I picked up my new toy this weekend - a custom surf rod! Baby, is it sweet!!! :cool:

It's a 10' one-piece Lami XLA 1205. I was using it Saturday evening and again Sunday AM. Took a bunch of medium sized blues on it. I wish I had taken the plunge on such a rod years ago. Oh well, better late then never.

Can't wait for my BI trip!! :D

Ya mean "XRA1205", eh??? Yup - nice rod and pretty versatile as you can use it for eeling, mid to big plugs, jiggin' and even a light weight + bait. Let's see, I've also use mine for live-linning, distance launching tins to distant blues and even casted my XRA1205/MagE6500 with a 3ounce, Hab's a$$-end loaded needlefish to catch an albie that was twice the range that the gimpy little 8' rods casting 1oz Murderous Richards could attain(even though I was targeting the bass and blues seen that far out ;) )

Not a bad stick at all... :D

Jaiem,

I am truly envious. That's the blank I want to build on! If you would like to give me more user feed back, I'd be more than happy to listen.

I got one a severalweeks back and just got the guides off Mike T at CapeCodTackle 2 weekends ago at our tourney. Decided not to rush it for this season. Will be ready for next though. My sister won a national sales award and got a trip to Australia for a few weeks. I gave her a reel model to get for me while there and she did. Its an Ambassadeur 7500 but with Chrome end plates. Nice. Its a good all around rod but my intentions are for 90%... 3 and 4 OZ jigs at the ditch.

Good luck with your new rod Jaiem

I didn't really pick out the blank. I just described to the rod builder what I wanted, how I planned to use it and some measurement info. He chose the blank, guides, spacing etc. I know he does good work so I trusted him to do well and he didn't fail me.

The sweet spot on the rod is about 2 1/2 oz but I had no problem tossing 1.5oz polaris and needle plugs and bucktails a mean distance. I teamed it up with my 650 and 30# fireline. I think I'm in love. :D

If I go for another (who am I kidding, one day I probably will!) I'd probably get similar but go with a blank that has a bit lighter sweet spot, say 1 5/8 to 1 3/4oz. Make it easier to cast bombers and needles.