Category Archives: Centerpin Rods

Centerpin Rods, Custom Rod Building

Dan Craft GXT-1004 4PC Centerpin

Another request to match a Milner River Wraithe came to me from Eastern PA in late 2016.  Seeing the work of the previous GXT this customer liked the idea of a 4 PC centerpin for trout.  Enter the Dan Craft GXT1004.  It’s my belief this blank is the perfect combination of strength and power suited for both larger trout and small streams alike.  This rod features Box Elder Burl wood accents from www.reelseatblanks.com, Fuji KLSG guides, custom cork handle and wraps to match the Milner color scheme.  Overall a big hit with my customer and very pleasing to look at.

Centerpin Rods, Custom Rod Building

Dan Craft 4WT Custom Trout and Small Stream Centerpin

A request came for a small stream and trout specific centerpin that was easily pack-able but powerful enough for larger trout.  Being no stranger to fly rod conversions for trout and steelhead, the 10′ GXT 4 WT from Dan Craft Enterprises was the optimal choice.  The perfect blend of power and sensitivity for trout fishing with a center pin.
Fitted with a John Milner River Wraithe, a blue theme carries throughout the cork, reel seat and fighting butt with the thread matching the previous Dan Craft Centerpin fit with this same reel.  The blue burl wood from www.reelseatblanks.com adds great aesthetics and custom look, along with my favorite guides the Fuji KLSG guide setup.  Thankful for the opportunity to provide a one of a kind custom crafted rod to this customer.  He also wanted me to craft him a click stroller but I couldn’t.

 

Centerpin Rods, Custom Rod Building

CTS FF1202-2 Centerpin Spinning Rod

My customer had a trip planned to Alaska for Silver Salmon in August of 2016 and requested a 2 piece Rod that can fit the bill for both Centerpin and Spin Fishing in the Bush.  Enter the CTS FF1202-2.  Melding the perfect light weight and strength CTS is known for this rod was a pleasure to build.  Requests were a Carbon Fiber handle that situated an orange acrylic reel seat with Fuji Cobra spin seat, a discontinued rarity I was able to find.  Guides are as usual the Fuji KR-H concept guides in SiC gunsmoke finishing out with KTSG running guides.  To balance out the length of the more moderate action, a Forecast fighting butt was installed on the rear arbor of the handle.

Centerpin Rods, Custom Rod Building

Forecast F793 Small Stream / Trout Centerpin

Video

This came as a request for a small stream trout fisherman who wanted to use a downsized centerpin setup to target trout.  The chosen blank was the bulletproof RX-6 series from Baston Enterprises, arguably one of the most durable blanks for the money. When converting a fly rod guide spacing is critical, as well as keeping most of the weight towards the back due to the behavior of the moderate bend of the blank.  I turned the handle out of light natural cork with burnt accents, used a graphite seat to conserve weight and ALPS Y style guides up to and including the tip.  I also received this awesome video of the rod in action!

 

Centerpin Rods, Custom Rod Building

Rainshadow 1087-2 Centerpin Float Rod Conversion

A customer from Indiana who fishes the Great Lakes region for migrating trout and salmon inquired about getting a shorter float rod that was compact but robust enough to fight fish in small crowded conditions.  Enter the 1087-2 4 PC switch rod blank from Batson Enterprises. This rod is very powerful, built on a 7WT fly rod blank into a centerpin style fishing rod, this rod has the classic sliding band handle as per customer request.

This rod has my proprietary guide system of FUJI KR concept guides to ensure maximum casting ability, line collection and angle from the reel.  I have found no better system to fit the bill.  Black with Storm Cloud NCP and Silver trim round out the thread wraps for an excellent contrast.  This rod has brought many steelhead and king salmon to hand already!

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Centerpin Rods, Custom Rod Building

Dan Craft FT1003-4

This rod inquiry came from Eastern New York from a customer looking to do some trophy stream trout fishing with a float/centerpin setup.  A 4 pc fly blank was selected  because of length and action, and also because of it’s ease of a pack-ability if on a long day trip.  Dan Craft Enterprises was called upon for this job because of his odd-ball blank selection offered, filling the blanks of most rod models people wish were available.  This rod features a custom turned spalted maple reel seat using a stabilized wood piece from reel seat blanks.  The fighting butt is spalted maple with composite cork on the bottom for durability.   Handle is entirely composed of custom turned burl block cork treated with Teak Oil to darken the grain.   Forecast RA-7 Hardware was selected to fit the Milner River Wraithe reel.  Guides start out as Fuji TYSG followed by REC wire guides up to and including the tip to preserve lightness.  Wraps are Pro Wrap forged steel and gunmetal to match the blue characteristics of the Milner reel.

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Centerpin Rods, Custom Rod Building

CTS FF1503-3

This is a CTS 3 PC 15′ FF1503-3 4-8 lb Centerpin/Float Rod.  Designed in New Zealand and received via Canada, this blank was selected after a careful consulting process for a prospecting customer.  Looking to target fall and winter steelhead on the Salmon River, this rod was asked to be the perfect balance of simplicity and durability while maintaining a lightweight profile.  In order to meet these needs the Fuji TYSG Spin Guides in the concept arrangement up to and including the tip top were selected, along with a complete flor-grade natural cork handle with Fuji graphite spin seat.  A Struble black winding check was selected to match the Gudebrod black NCP wraps, which minimized toward the end.  Coupled with the Forecast aluminum fighting butt to balance out the naturally tip heavy blank resulted in a very low profile, light build for a rod of this caliber.

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Centerpin Rods, Custom Rod Building

Rainshadow XST1382-F Centerpin Float Rod

This rod was built for specifically fishing in Steelhead Alley, mainly in larger Pennsylvania tributaries such as Elk Creek.  This blank is the perfect medium for an all around float and centerpin rod that can handle any steelhead encountered in the surrounding area.  This rod features a burl block and rubberized cork schematic, with an inletted fighting butt for balance, RA-8 reel seat with black carbon fiber insert, and ALPS Y guides, a very popular and quality guide offered at a reasonable price.  Thread is gudebrod gunmetal and black with metallic silver trim wraps with additional ferrule decal, and three coats of threadmaster lite on the finish.

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Centerpin Rods, Custom Rod Building

Rainshadow IF1087-4 4 PC Centerpin/Float

This is a 4 piece centerpin/spin/float application that was built on a 4 PC, 10’8” Switch Rod Blank from Batson Enterprises. The 4 PC was requested for travel to Idaho for steelhead, and fitting the bill between both applications determined the selection of the 4 piece Switch Rod Blank. The handle is natural cork with burnt accents, reel seat is an ALPS TRI size 12, Batson LTC winding check, Gudebrod Black and Olive no CP with chrome metallic trim, ALPS Y guides and ALPS single foot fly guides up to and including the tip top.

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Centerpin Rods, Custom Rod Building

Rainshadow XST1382-F

This rod was built for a customer residing in Michigan that is splitting it’s use between Fall and Spring run steelhead on the Muskegon and Pere Marquette, and also making the travel for frequent weekend getaways to Alaska targeting drop-back rainbows on beads off a drift boat.  He explained to me his needs and expressed his want to make this rod unique.  Fitted with a custom turned 45-degree cut burl block and rubberized cork handle, it also sports an ALPS TRI size 12 reel seat with inletted fighting butt for balance.  Guides are entirely comprised of the popular Fuji TYSG concept guides with a main guide as a tip for smooth line flow.  Thread is Pac-Bay Purple Mixed with Gudebrod charcoal and green metallic inlays.  Finish is threadmaster lite in three applications.

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