Some of the best builds we get to do start with customers who trust us enough to bring their ideas to the table and let us run with them. This particular customer is one of those — always awesome to work with. He’ll come in with a concept, toss it our way, and together we figure out how to turn it into reality. This rod is a perfect example of that partnership.
He came to us wanting a rod tailored for chasing kings out in Puget Sound — something that had the sensitivity to pick up the soft takes but also packed enough backbone to turn big fish when it mattered. We went back and forth on ideas, dialing in the blank choice and the action until we found the sweet spot.
From there, the build really took off. We wanted the rod to not only perform flawlessly but also to look like it belonged next to his Islander reel. That meant wrapping and accenting everything around a gold and black color scheme, tying the whole setup together in one clean, striking look.
One of the standout features on this build is the custom grip, crafted by Chris. It’s a mix of beautiful cork burles and pieces of our rugged grip, blended together to create something that’s as unique as it is functional. It feels great in hand and adds an extra touch of class that you don’t see every day.
The end result is a rod that’s perfectly matched for Puget Sound — sensitive enough to detect even the lightest take, with plenty of muscle when it’s time to put the pressure on. Just as important, it’s a rod that looks like it was always meant to sit beside that Islander, ready to write new stories out on the water.