My FDx Custom Rod Arrived!!

[Capt. BassinLou]

The rods concept has been in the works for a while and FD surprised me with it's delivery today!!

This outfit will serve as my BFS set up and Peacock killer.

Enjoy the pics!

[Dark3]

Very nice!


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[apenland01]

Lee does good work, love to see this kind of stuff!!

[FD]

Looks good with the Zephyr on it!

Sent from the very edge of civilization...where I belong

[Capt. BassinLou]

Looks good with the Zephyr on it!

Sent from the very edge of civilization...where I belong

Yeah it does!! Thanks again brother!! 

[Smallie_Stalker]

Wow!

Very cool

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[big g]

Congrats Lou, made by the master himself.  Now what are you planning to throw with this beauty? 

[Capt. BassinLou]

Congrats Lou, made by the master himself.  Now what are you planning to throw with this beauty?

Thanks George. This outfit will be dedicated for smaller to medium jerkbaits, propbaits, and poppers. Can't wait to break this rod in!!

[Princeton_Man]

Mighty good looking rod there Lou! Love the placement of the hook keeper. How's the balance? Are those Torzite or Alconite guides?

[Capt. BassinLou]

Mighty good looking rod there Lou! Love the placement of the hook keeper. How's the balance? Are those Torzite or Alconite guides?

Thank you P_M, the outfit balances great and it's light as a feather. As far as the guides, they are not torzite, FD will probably jump in and say the type of guides that they are.

[FlatsNBay]

Looks like a sweet rod! It looks like it might be spiral wrapped? Congrats on a great looking rod.

[Capt. BassinLou]

Looks like a sweet rod! It looks like it might be spiral wrapped? Congrats on a great looking rod.

Thank you, and yes, it's spiraled.

[FD]

Mighty good looking rod there Lou! Love the placement of the hook keeper. How's the balance? Are those Torzite or Alconite guides?

The guide train is CRB Elite guides.  Black stainless with ZiO2 inserts.  About a third of the cost of TZ with the same real world performance.

Not to hijack this thread, BUT, Yall know me.  I have done the research and the Torzite guides are an example of great marketing.  Every once in a while manufacturers have to invent something that is the greatest thing since sliced bread.  If you read past the headlines of Fuji press release and examine the data that came with it,  there is no increase in density or abrasion resistance compared to SiC. Yes, SiC.  They tested their newest technology against their oldest tech. 

Torzite guides claim to fame is 20% reduction in weight in a 9 piece guide train over SiC.  That 20% equals less than 2 grams or 0.07 oz per completed rod.  When I weigh a stainless ZiO2 train versus a titanium Tz train on my scale, I come up with about a 0.03 oz difference per 9 guides and a tip top.

Oh, and they "have laser markings on each frame to show its premium status."  I'm not kidding.  It actually says that in the press kit.

That being said, I have clients that insist on Tz guides so I have several thousand dollars of Fuji and AT TiTz guides in stock.  However, when it's left up to me, I can't justify spending an extra $80 per rod for a zero performance gain.

What I built for Lou is exactly what I build for myself, high performance, budget minded rods. In fact I have this rods twin on my boat now as a drop shot rod.

[Larry Francis]

Congrats Lou. That sure is a sweet rod. The finesse Baitcaster is a great setup. You will no doubt enjoy this. Drop shotting in the Heat of summer in deeper water is a program that worked great in the past.  Enjoy.

[Capt. BassinLou]

Congrats Lou. That sure is a sweet rod. The finesse Baitcaster is a great setup. You will no doubt enjoy this. Drop shotting in the Heat of summer in deeper water is a program that worked great in the past.  Enjoy.

Thanks Larry!

[Capt. BassinLou]

Yep, balances well.

When all you feel is the weight of the reel. You know you have something special in your hands. And the reel is very light to begin with. Lol!!

[Capt. BassinLou]

Can you tell I'm just a little excited for tomorrow to arrive.

[BassmanRudy]

Great looking rod!! The spiral wrap is cool too- not many use it.

That rapala has been eaten a Lot!!

[Capt. BassinLou]

Great looking rod!! The spiral wrap is cool too- not many use it.

That rapala has been eaten a Lot!!

Yes it has!! Too many of these have been eating it.

[Canesfan]

Sweet.  Must have overlooked it but what length?  Love the lightweight rods.

[Capt. BassinLou]

Sweet.  Must have overlooked it but what length?  Love the lightweight rods.

Thank You. It's a 7 footer

[Princeton_Man]

Yep, balances well.

When all you feel is the weight of the reel. You know you have something special in your hands. And the reel is very light to begin with. Lol!!

Sweet! 

[RangerAndBass]

Good looking rod Lou, congrats.
I hope to get a Lee original myself one day

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[FD]

Lou's rod is built on a NFC SJ 703 Xray blank.  American Tackle G2 Carbon Fiber reel seat and Wynn grips.  The completed rod weighs in at a tad under 3 ounces even with a 1/2 oz tungsten bullet weight buried in the butt to perfect the balance.

[Capt. BassinLou]

Soooo,,, I broke in my rod today landing 31 peacock bass. Let's just say, I'm in love.    FD you hit it out of the park with this build. Thank you. This rod retired my spinning rods.  Only problem is, I only have one of these rods. I'm going to have to change that in the near future.  Once I dialed in the reel, the rod launched jerk baits, poppers, and hair jigs easily. I didn't tangle with any piggies this time around, but when the time comes, the rod is up to the task.