need advice on custom surf rod

I am planning on ordering a couple custom made fishing rods from Hatteras Jacks. I fanyone here is familar with them and knows there wrapping I was wondering if I could get some advice on a good color combination, i just can't think of one. Thnaks in advance and tight lines, Derek.

[Got Stripers]

I'm a custom rod builder myself, but not commmercially, just family, friends and whinny fishing buddies, lol. I don't know where you are from, but most custom rod shops should have one of the Clemens Custom Rod Building or Wrapping/Thread books, lot's of good pictures of patterns and colors. I've got a few pic's of my own thread work on my bragging board www.rgsiroisco.com/fishingpage.htm and at the bottom of the bragging board. Suggest you look at a few books, not just for colors but patterns as well.

Tight lines.

[Patrick]

What reels are you using with these rods? I remember when I made my rod, I was planning on putting my Penn SS on it. I made the wrappings gold and black and they matched the reel. It looked impressive.

[Got Stripers]

I'm a plastic jerkbait nut and in addition to building rods, I pour all my own plastics. Stripers eat them like candy, caught 52 stripers yesterday on my 7 inch jerkbait. No keepers, but most nice chunks from 5-12 lbs, with maybe 6 pushing that magic 30 inch mark. My old standard was built on a Lamiglass GLB841M blank, matched up with a Shimano 3500 Baitrunner. That's a great reel, good drag, casts well and isn't all that heavy. I spool up 30# spiderwire, which allows me to cast my baits a country mile.

This winter I built myself another 7 footer on a Lamiglass GW84ML, because I wanted a lighter action to have some more fun. I'm using a Quantum E3-4 spinning reel, again with the 30# spiderwire. Man I just love that outfit and so far it's not been out-matched and I've caught them up to 20 lbs this year. It's a ball, even if the stripers are running smaller in the 5-10 lb range.

When I'm dragging live eels to double my efforts, I'm using the same GLB841M but casting and with an Ambassadour 6500. Now if I were surf fishing and needed more capacity, then those spinning reels probably would not be suitable. They work for me and when (hopefully<img src="/Images/Wink.gif"><!--e3-->) I get the big one on that light Quantum reel, I've got my 55# thrust Great White trolling motor to help me keep from getting spooled, lol.

Good luck and tight lines.

I started building rods this spring after several training sessions with a real pro. Not until you're involved in rod building can you really identify a well wrapped and finished custom rod. The best thing about choosing thread colors on your own rod is the experimentation of finding combinations of colors that you normally wouldnt have thought of. A good rule of thumb if you're going to order a rod is determine the type of reel to be used and pick atleast one color that compliments that reel. (gold metallic trim for Penns / silver or green for Mag Elite, etc) Another thing I tend to favor is to keep it light on the metallics, because they look better as a trim to compliment the regular nylon thread. Here are a few nice color combinations I have used: (all thread is Gudebrod) 1. Garnet over / Black under w/gold trim 2. Dark Green over / gold ht metallic under with Teal in buttwrap 3. Teal over / black under w/silver ht metallic trim. Its nice to have more than three colors in your buttwrap and I tend to use the colors of the guide wraps plus complimentary colors with about 6 to 8 total colors in my buttwraps. A lot of times rarely used colors like brown can produce some very nice looking rods, such as Chestnut over / Garnet under w/pearl trim. Another thing to look for would be the quality of the finish. Excessive bubbles, especially around the guide feet is a sign of sloppy workmanship. Also, look to see if the builder ties his thread off in discrete locations or if he ties it wherever he feels like. You cant really do this when ordering a rod through the mail, unfortunately.

[JohnR]

Try to go with the colors of the reel you'll be using on it mostly... They do make nice rods there.

Mike at capecodtackle had just finnished up a sweet 1209 Allstar (same blank as Breakaway) for a gentleman that was going to mount a Mag Elite on it. Had a very nice combination of black green and silver with a well done diamond wrap...

[John M]

I have seen Hatteras Jacks' work, I have been in his shop too. HE does real nice work. YOu can t go wrong with him. Personally I prefer Waynes work, Hatteras outfitters rod builder, but HJ does nice work. Which blanks are ya having built. I have all mine wrapped with black and a slight silver accent no diamond wraps etc, they add weight and stiffen the action of the blank.........cork tape handles and a trigger if its conventional.......

try www.hatterasoutfitters.com .....tres , pronounced (tray) is extremely knowledgeable and helpful...they'll set ya up with a great stick....

thanks for all the help[ guys. What is thye price comparison between. Capecodtackle, hatteras Jack ,and Hatteras outfitters. Just wondering if any one had a approximate idea Thanks again to all who gave info and tight lines, Derek

[JohnR]

Get a price from all of them - they are all known for good work. Mike has probably the least amount of time with the Breakaway styles but he's also the closest of them... I've met the guys from HJ and they seem nice. I liked there work that I've seen. And Tres is a fgreat guy with a good rep.. There all good - can't see where you'd go wrong with any of them...

[John M]

Price wise Mike at Cape cod is most likely the cheapest. I dont know about HJ as I never bought a rod form him, though all the OBX shop are priced similarily. Tres as Hatteroutfitters, personally lays out every rod to your specs. He tests each blank to figure out the most efficent lay out of guides and spacing. I thought that didnt mean much until I threw the same blank with different set ups and found it did indeed make a difference. Wayne who is the builder for Hatteras outfitters is amazing all he does is build rods no other business. HE does all the wraps for the gudebord catalog and the like.......amazing work you wont be disappointed, you might find cheaper but you will never find better than Wayne ......that my opinion anyway........If I were to get an All-Star wrapped Tres is your man he knows the blanks inside and out.......he will also handles any blank you can dream of......