Custom rod/reel advice and builder recommendations

[Snapper Popper]

I am looking to upgrade my 9 ft. set up and I would like some advice.  From most of my research, I am thinking of a Lamiglas blank (I was thinking either nightshift 10ft and cut down 6 or 12 inches or the skinner 9ft).  When it comes to a reel obviously a VS is the gold standard and I would think a 175 or 200 would be good enough for a 9ft. rod.  The problem (as most of us have) is the price.

Here are my questions:

1. Are there any recommendations out there for a custom rod builder in NYC/LI?

2. Are there any other rods/blanks/reels that compare to above at a better price range?

 

I plan on doing mostly plugging and live eeling with this rod.  Mainly on rock jetties/sandy beaches, and inlets. 

 

Please let me know - any advice is much appreciated.

[Highlander1]

Your mind is made up, all thats left is to dig deep in your pocket and hope you know what your wanting, needing and buying. Not questioning the quality, even if you spend $1000 and you'll probably exceed it, you'll be able to recoup 75% of it if you wish.

 

Have you fished a VS yet? Could be more of a disappointment than a satisfying endeavor as it was for me. Except for being waterproof, I'd choose many reels over VS for smoothness, line lay, casting, durability, and surely cost, thats enough pretty good reasons.

 

Viable options are something like an ODM rod and a Shimano Saragosa reel, maybe closer to $600, and it will do everything you'll do with whatever else your mind and ego want, except dunking. A 9' Lami and a Daiwa SS2600 will run you under $400, I'm sure thats not quite enough to show off and its old technology, you'll surely feel deprived and under gunned. 

 

Its best you scratch the itch and be done with it, its only $$$. Of course these are just my thoughts and should not deter you from getting what you want, just as most of us before you did.

 

To end, my best advice, buy good quality gear slightly used.

Edited September 12, 2021 by Highlander1

[Popasilov]

12 hours ago, Snapper Popper said:

1. Are there any recommendations out there for a custom rod builder in NYC/LI?

 

Depending where you live but give Mark a call, Cow Harbor bait & Tackle in Nortport.

Stop by store, talk to Mark, he  will give you few recommendations and  will help you decide

 

13 hours ago, Snapper Popper said:

2. Are there any other rods/blanks/reels that compare to above at a better price range?

 

Like I said above, talk to Mark.

Cow Harbor bait and tackle

[LowEnd]

1.Contact Lou, Redhawk on this sight.

 

2. You get what you pay for, there is a reason somethings cost more.

[spiegs71]

Second cow harbor - mark knows his stuff and will match you up with what you are looking for

also I’d look at j and j in patchogue 

have 3 custom setups 

got one thru mark and 2 from j and j

cant go wrong w either IMO

id stick w lami- but I’m biased  

[spiegs71]

And read what Highlander wrote twice good info in this words 

[Snapper Popper]

18 hours ago, Highlander1 said:

Have you fished a VS yet? Could be more of a disappointment than a satisfying endeavor as it was for me. Except for being waterproof, I'd choose many reels over VS for smoothness, line lay, casting, durability, and surely cost, thats enough pretty good reasons.

 

Viable options are something like an ODM rod and a Shimano Saragosa reel, maybe closer to $600, and it will do everything you'll do with whatever else your mind and ego want, except dunking. A 9' Lami and a Daiwa SS2600 will run you under $400, I'm sure thats not quite enough to show off and its old technology, you'll surely feel deprived and under gunned. 

Thanks for the input. I have not used a VS and honestly, I don't plan on dunking it unless absolutely necessary.  I'm more interested in casting and durability.  I don't need to show off I'm more just looking for the highest quality.  I do like that it's sealed but I'm not even sure it's worth the extra money over some other quality reels out there.  In the past, I've always been faithful to Penn and that's all I've really used.

[Snapper Popper]

5 hours ago, Popasilov said:

 

Depending where you live but give Mark a call, Cow Harbor bait & Tackle in Nortport.

Stop by store, talk to Mark, he  will give you few recommendations and  will help you decide

 

 

Like I said above, talk to Mark.

Cow Harbor bait and tackle

That's not too far, thank you I'll give him a call.

[Snapper Popper]

1 hour ago, spiegs71 said:

Second cow harbor - mark knows his stuff and will match you up with what you are looking for

also I’d look at j and j in patchogue 

have 3 custom setups 

got one thru mark and 2 from j and j

cant go wrong w either IMO

id stick w lami- but I’m biased  

Awesome - that's 2 for Mark, Any opinion on the VS?

[spiegs71]

Use ZB and VS mostly although started on Penns

yiu get what you pay for - like the reels but a 704/706 bailess abd packed w grease works well too

[Callmefish]

17 hours ago, Snapper Popper said:

Awesome - that's 2 for Mark, Any opinion on the VS?

Mark is pretty backed up atm, expect to wait. That probably goes for any custom rod builder that going to be recommended to you this time of year.

 

as far as a VS,  if I’m not getting wet I’m grabbing my saragosa sw-a over it everytime.

[Snapper Popper]

1 hour ago, Callmefish said:

Mark is pretty backed up atm, expect to wait. That probably goes for any custom rod builder that going to be recommended to you this time of year.

 

as far as a VS,  if I’m not getting wet I’m grabbing my saragosa sw-a over it everytime.

I figured this would be a busy time of year, probably looking to order before the spring.  Thank you for the info I'll look into it.

[Highlander1]

21 hours ago, Snapper Popper said:

Thanks for the input. I have not used a VS and honestly, I don't plan on dunking it unless absolutely necessary.  I'm more interested in casting and durability.  I don't need to show off I'm more just looking for the highest quality.  I do like that it's sealed but I'm not even sure it's worth the extra money over some other quality reels out there.  In the past, I've always been faithful to Penn and that's all I've really used.

Pretend your smarter than you are, if your not dunking a VS or ZeeBaas, the reasons to buy them don't exist. As CallMeFish posted, he chooses his Shimano Saragosa over the VS every time he isn't swimming and I don't think he's in the short line. I think its best if you try a VS for an hour or so, 15 minutes should convince you its not what your expecting from over a several hundred dollar reel. Looks good, others admire it, boosts your confidence (so should saving over 50%) and it does well under water. Other than that, see my first post, durability, phewww, you can't believe the cost of parts or service and I never mentioned that part until now. I've seen unused VS's leak all over themselves sitting on a shelf, used ones do it more often. I would not say they are durable by any means, money pits maybe, but durable and VS are not often used in the same sentence together.  

 

Most of us can't fix them ourselves, the design is similar to a Penn 706Z but I can tear a Z apart down to springs and screws in 20 minutes and put it back in another 20, the VS needs to go out for a minimum fee of at least $100 and thats just for them to take a look see, parts are off the chart. Oh, you can buy a special wrench for another measley "C" note or so, allows you to open one up, closing it is another situation, good mechanics get stumped. 

 

Buy yourself an extra spool, you could probably buy the Saragosa for around the same amount. I'm not a VS basher, they have their place, but if your not getting them wet, their place is somewhere else.  

[Snapper Popper]

5 hours ago, Highlander1 said:

Pretend your smarter than you are, if your not dunking a VS or ZeeBaas, the reasons to buy them don't exist. As CallMeFish posted, he chooses his Shimano Saragosa over the VS every time he isn't swimming and I don't think he's in the short line. I think its best if you try a VS for an hour or so, 15 minutes should convince you its not what your expecting from over a several hundred dollar reel. Looks good, others admire it, boosts your confidence (so should saving over 50%) and it does well under water. Other than that, see my first post, durability, phewww, you can't believe the cost of parts or service and I never mentioned that part until now. I've seen unused VS's leak all over themselves sitting on a shelf, used ones do it more often. I would not say they are durable by any means, money pits maybe, but durable and VS are not often used in the same sentence together.  

 

Most of us can't fix them ourselves, the design is similar to a Penn 706Z but I can tear a Z apart down to springs and screws in 20 minutes and put it back in another 20, the VS needs to go out for a minimum fee of at least $100 and thats just for them to take a look see, parts are off the chart. Oh, you can buy a special wrench for another measley "C" note or so, allows you to open one up, closing it is another situation, good mechanics get stumped. 

 

Buy yourself an extra spool, you could probably buy the Saragosa for around the same amount. I'm not a VS basher, they have their place, but if your not getting them wet, their place is somewhere else.  

This is the type of input I was looking for.  Thank you.

[Geo67]

As for builders I will also +1 for Mark. He built my ODM Nex1 and its a dream. For your application he might recommend the Jigster possibly - but fantastic rods. Lami's are always dependable and I had 2 of them built by Steve Petri in Amityville Harbor out of Bob's bait & tackle. Speak to either of them and they can certainly give you some options at diff price ranges.

 

For reels I would agree with most other comments here. I have a VS250 and VS150 I use most of the time. I've had very few issues with them over the last 10 years - but I am mostly plugging while wading back bays, north shore and surf so they get dunked a lot.

 

All my backups are Penn 704/706s. They're great and I don't skip a beat when using them - I just dont have to strip them down and service them once or twice a season as backups. 

 

I think we're all in agreement that you def don't need a VS.