Help with rod choice

I need a rod strong enough for kings and flexible enough to cast live bait. I am willing to spend the money for a good quality rod. Just not sure what is a good choice. :fishing:

Batson SWB80ml. John sells them as custom rack rods and keeps them stocked up.

Thanks for the help pier pest. I will definitely check them out

We also have a new production king rod.Most of you know my favorite blank is a Lamiglas MB114F, so back in the fall I built one up that was 8'3" and sent it to the factory in China that does our Gulf Stream series of offshore rods.Well they came in last week and all I can say there is not another mass produced specialty pier rod that compares to it in quality,action and cosmetics.This rod sells for $160.The Batson blanks that be build in house come in three line weights,light,medium light,and a medium heavy witch is a nice 8' cobia rod.These rods are priced at 145 and $175 depending on cosmetics.We should have plenty of the China rods to last us the year and we are down to about 50 of the Batsons and have no plans to build anymore for stock until things slow down next winter.

Which of the two would be a better snobble tod? Is there another blank you prefer as snobble only rod? Thanks

Do you still have the Batsons in stock? If so, do you think they'll hold out until this Saturday?

John G. wrote:
We also have a new production king rod.Most of you know my favorite blank is a Lamiglas MB114F, so back in the fall I built one up that was 8'3" and sent it to the factory in China that does our Gulf Stream series of offshore rods.Well they came in last week and all I can say there is not another mass produced specialty pier rod that compares to it in quality,action and cosmetics.This rod sells for $160.[/i][/i]

I bought two of these "China" rods last week. I figured that since my wife is "made in China" and she turned out really good (in spite of her being an attorney), the Chinese could make a good fishing rod, especially after having received a template and some guidance from John. I'm not well versed in fishing rods, but I will say that these rods look and feel pretty good. My wife and I have been fishing on the new pier every chance we get since it opened. We've been mostly using Big Water Ugly Stiks and they have worked okay for us. We have not failed to land any fish we've hooked due to using inadequate equipment. I hope these rods will help us improve casting distance and perhaps get more hookups.

John, it was good to meet you. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and advice. In case anyone is wondering what these production king rods look like, a few photos are below.

Neal

[img width=426 height=639]http://i47.tinypic.com/swptky.jpg[/img]

[img width=426 height=639]http://i45.tinypic.com/2qipp95.jpg[/img]

[img width=639 height=426]http://i47.tinypic.com/315mwbd.jpg[/img]

[img width=426 height=639]http://i47.tinypic.com/29uvqft.jpg[/img]

Thanks for the pics! I'm getting a new rod to go with my fixed up Manual mitchell 303 reel. I'll definitely be getting one from J&M this weekend or early next week.

Wiggled one a bit Saturday - feels nice. Will probably end up with one.
I'm a big fan of Ugly Stiks. Been using them for a lonnng time and caught a ton of fish with them - salt and fresh. Particularly the inshore light model. Have a couple of the 7'6" MLs for all purpose light duty and the 7'0" MH does a good job on the axe handles. I'm sure plenty would disagree with me but I've yet to find anything any better for $45.

Neal,thanks for posting the pics,I owe'ya one......

might call them production rods....but they look custom to me....and if J&M made them, they are custom....just looking the same as some others out there.... is all .

another good one if you want one built is a gator BS596 (thats my baby) just finished rebuilding mine :fishing:

[quote author=rodbuilderESM link=topic=2805.msg25769#msg25769 date=1363089182]
another good one if you want one built is a gator BS596 (thats my baby) just finished rebuilding mine :fishing:
[/quote]

gators are heavy in my opinion, but gators are good ling rods.

[quote author=jwebb31 link=topic=2805.msg25267#msg25267 date=1362372828]
I need a rod strong enough for kings and flexible enough to cast live bait. I am willing to spend the money for a good quality rod. Just not sure what is a good choice. :fishing:
[/quote]

i have a batson 8-15lb 8ft rod. me and a friend made it. its a good rod i can chunk a cig a country mile. it was 136$ for the blank, grips, guides, and reel seat. well worth the money

most gators are heavy, but my BS596 is a whole different ball game, i added a seeker extention to it and it still isn't the weight of most gators, but batsons are good too, i had like 5 of them, sold all but 1

[quote author=ironman172 link=topic=2805.msg25763#msg25763 date=1363086695]
might call them production rods....but they look custom to me....and if J&M made them, they are custom....just looking the same as some others out there.... is all .
[/quote]

A true custom is built for the angler.. Anyone ever notice how long the butts are on my rods ?

[quote author=Peaches link=topic=2805.msg25834#msg25834 date=1363144164]
A true custom is built for the angler..
[/quote]

AMEN!!!!

I'm with peaches, I for one likes big guides or a particular wire/Fuji set-up, but that's why I build my rods :fishing:

Come on guys. Some of you would catch fish with a broom handle with staples for guides.

true :headbang: :headbang:

Heck last summer yall weren't even using rods just those hoop reels :banana: