Graphite & fiberglass Fly Rods
Just like a split-cane rod, much time goes into the details of fit & finish when building a graphite or fiberglass fly rod. I have been known to make many various components of the rod. I use very fine silk thread and a low-build spar varnish finish over the guide wraps to achieve smooth, non-bulky guide wraps. I do my best to design a rod that casts well, looks good, & is unique. I strive to give my fly rods an elegant appearance you’ll not find on the rack at most fly shops. For every rod you purchase I offer a five day inspection period in which you can return the rod to me for a full refund -in unused condition- if you decide the rod is not for you. Purchase a custom fly rod from me without risk or worry.
What's the difference?
So, what's the difference between a graphite or fiberglass fly rod I make as apposed to one you can buy from a large store or catalog? Almost everything. First & foremost, every one of my rods are made in the U.S.A. With so many tackle manufactures moving their productions around the world for cheaper labor, I make all the rods myself, by hand, & with one thing in mind: quality.
Appearance:
The first difference you'll notice between my rods & the mass - produced ones are the look of my rods. I like to mix traditional elements with modern functionality. The many small differences of my rods add up to become a fly rod unlike any other you'll use. For instance, many mass - produced rod's guides are wrapped with nylon thread & coated very thick with epoxy that make for large, over-sized wraps that look out of place on a delicate fly rod. My guides are wrapped with a very fine silk thread & given a low-build spar varnish finish that results in smooth, elegant looking guide wraps. Also, many large tackle makers today are choosing guide wrap colors that are the same color as the rod shaft, & with no tipping wraps. That's fine if that's what you like, but when you purchase a rod from me you have many different choices when it comes to wrap colors, which can give your rod a very classy look. In addition, written on the rod shaft will be whatever inscription you want.
Components:
The choice of components are another big difference in my rods. Most mass - market rods today sport long, skinny cork grips. I make my standard grips in a traditional cigar shape & the proper diameter for a comfortable rod you can fish all day long. Most mass - produced rods (especially the cheaper ones) don't put enough line guides on their rods, or they use the wrong size guides in an effort to save production costs. All my rods come with quality line guides that are sized & spaced correctly for optimum rod performance. On many of the cheaper mass - produced rods you'll also find rubber winding checks just above the grip. Not on my rods. I use quality checks of nickle-silver. Rubber will dry & break down in time. I build my rods to last for generations.
Performance:
The biggest & most important difference you'll notice between my rods & many of the mass - produced ones is the performance of the rod. Just the feel in hand tells you it's a quality rod. The ease of the line shooting through the guides & the comfort of using it will be luxurious. A well made custom fly rod will be so much smoother in casting line than many mass - produced rods that you'll never fall for those slick ads in the back of magazines again! All this mixed with classic, good looks that never go out of style & at a cheaper price than some of the large tackle maker's prices. Contact me & tell me what you want in a rod, or let me help you decide. Together we'll make you a rod we can both be proud of. For more information, please visit the "Designing Your Custom Fly Rod" page.
Appearance:
The first difference you'll notice between my rods & the mass - produced ones are the look of my rods. I like to mix traditional elements with modern functionality. The many small differences of my rods add up to become a fly rod unlike any other you'll use. For instance, many mass - produced rod's guides are wrapped with nylon thread & coated very thick with epoxy that make for large, over-sized wraps that look out of place on a delicate fly rod. My guides are wrapped with a very fine silk thread & given a low-build spar varnish finish that results in smooth, elegant looking guide wraps. Also, many large tackle makers today are choosing guide wrap colors that are the same color as the rod shaft, & with no tipping wraps. That's fine if that's what you like, but when you purchase a rod from me you have many different choices when it comes to wrap colors, which can give your rod a very classy look. In addition, written on the rod shaft will be whatever inscription you want.
Components:
The choice of components are another big difference in my rods. Most mass - market rods today sport long, skinny cork grips. I make my standard grips in a traditional cigar shape & the proper diameter for a comfortable rod you can fish all day long. Most mass - produced rods (especially the cheaper ones) don't put enough line guides on their rods, or they use the wrong size guides in an effort to save production costs. All my rods come with quality line guides that are sized & spaced correctly for optimum rod performance. On many of the cheaper mass - produced rods you'll also find rubber winding checks just above the grip. Not on my rods. I use quality checks of nickle-silver. Rubber will dry & break down in time. I build my rods to last for generations.
Performance:
The biggest & most important difference you'll notice between my rods & many of the mass - produced ones is the performance of the rod. Just the feel in hand tells you it's a quality rod. The ease of the line shooting through the guides & the comfort of using it will be luxurious. A well made custom fly rod will be so much smoother in casting line than many mass - produced rods that you'll never fall for those slick ads in the back of magazines again! All this mixed with classic, good looks that never go out of style & at a cheaper price than some of the large tackle maker's prices. Contact me & tell me what you want in a rod, or let me help you decide. Together we'll make you a rod we can both be proud of. For more information, please visit the "Designing Your Custom Fly Rod" page.
To read more about my rod making philosophy, click HERE.
I specialize in fly rods designed for trout & bass fishing. My graphite & fiberglass rods are all built with the highest quality components available on blanks from the best manufactures in the world. Just like my split-bamboo rods I use only the best available components.
All graphite & fiberglass rods are available in any action (fast, moderate, or slow) that you want. The blanks used to make the rod will depend on what you want & to meet your fishing conditions & situations. As a result, colors of the rod blanks vary depending on the rod you choose. I scour every available source of fly rod blanks to make your rod. No matter what rod action you want, these custom graphite & glass rods load & unload the line very comfortably, making it easy to cast a line with better accuracy.
Your choice of rod lengths, line weights, & rod configurations (2, 3, or 4 piece) are many. Also, as a custom rod maker, I can build a rod on any manufacturer's rod blank you want. This is an option for folks who have a loyalty to a particular brand or are on a tight budget, yet want a personalized, custom rod. Thomas & Thomas, Winston, Sage, St. Croix, etc, if it's available on the market then I can make your rod using any particular blank. Contact me to learn more.
-[email protected]
You can have anything you want on your fly rod. Listed below are the standard series for all my rods. If you want something on your rod that you don't see listed there, contact me & let me know. As a custom rod maker I will make a rod to your specifications.
Please click on the title of each rod series for all the details:
All graphite & fiberglass rods are available in any action (fast, moderate, or slow) that you want. The blanks used to make the rod will depend on what you want & to meet your fishing conditions & situations. As a result, colors of the rod blanks vary depending on the rod you choose. I scour every available source of fly rod blanks to make your rod. No matter what rod action you want, these custom graphite & glass rods load & unload the line very comfortably, making it easy to cast a line with better accuracy.
Your choice of rod lengths, line weights, & rod configurations (2, 3, or 4 piece) are many. Also, as a custom rod maker, I can build a rod on any manufacturer's rod blank you want. This is an option for folks who have a loyalty to a particular brand or are on a tight budget, yet want a personalized, custom rod. Thomas & Thomas, Winston, Sage, St. Croix, etc, if it's available on the market then I can make your rod using any particular blank. Contact me to learn more.
-[email protected]
You can have anything you want on your fly rod. Listed below are the standard series for all my rods. If you want something on your rod that you don't see listed there, contact me & let me know. As a custom rod maker I will make a rod to your specifications.
Please click on the title of each rod series for all the details:
CUSTOM FIBERGLASS FLY RODS:
The old material of fiberglass has changed in recent years. Come see what all the fuss is about.
The old material of fiberglass has changed in recent years. Come see what all the fuss is about.
CLASSICAL & CUSTOM SERIES GRAPHITE:
Hand crafted for you to meet your needs & standards, these rods are some of the finest custom graphite fly rods available.
Hand crafted for you to meet your needs & standards, these rods are some of the finest custom graphite fly rods available.
Give someone a custom made fly rod:
Graduation, retirement, birthdays, anniversaries, or that special Holiday gift - for a truly memorable gift, you can give that special angler in your life the gift of a custom fly rod. Bamboo, fiberglass, or graphite rods - there's a special rod for every angler.
Here's how it works: You & I discuss what grade of rod you'd like to give them & I might have a few simple questions for you to help me figure out what they need in a rod. Then after you've made the down payment, or paid in full, I'll mail you a special certificate that states a custom fly rod has been ordered in your recipient's name for you to give them on the special day. Think of it as a gift certificate for a custom made fly rod.
To make the presentation of the certificate really extra-special, the gift certificate can come rolled up, scroll style, in a hand-stitched leather tube much like a round document or print case. Please add $10 for this special presentation case. This is a really nice touch & will make giving the certificate to that special angler even more memorable!! Please add $10 for this special presentation case. While the leather used may vary, here is what it looks like:
Here's how it works: You & I discuss what grade of rod you'd like to give them & I might have a few simple questions for you to help me figure out what they need in a rod. Then after you've made the down payment, or paid in full, I'll mail you a special certificate that states a custom fly rod has been ordered in your recipient's name for you to give them on the special day. Think of it as a gift certificate for a custom made fly rod.
To make the presentation of the certificate really extra-special, the gift certificate can come rolled up, scroll style, in a hand-stitched leather tube much like a round document or print case. Please add $10 for this special presentation case. This is a really nice touch & will make giving the certificate to that special angler even more memorable!! Please add $10 for this special presentation case. While the leather used may vary, here is what it looks like:
After you've surprised them with the certificate, the lucky angler can contact me & the two of us will work together to design the rod exactly how they want it, with all the personalized customization just for them.
The normal policies apply here, where the second half would be due only after the rod is completed, giving you at least a few more months to pay the rest of the rod price. Naturally, I would mail you hard copy receipts for any payments you made for your records.
Of course, if you know what they're going to want their fly rod to be, that's fine, too. I'll mail you the special certificate so you can present them with it while they wait for their rod of a lifetime to be made!! A custom fly rod is sure to put a smile on any angler's face!! Please contact me to discuss a special fly rod for a very special angler.
The normal policies apply here, where the second half would be due only after the rod is completed, giving you at least a few more months to pay the rest of the rod price. Naturally, I would mail you hard copy receipts for any payments you made for your records.
Of course, if you know what they're going to want their fly rod to be, that's fine, too. I'll mail you the special certificate so you can present them with it while they wait for their rod of a lifetime to be made!! A custom fly rod is sure to put a smile on any angler's face!! Please contact me to discuss a special fly rod for a very special angler.
Custom Graphite & Fiberglass Fly Rods Video
Please take a couple of minutes to watch a slide show video showing only a few of the custom graphite & fiberglass rods That I've been honored to make through the years.
NEW!! SEE MORE ROD PHOTOS!!!
Please visit my Flickr pages (www.flickr.com/photos.customrodmaker/) to see even more rod photos including those available for sale, different rod features, & more. I'll be continuing to add photos there, so check it often.
©2010 - 2024 Chris Lantzy, Custom Rod Maker