Some builds stick with you long after they leave the shop, and this is one of them. One of my absolute favorite things in this business is when a customer comes in wanting something completely different — something that breaks the mold — and then gives us the freedom to let our imagination run wild. This particular customer has been awesome from day one, and their trust in our craft made this rod build especially fun.
For this rod, the only real direction was: make it unlike anything else, totally one of a kind, and unique. I’d say we hit the nail on the head with this one.
This build started with experimenting with a new wrap technique called dragon scale, which ended up being the star of the show. That bright green dragon scale pattern underneath the logo section instantly turned this rod into something special. To carry that same wow factor through the entire build, we added more dragon scale wrapping at the ferrule, tying the whole look together.
To complement that vivid green, we layered in a few different shades of green throughout the guide wraps and accents, giving it depth and keeping your eye moving along the rod. The grip was kept sleek and dark, letting the bright green pop even more. By the time we finished, the rod practically named itself — we started calling it the Green Goblin, and it just stuck.
Underneath all that style is serious function. This is a 10-20 lb medium powered custom rod, dialed in for trolling for salmon. It’s got just the right backbone to handle aggressive runs but enough flex to keep hooks pinned on the fight.
This rod is a perfect reminder of why we do what we do: getting to create something that’s both art and tool, and seeing a customer light up when they pick it up for the first time. Here’s to many salmon and many stories ahead for the Green Goblin.