First Big Drum caught!

[Supafly]

I saw on the Red Drum board that they caught the first Big Drum of the year last nite a 47 incher.

[derf]

sounds like the drought might be over down there!!!!! Mo actually started posting fishing reports again ; can spring & fish be too far behind ??
hook 1 this weekend for me John
derf

[John M]

There might have been others last night, not sure....withthe SW tonight theremight be a couple who knows, but its certianly starting.......hope to get that new outcast bent tomorrow night

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John M
johnm@stripersonline.com

These outcast rods.....who makes them, and are they comparable to the 2pc/1pc??
This is the first year I have heard of them. Lord knows I do not need another rod.....but!


AllenC

[derf]

The Outcast rods are made by Tres at Hatteras Outfitters . As far as comparisions go ... the Outcast is pretty new , but so far so good .
derf

[Red Dog]

Those Outcast rods are new this year and are just as good as the 2pc/1pc if not better.Tres of Hatteras Outfitters has the blanks and can make one up for you if interested.Glad to help.Take care and God love and bless you and yours.Tony

FISHING HAS A NAME***RED DOG***


INFO; http://hatterasoutfitters.com

I hear Tre makes a nice rod. But if I bought one, I would like to fish with it at least this year. I havent heard the best about Tre when it comes to doing things in a timely manner. Ill pass. Thanks.


AllenC

[Critter Gitter]

Too busy losing money in the stock market to keep up with new technologies. Think I'll just stick with my ole Lami 162 MHs. I like my Loomis also but doesn't throw 10oz with big baits well (actually I'm afraid to throw that kind of weight with that rod). Those old lamis with 6in cut off the tip are indestructible and your not afraid to put some backbone into them.
OBX - wish I was there
CG

[John M]

Funny you mention that Allen, BEtween me and a few others we have had 12 or so rods wrapped in the last year and I dont think we waited more than 4 weeks for any of them excpet one that took a while to get the blank (mfg was out of stock ) So what you hear and what my experiences are, are totally different btw my outcast was tunred form order to pick up in 3 weeks

BTW there were some issues with Tres' builder he had a major illness in the family last fall/winter and that slowed him down building. But Wayne is up and running full speed now

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John M
johnm@stripersonline.com

JohnM, This was a friend of mine that ordered a Penn PPT from Tre at the National casting comp. in De. last May and along comes Oct. and no rod or reel yet, and this fella had paid for it. I have never dealt with him myself. Thats why it pays to have good service 24/7 365 days a year, no matter who your customer is. Bad news travels fast.

AllenC

[John M]

I agree Allen, thats why I posted me and my crew's positive expereinces. Tres is a good freind so I might be biased either way Tres is one hell of a cook




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John M
johnm@stripersonline.com

[Shenandoah River Rat]

I've only had great experiences with Tres/Hatteras Outfitters. A 2/1, Spanish Buster 1265, along with four Abu reels over the last few years without delay and the best possible service. I feel an Out Cast in the near future
Kevin

[B. Myers]

I'll give anothe kudos' to Hatteras Outfitters and Tres. I have 4 rods from Tres now and I am not dissappointed in any of the service I have received; that is not counting the reels I have got from him.

The reels are top notch and the quality of custom built rods are second to none- one of the best builders in the eastern US I think.

I have never waited over 3 weeks for a custom, except for a Loomis I ordered but they were back ordered from Loomis to begin with.

I imagine that Penn PPT had issues aquiring it from Penn...I wouldn't blame Tres or HO for that matter- give him another shot and mention that particular instance to him, I'm sure Tres will have an explanation- from all I know your friends expierence is very rare.

Check out the Outcast rods- very nice sticks, and the only person I know building on them is HO. Pass if you must- but I wouldn't!!

B. Myers

[Tres Irby]

Hi Allen, I'm far from perfect but I would like to set the record straight on this one, and I know the instance well you speak of because it bothers me to no end when something like this happens...guess it comes with the territory when you sell stuff as specialized as we do but that still doesn't make me feel any better about it.

The reel in question was a 1st run HO custom built prototype 525 Mag at the time it was ordered by your friend and it was still not ready for the public at the time of the Nationals as it was still being tested and perfected. There were two in the world like it at that time, mine and Bill Kennedy's who was helping us test it. The version some of them chose, including your friend, then went through many changes as the testing proceeded. As soon as it was ready it was shipped to those that pre ordered them and they were all warned at the tournament it could be a while before they were ready, granted it did take longer than we anticipated. I don't mean any disrespect but which would you prefer? We just sell you something to sell it or wait until we have the confidence that it is the best we can do? I don't think you or the public realize how many of these reels we could have sold at that time if we'd have just gone ahead and sold the version we had at the Nationals vs waiting until we were satisfied with them.

As for the PPT rod, Penn Europe could never satisfy me as to warranting the rods here in the US after we finally got them to agree to ship them to us. The length of time that took was not all my doing as there were many hoops to jump through just to get to that point. Once there I recommended your friend look elsewhere but I still offered to get him one from Europe if he wanted it and offered it to him at my cost if memory serves.

As for the "paid for" part, yes he wrote me a check at the Nationals but it was never cashed. The fact is, it was returned to him and another check was sent for the reel and as I recall, well after his reel was actually shipped. This was no fault of your friends, it was just that I did not feel right cashing his check until he got what he asked for.

Your friend is a good guy from what I know of him and you can bet I will be contacting him to apologize again and see if I can't make him another happy HO customer.....or at the very least talk to him about his concerns.

Thanks Brian, RR and John for the kind words, I very much appreciate your patronage, not to mention our friendships.

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Tres Irby

tres_ft@hatterasoutfitters.com

[humdrum]

Gary Smith (8andbait) builds some of the best heavers youve ever seen. He's got all of the Outcast blanks avaliable, Im sure you will
see his work at the point. Cape Point Tackle has some of his rods now.