80 to infinity

[sushi42]

I want to have a custom rod built for a pair of 80 single speed penns I own. These will be for giant swords and giant tuna. I have been looking at some work done by Armbreaker rods out of FL and they look incredible but almost look too perfect to be custom. Paul is it from Penn also has a lot of experience and does fine work. I have a friend up here in RI who builds very nice rods and has built some for large pelagics as of lately and gave me some new insight. He slides in a losenge from the butt end and lodges it to just above the foregrip for added support. He also cuts the blank at the tip, again for a little extra backbone. However all of his rods are straight butts and I am thinking of going with a curved butt. I am also considering one of the new foregrips with the finger form to them, I think they are called Kong foregrips? Anybody have any input on them? I am also undecided as to which blank to use. Either a Seeker or a Calstar. I know that there is a ton of experience on this forum so please post up on this topic.

[paul708]

when you commission a builder to build your rods.
you should be able to trust his judgement in blanks and componets.
that is part of what you are paying for.
talk to your chosen builder about parts, and what works best for your app.
i take TONS of time on the phone, email, or in person, to design and create the perfect rod for my clients.

the worst thing is when i spend all that time and hear...
i went with XXX because he was cheaper. or closer..

some info
the new SS seekers are BADA$$.
make sure you get a god measure so the rod fits the boat.

i just finished a 6 rod set going to bermuda.
not the finger groved..but SWEET..

i just did a finger grooved spinner for cows

i will put some pics up..
good luck to whoever you choose..

[paul708]

finger groved grip.
and cow spin rod

[Capt Richie]

I want to have a custom rod built for a pair of 80 single speed penns I own. These will be for giant swords and giant tuna. I have been looking at some work done by Armbreaker rods out of FL and they look incredible but almost look too perfect to be custom. Paul is it from Penn also has a lot of experience and does fine work. I have a friend up here in RI who builds very nice rods and has built some for large pelagics as of lately and gave me some new insight. He slides in a losenge from the butt end and lodges it to just above the foregrip for added support. He also cuts the blank at the tip, again for a little extra backbone. However all of his rods are straight butts and I am thinking of going with a curved butt. I am also considering one of the new foregrips with the finger form to them, I think they are called Kong foregrips? Anybody have any input on them? I am also undecided as to which blank to use. Either a Seeker or a Calstar. I know that there is a ton of experience on this forum so please post up on this topic.

Sushi how do you plan to use these rods..Chair rodholder or may I say standup??? I think the later is out??? I have a customer that has me making him eight 80 class..He now has Black Bart rods with the Kong grips..He not using them on the new rods..
I just built him six GF760H in #1 unibutts he uses for white marlin loves them...

[sushi42]

Yeah Capt. Ritchie, these will be standup setups. I really love the old man vs. beast kinda thing. A friend of mine last year caught a whopper of a sword on a standup custom Calstar with a straight but. And he's in his late fifties. I really love the old school I dare ya to try and kick my ass kinda guys. And I had a sword two years ago that shattered a cheap production rod on me so now I'm gettin serious! I'm leaning towards a bent butt though along with a fighting harness. And I think you're right about those fingerform grips. They don't look like they'd be of any assistance in a real battle. GF760H doesn't ring a bell without me looking it up, what blank is that?

[FLATLINER]

Sushi,
If you go with the bent, you might want to consider a short bent butt. The long bent will be difficult to use on anything but a chair. Just my experiences talking here. Also, if you go with the short bent, make sure you tether it in the rodholder. Those short bents have a habit of not locking in the gimble and going swimming on a hard strike.

Kevin

[sushi42]

I appreciate that info flatliner, there was some discussion just a couple weeks back about long and short bent butts and I agree, it will be a short bent. And I ALWAYS have my gear tethered, I'm not wealthy enough to just shrug off deep sixing a nice combo!

[paul708]

for a standup. the super seeker with a short standup butt is sweet.
i did some giant killers with straight butt using calstar.
heavy glass blanks.
worked well with big drag.

what belt do you use?

[sushi42]

Paul up until now my belts have been primitive to say the least but the last belt I bought was a basic Dennis Braid belt. Nothing fancy. I was thinking of buying one of his newer models with the support harness and straps. Any suggestions?

[paul708]

i use the black magic .
they just came out with a bigger pad..
that would be a good choice.

if i was going to buy another that Black Magic or the OTR would be my choice.
but would probably go with the BM