[thedude]

IFS904 ( 7'6") flipping stick - traditional wrap



IMB843 Frog rod (spiral wrapped)



CB70M Med/lite crankbait/spinner bait rod (spiral wrapped)


St. Croix 3c68MXF - Drop shot/ shakey head special



alconites and acsm reelseats. used an AmTak aero baitcasting reel seat on the DS rod, upside down and backwards... works great!

[-mike-]

Nice. Im takin it that these are your creations? How do you like the Amtac stuff?? Im a tried and true St. Croix guy, but sometimes wonder bout the other stuff out there.

[bhorlings]

Looks awesome man. Great work!

[thedude]

Originally Posted by -mike-

Nice. Im takin it that these are your creations? How do you like the Amtac stuff?? Im a tried and true St. Croix guy, but sometimes wonder bout the other stuff out there.

yep these are mine (well, i made them for some friends).... For components i usually stick with FUJI seats and guides... hard to get away from them. Blanks on these are all Rainshadows which i've been really impressed with (for the price). As for AMTAK - i have a rod from Patriot Custom rods (also in MI) that is all amtak matrix with the crazy pool-cue grip they make and its a decent rod. I'm pretty sure it has amtak guides (not sure which ones). But they aren't bad either. Overall, i think amtak makes some decent "middle of the road" components. The only amtak i used was the reel seat, which is actually for a baitcaster. I don't think i would like it for that application but its extremely comfortable as a spinning grip. I like the fuji ACSMs way too much to go with anything else. As for blanks, the st. croix is an SCIII and they market that one as the DS model. I think its a bit to heavy action unless you DS a lot in the great lakes w/ 1/4-1/2oz weights.

I've got a buddy with wholesale account so i'm going to start trying out some of the fuji SiC and micro guides on my next few rods... i've been playing with carbon fiber composite grips also.. they are tricky a few more tries and i think i'll have it down though.

[-mike-]

Weird. Ive got the scIII drop shot (3S69MLXF) and Im pretty content with it, but built it as a baitcaster.

I think its a tad light for erie dropshotting. Ive got a very hacked up reel seat and titanium guides-hate the frames and not real confident in them, but they are light. All in all, its sensitive- when using it with tubes in the local river- I can feel the smallies chewin on the tubes.

Just goes to show how different two or three of the same rod can be "flavored", I guess.

[oldschoolbasser]

Hey Dude,those are some sweet looking rods!Some of my Ambassadeurs would look great on them!

[thedude]

Originally Posted by -mike-

Weird. Ive got the scIII drop shot (3S69MLXF) and Im pretty content with it, but built it as a baitcaster.

I think its a tad light for erie dropshotting. Ive got a very hacked up reel seat and titanium guides-hate the frames and not real confident in them, but they are light. All in all, its sensitive- when using it with tubes in the local river- I can feel the smallies chewin on the tubes.

Just goes to show how different two or three of the same rod can be "flavored", I guess.

i guess my perspective is coming from fishing smaller inland lakes.. i use a st. croix avid (scIII) 3S70MLXF factory rod and like it a lot. good back bone but light enough not to pull the hook. the 368MXF is quite a bit more stout for being just 1 power up and that kind of surprised me is all.

[daveh]

real nice job.

[-mike-]

Originally Posted by thedude

i guess my perspective is coming from fishing smaller inland lakes.. i use a st. croix avid (scIII) 3S70MLXF factory rod and like it a lot. good back bone but light enough not to pull the hook. the 368MXF is quite a bit more stout for being just 1 power up and that kind of surprised me is all.

I see what your sayin. That is one of the oddball things about the St. Croix's. I gotta build a blank at least once before I can look at a guy and tell him what the outcome should be. But again, those factory rods come in handy- kinda like gander mountain givin us a free show room if you think about it-Mike.

[Fatman]

Hell man I'm not even brave enough to try building rods yet, maybe never but you guys who do it make some really nice sticks!!!!

Fatman