Custom Muskie Rods - Any Suggestions?

[Justin Gaudry]

So I'm actually thinking about spending some money on a custom muskie rod. This is something I pretty much swore I would NEVER do, but apparently, I also used to say I would go muskie fishing "over my dead body" or something to that effect. I have no recollection of making this statement, but my mentor insists I said it often as little as 5 years ago.

So let's talk about custom muskie rods. Are titanium guides worth the extra money? Has anyone used syn-cork handles? It looks like a very interesting concept, but I would be hesitant to go with it without trying it first or hearing some some people that have used it? Are they worth the wait (2-5 weeks at some places) for a custom rod when you can buy something off the rack and use it right away?

I'm currently using an 8 ft MH rod for big bucktails and wondering if I would regret not going up to 9 ft if I chose an 8'6" custom?

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

[Musky Old Man]

Hey Justin I have had 300.00 rods and 40.00 rods of the rack, the expensive rods are great if you can afford them however they break like the cheap ones. I also had and have synthedic and cork the slim on synthedic is harder to get off but smells so good.
I say if the money is burning a hole in your pocket go for it, or spend the money and get two or three for the price that work just as good as the person working the bait...key here is right place right time right presentation.
And it sounds like you got them all already.

[Justin Gaudry]

I have a couple of St Croix Premier and the rest of my rods are $80 Gander IM-8's. If I could get an 8-6 or 9 ft Gander in Heavy power/fast action, I would probably jump at the chance. They have handled some nice fish for me already and do just fine trolling 14" Jakes into the rocks throughout the fall up here.

I don't think I have fished enough to appreciate the quality of a high end rod nor have I been doing it long enough to "earn the right" to pick up a piece of equipment in that class.

Money is certainly not burning a hole in my pocket after getting married 18 months ago and becoming a Dad to a soon to be 16 year old fashionista. I feel guilty even thinking about spending money on a rod like that in the first place, but my wonderfully sweet wife seems to think I deserve one.

So, I'll keep thinking about it and probably go back and forth a few times. Maybe by the time I make up my mind, Gander will have an 8-6 and/or 9 ft model of IM-8 and that will be that. HA!

I really would like to give that syncork a try sometime though.

[muskydoug1]

I have had a couple customs and like them. Over the winter I picked up a 9'6Extra Heavy "Hammer" rod and happen to like it a lot, you can throw anything on it. I also acquired a Okuma 8'6" extra heavy rod that slides into the handle for storeage and like that also. The rods cost $190 and $120 and I would have to say I prefer the "Hammer" but not by a lot.
I know some people in the club who have had customs and when they blow up you are out the money with no type of warranty but with a store bought they carry some kind of warranty. Okuma has a over the counter and Hammer has a $65 replacement charge.
TICA and Okuma slide into the handle that make them a lot easier for travel.
I could go on about the Pro's and Con's to custom rods, but I will stay with the manufactured and the warranty's.

[Justin Gaudry]

Hey Doug,

Thanks for the input and welcome to the board. I'll look forward to throwing that 9'6" Hammer off the dock sometime this summer when you're up chasing big girls on the Woods.

I bit the bullet and put an order in for a 9 foot Heavy power custom rod from Thorne Bros. I was a too scared to try to syncork without having my hands on it first so maybe I'll be able to check out a rod like that this summer or sometime I'm down around the twin cities area. So I'll have the regular full cork handle, but I think I would go with the split grip if I ever got another one made up.

Because it's a st croix blank, I would expect the warranty to be good, but I'll check to make sure when I pick it up.

Well..I'm sure the next reply will be my mentor telling me that I'm really losing my mind after he has tried to tell me that he won't spend money on fancy rods anymore after using the Gander IM-8's for trolling and liking the way they handle big fish.

Sorry, Baz. I just wanted one fancy rod so I would be like you when I'm throwing bucktails!!