PROPERLY SPINED RODS

[LOCALHOOKER]

A very good friend of mine just lost a MONSTER tuna on this rod - 3.5 hours of fighting. Almost lost a finger too! This is what can and WILL happen if you don't spine a rod properly and if no guide-deflection is done. The EVA is obviously shot; it looks like the Grand Canyon. Look closely! That's EVA burned-up and melted by mono screaming off a reel. The mono is now shot (too much heat build-up), the fish got away and he almost lost a finger! Look what it cost him... He has three LOCAL HOOKER RODS on board, but the fish hit this one! Think a well-built rod doesn't matter - Think again...

[Fish Poison Rods]

What kind of rod is it?

[LOCALHOOKER]

It was a rod built by a "local-area" company. I don't name names...

Most "custom" rods are nothing more than what I call embroidery. Many are 70% pre-assembled in China (foregrips, reel seats and butts are put on), shipped here, guides are slapped on using a 20 minute quick-dry epoxy and then embroidered. Then they call them "custom" rods. I can get a shirt off the shelf at K-Mart and have my name embroidered. But it's NOT a custom shirt!

[paul708]

that happens with alot of the shamino jigging rods with the grips getting cut..
the drag used just over powers the rods..

[Taz575]

What custom rods have you seen done that way??? I haven't seen many customs, but I have never seen them done that way!!! Something new to be careful to look for!!!

Looks like someone forgot to do a static test to make sure there was enough clearance between the foregrip and line with the drag they wanted to use! I dunno what the spine has to do with it, though, unless I am missing something in the pic?? People build off of the spine all of the time w/o disastorous results. Many build on the straightest axis, not the spine. Impressive what hot line will do to EVA!! I usually cut my EVA with it on a mandrel and using thread as a blade. Imagine what braid would have done!!!

[Marlinmate]

I'm with Taz on this one. Don't think spine had much to do with this. Needed 1st guide closer to the foregrip or needed an additional taller(next size bigger) in between foregrip and first guide shown.

People build off spine all the time. There have been many debates on this topic and also on the topic of what constitutes a "custom" rod.

[dry_aku]

nice! that's where backing down on the drag and having someone handline would have helped. sometimes you need to abandon the sport in sportfishing and just get the damn fish to the boat.

[Capt Richie]

It was a rod built by a "local-area" company. I don't name names...

Most "custom" rods are nothing more than what I call embroidery. Many are 70% pre-assembled in China (foregrips, reel seats and butts are put on), shipped here, guides are slapped on using a 20 minute quick-dry epoxy and then embroidered. Then they call them "custom" rods. I can get a shirt off the shelf at K-Mart and have my name embroidered. But it's NOT a custom shirt!

I agree with the china problem ..I see guys buy six & seven hundered dollar reels & than buy a 229 dollar jigging rod made in china ...I just dont get it..

All my custom rod are spine & stadic deflected..I have never had a problem in all the years I'm building...With all the product problems coming out of CHINA do you really think they take the time to build a rod properly...

Buy American

[Fish Poison Rods]

It was a rod built by a "local-area" company. I don't name names...

Most "custom" rods are nothing more than what I call embroidery. Many are 70% pre-assembled in China (foregrips, reel seats and butts are put on), shipped here, guides are slapped on using a 20 minute quick-dry epoxy and then embroidered. Then they call them "custom" rods. I can get a shirt off the shelf at K-Mart and have my name embroidered. But it's NOT a custom shirt!

Sir, respectfully I ask, Who do you know that employes this technique? I never heard of this and I have been doing it for nearly thirty years. "MOST custom rods are nothing more than what I call embroidery" THat is your statement, and I take offence to it as the word MOST alludes to the majority. I would be willing to bet that anyone using this claim with this construction technique to be a Small Majority.
I also have never heard of 20 minute set up epoxy for rod coating, but I would like to know what it is. Please tell me the brand and wwhere I can get some.
I presently use about six different formulas for various reasons, and I am always looking for the "Quick cure". Please let me know. I buy a lot of product from china, and the US. If the handle assembly is done in China, then why not the guide wraps? I understand that if one builds a certain percentage of the rod here in the US they can call it US made, and that a few Mass Marketers have rods built in China, put an American flag decal on it to make it look American, I just never heard of anyone saying they built a cusrom rod when in fact parts of it are built overseas. Yes, I can buy from china, 100 pieces per unit of pre built rod hadles, but wouldnt go out and say I built the rod. The handle assembly is approx 30% of the effort used in making any rod, what specifically does your 70% figure represent? "Slapping guides on", about the same amount of time as a handle assembly. Epoxy coat a rod? about the same as a handle assembly. Kevin Bogan

[gradywhite273]

I'm with Taz on this one. Don't think spine had much to do with this. Needed 1st guide closer to the foregrip or needed an additional taller(next size bigger) in between foregrip and first guide shown.

People build off spine all the time. There have been many debates on this topic and also on the topic of what constitutes a "custom" rod.

i agree with taz and marlin mate, bring the first guide down more, and looking at the picture, it appears like the drag has been pushed forward of the strike position, how many pounds of drag was on when this happened, we all static test, but i don't static more than strike