they should be right inline with what your looking at. It replaced our RX8 lineup and most have said that this blank is better now! The extreme is the SC V. You would have to compare our Eternity2 to the Extreme.
One thing though, the more you go up in anyone's lineup as being the best. Typically you gain sensitivity and light weight. Unfortunately you have to sacrifice something and its durability. We have had great luck with our blanks on all aspects, but remember you can't set the hook like Vandam does with his crank bait on anyone's high mod rod and not expect it not to break!
If your a St Croix fan, you would love our blanks!
.ghoti. reply :
On 8/27/2015 at 5:56 AM, Batson said:No problem at all. They should be equal or better since the blank designer that was with them is now ours! Mike Thorson is one of very few that fish competitively, research, design, and know manufacturing processes to insure our blanks are the best out there. Not to say of course we miss some, but on those Immortals, they should be right inline with what your looking at. It replaced our RX8 lineup and most have said that this blank is better now! The extreme is the SC V. You would have to compare our Eternity2 to the Extreme.
One thing though, the more you go up in anyone's lineup as being the best. Typically you gain sensitivity and light weight. Unfortunately you have to sacrifice something and its durability. We have had great luck with our blanks on all aspects, but remember you can't set the hook like Vandam does with his crank bait on anyone's high mod rod and not expect it not to break!
If your a St Croix fan, you would love our blanks!
I would love your blanks more if they were not painted. I bet you've never heard that. LOL
I should say, I like the color of the Immortal blanks. Not the Eternity series. I know, you say I have LTB rods, and they're blue as well. I don't like the color of those either. But they fish well enough I can put up with it.
I haven't built on an Eternity blank. Yet. I do plan to do so, just to see if there's much difference. I will say the price delta between Immortal and Eternity is not that much. It would not take much in terms of weight savings and sensitivity increase to justify the extra cost.
Batson reply :
Color of blanks is always a topic of discussion. Some people love them, some people don't. Its always a crap shoot.
I hope you can get into an Eternity2 blank!! So far, people have claimed as one of the best blanks on the market. They are engineered to perform in the best way possible! There are mods on here that have received them and you could ask them directly on their thoughts. They use rods of all sorts of high end companies, and so far everything has been very positive on the RainShadow Eternity2.
The weight, construction, design, sensitivity, .. It is our flagship rod blank line!
On 8/28/2015 at 1:57 AM, .ghoti. said:I would love your blanks more if they were not painted. I bet you've never heard that. LOL
I should say, I like the color of the Immortal blanks. Not the Eternity series. I know, you say I have LTB rods, and they're blue as well. I don't like the color of those either. But they fish well enough I can put up with it.
I haven't built on an Eternity blank. Yet. I do plan to do so, just to see if there's much difference. I will say the price delta between Immortal and Eternity is not that much. It would not take much in terms of weight savings and sensitivity increase to justify the extra cost.
FishinDaddy reply :
On 8/28/2015 at 2:18 AM, Batson said:Color of blanks is always a topic of discussion. Some people love them, some people don't. Its always a crap shoot.
I hope you can get into an Eternity2 blank!! So far, people have claimed as one of the best blanks on the market. They are engineered to perform in the best way possible! There are mods on here that have received them and you could ask them directly on their thoughts. They use rods of all sorts of high end companies, and so far everything has been very positive on the RainShadow Eternity2.
The weight, construction, design, sensitivity, .. It is our flagship rod blank line!
You should have sent them to the builders on here instead... 
Big Bait Fishing reply :
On 8/28/2015 at 1:57 AM, .ghoti. said:I would love your blanks more if they were not painted. I bet you've never heard that. LOL
I should say, I like the color of the Immortal blanks. Not the Eternity series. I know, you say I have LTB rods, and they're blue as well. I don't like the color of those either. But they fish well enough I can put up with it.
I haven't built on an Eternity blank. Yet. I do plan to do so, just to see if there's much difference. I will say the price delta between Immortal and Eternity is not that much. It would not take much in terms of weight savings and sensitivity increase to justify the extra cost.
use Citri-strip on it and remove the finish , take it down to the natural graphite !!!
Batson reply :
On 8/28/2015 at 7:50 AM, FishinDaddy said:You should have sent them to the builders on here instead...
We take all in consideration
woody osborne reply :
on my last trip, I had four outfits. three were my own builds and one was an old shimano speedmaster. building your own sure lets you get what you want.
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