About Us

Blanks

Almost all of our rod builds are from our ELT (Elite Rods Series) or BLK (Black Series) line of blanks. We also offer custom builds from our ELT blanks, which are made right here in the USA. Besides being a light weight blank, our ELT blanks are not covered in paint. While painted blanks can be “pretty”, they hide imperfections, add cost, and it makes the rod heavier. I personally like to fish with a rod that is as light as possible to get the maximum performance each blank was designed for. Adding unnecessary weight (paint) to a blank can dampen the recovery of the finished rod resulting in the rod performing like a lower modulus rod, not to mention less sensitivity. If our ELT blanks don’t take care of your custom needs, we can also purchase different manufactures blanks to cover your technique.

The BLK (Black Series) rods quickly became our best selling rods and currently not offered as a custom build. These rods are built with simplicity in mind to stand up to our motto “Built To Perform”

 

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Most of our ELT and BLK line of blanks are designed to have more of a mid section flex. This design helps absorb potential line slack when fighting a fish. I also believe it increases accuracy by having a consistent uniform bend and when loaded up can also have a bungee effect to remove fish from heavy cover. Our fast tips, when matched with the right bait and technique also improves cast ability and accuracy.

Handles

When purchasing one of our stock line of rods, you have a choice between 3 different split grip handles. Our custom Elite Rods Winn grips, high density ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) or premium A grade cork. Most prefer the Custom Winn grips with the high density EVA handles a distant 2^nd.

The cork that we selected for our handles is the best quality that I could find. Unlike using cork from China, ours is grown in Portugal. You should notice less pits and fillers as it is a higher grade.

However, we do not recommend cork as it is more expensive but it is still preferred by a lot of people for its traditional look and feel.

 

 

Micro Guides

Before they were offered on mass produced rods, we were getting the benefits of micro guides on our rods since early 2009. When properly set up, the advantages of using micro guides are huge. Here’s what comes to mind:

1. Lighter
2. Longer cast
   With a reduction in weight, the blank is able to return to a still state quicker during a cast resulting in less line slap (breaking friction) from the guides. We’re not talking miracle distances here, just a small advantage that turns into big advantages when considering all of the other factors. I personally think the advantage is more noticeable with the ease of shorter pitches and roll casts. If there is less friction, the pitches and shorter casts are smoother and reach their target with less effort and more accuracy.
3. Increased sensitivity
   By eliminating weight
4. A better balanced rod
   By reducing weight in front of the reel seat. (I think micros reduce around 1/3 of the finished guide weight when compared to using conventional sizes but this also has many variables i.e., amount of thread and coats of epoxy / high or low build, quantity, etc.)
5. Less fatigue at the end of the day
   Due to a weight reduction and better rod balance.
6. More accurate cast
   Due to less line slap friction and a rod that is comfortable to fish with when built around you.
7. The line is close to the blank resulting in less twisting force on a rod.
   Think of it as a wrench on a pipe with the blank being the pipe. The higher your hand is on the handle (or the farther the line is away from the blank) the easier it will be to twist under a force. I also believe by keeping the line near the blank improves accuracy. In essence, the line becomes part of the blank when flexed for a cast. With the proper guide placement, the line will follow the radius of a flexed blank. Ensuring the rod delivers the full power and hook setting strength it was designed for.

If you’re still not convinced in micro guides, consider this: When casting, fighting a fish, or just going thru the motions, a round piece of fishing line passing thru the guide ring will only touch 1 part of the ring diameter at any given time. The rest of the guide / ring are just added weight.

Reasons to stay with traditional sized guides:

• Shouldn’t Ice up as quick
• Pass knots from braid to fluorocarbon leaders easier

Spiral Wrap

A spiral wrap is an option on our custom rods. This consists of the guides spiraling (rotating) around the blank 180 degrees from the reel to the lower part of the rod. This unique appearance, along with it being more complex to build, may be what keeps mass produced rods from using this method.

The following is a list of the main reasons why I use them on all of the custom casting rods that I build for myself.

1. The center of gravity of a rod is lowered, so when fighting a fish the rod acts much like a spinning rod does. It is very stable making it easier to control and fight the fish.
2. It keeps the line off of the blank when loaded with a fish. This allows the blank to require fewer and smaller guides resulting in the advantages I listed under Micro guides.
3. I’m told they are more accurate, can cast farther, and will make a rod last longer. With all the variables involved with that statement, it would be hard for me to prove. I can say I haven’t seen where it hurts your accuracy or casting distance so in my opinion, why not have another advantage to get your limit.