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Anyone know of anyone who makes really high end custom rods? I'm talking about somebody that when you see the price makes you say "are you serious". Only looking for saltwater rods...no fly or bass.
I found one that was Australian with rods as expensive as $2300, but am looking for American only builders.
-there are more than a few of them around, but most have a fairly local business. Take a moment to look up "rodbuider magazines" on google as a start. I've been building rods myself for many years but don't consider myself anything more than average. When I belonged to Rodcrafters, years ago, there were some members that consistently showed really high end craftmanship. When that outfit faded away I believe another took its place but I don't know its name. If you can get the name of the organization you're more than halfway to finding the kind of custom work you're looking for. Good luck.
__________________ Tight Lines
Capt Bob LeMay
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Anyone know of anyone who makes really high end custom rods? I'm talking about somebody that when you see the price makes you say "are you serious". Only looking for saltwater rods...no fly or bass.
I found one that was Australian with rods as expensive as $2300, but am looking for American only builders.
Thanks
Go check these guys out - you'll be amazed at some of their work! Too rich for my blood. Plus, when I keep breaking 130 lb. rods like they're Zebco Snoopy poles on huge grouper, it can get real expensive!
Look up Rodwinder and Billy40 at NERBS(Northeast Rod Builders).
Rodwinder doest themost beutiful wrap art work while usinng the top of the line components and Billy40 also does great work.
__________________ "Give me your hungry, your tired your poor I'll pee on em
Thats what the statue of bigotry says
Your poor huddled masses, lets club em to death
And get it over with and just dump em on the boulevard"
-L.Reed
"If you don't like it, go to Russia" -Homer Simpson.
I'm just curious as to why just being the most expensive = being the best.
Unlike many other things in life, the only thing that seperates expensive from really expensive is what premium the sellers are charging for labor and profit.
ALL rod builders have access to exactly the same high end Calstar or Seeker blanks (no one can make their own unless they have both the expertise and access to a rather expensive autoclave); Winthrop, Aftco or Stuart guides and tops; Aftco or Stuart unibutts; and grips, thread and finishing epoxy - everything that goes into making a rod.
Since rod performance is mostly about the blank, whether you spend $2,500 each or $500 for a rod built with the same blank, Aftco unibutt, high quality guides and top, the fishing performance will be the same.
Personally, even though I build all my own offsore rods and the added labor for exotic looking products doesn't add to my cost, I'm all about value - I can put together an 80 lb standup rod using a first rate Calstar xxh blank, Aftco 2S unibutt, Aftco Wind-On guides and top, triple wrapped and finished for $260. I do this by keeping down the frills - using silver guides and butts, avoiding fancy inlays and building them in groups.
LI32's points mirror my thoughts on this.. There is a finite amount of $$ that can be spent in search of performance.. But your question makes no reference to performance.. If you are looking for artwork or jewlery, there is no limit to what you can spend. I'm sure there will be builders out there willing to spend the time to thread-weave a version of the Last Supper, with 24k gold inlays everywhere.. etc.. As a matter of fact If you would like to send me 10- $1000.00 bills, I will inlay on a them on a fiberglass VHF antenna.. Giving you the "best" antenna in the world.. .. The fish won't care, but the dockmates will be impressed..
Oh boy, to the original poster you can not go wrong with the best of the best, if you go to www.anglersenvy.com. I have a bunch of rods built by this handcraftsmen, the absolute best money can buy, although not the most money, you get what you pay for,quality.
The question was written in a manner that I was hoping would get a certain type of response, which has been coming. If you ask for "the best", then it leaves it too open for discussion and the thread will be ruined by people discussing what rod they like.
Thank you to those who provided feedback! There has been some great links posted so far...keep them coming.
Oh boy, to the original poster you can not go wrong the best of the best if you go to www.anglersenvy.com. I have a bunch of rods built by this handcraftsmen, the absolute best money can buy, although not the most money, you get what you pay for,quality.
Yeah, I've been talking to him offline. He is in MD as well, which is even better.
When I made my first post on this thread I very carefully diidn't say what I was thinking.... Quality components, well thought out design, and carefull craftmanship are what I strive for in any rod that I build. I'm one of many who long ago quit doing the fancy wraps in favor of what actually works and will allow me to generate something useful in a reasonable amount of time. There's very few of the fanciest rods I've seen that actually meet that criteria.... That's not to knock any specific builder but is just my opinion. I no longer build for anyone other than myself, but still repair rods I've built and anything that my anglers bring me. By the way, in offshore rods I've never seen any components that could match what Aftco produces in roller guides, reel seats, and aluminum rodbutts and accessories - period. Whether you actually need that kind of gear is another matter... I see guys all the time trying to use gear meant for one type of fishing for something that it wasn't meant for. But that's what generates business for custom rodbuilders.
__________________ Tight Lines
Capt Bob LeMay
[img][img]
Billy40 has blank companies roll blanks for him, he also custom anodizes his components when he needs to(color matched Fuji guides, reel seats, hook keeper etc).
I have never heard of him or Rodwinder charge $2000 + for a rod, but hey if money is no object, I'm sure any of the rod builders mentioned on this thread can and will do it.
__________________ "Give me your hungry, your tired your poor I'll pee on em
Thats what the statue of bigotry says
Your poor huddled masses, lets club em to death
And get it over with and just dump em on the boulevard"
-L.Reed
"If you don't like it, go to Russia" -Homer Simpson.
wahtever you do, if it an offshore rod with roller guides, get the winthrops, they are absolutely awesome, very large to allow rubber badns or terminal connections to roll through
Custom American rod builders? 
