This story was written by outdoor writer Mark Fong, highlighting the collaboration between Prolite Rod Technology and Brett Brady of Bare Bones Guide Service.
Last winter I made several trips to Bullards Bar Reservoir in search of wild rainbow trout with Brett Brady, the man behind Bare Bones Guide Service. Brett, being the observant type, asked me about the rod I was fishing. The rod in question was a custom-built Prolite Rod Technology 7'10" ultralight spinning rod I had made specifically for throwing small micro finesse plastics and Japanese area spoons.
Like fishermen do, we got to talking about tackle and gear. Brett mentioned he was looking to replace some rods in his arsenal, and he was impressed enough with the build quality of my ultralight that he asked for an introduction with the builder, Chris Wegeleben.
The Ask
Brett had a specific request: he wanted a trolling rod sensitive enough for kokanee, yet strong enough to control large trout and even big landlocked salmon.
“You are not going to find anything like this off the rack in a store,” said Brett. “What you find there is species-specific. A kokanee rod is great for kokanee, but once you start hooking big trout or landlocked kings, it doesn’t have the backbone. Can you catch fish? Sure—but you’ll have problems controlling the bigger ones because the rod doesn’t have the power. And if you increase power, you lose the sensitivity you need for kokanee. So you end up buying multiple rods.”
“This rod is like a four-in-one. Kings, rainbows, German browns, kokanee—this rod can handle all four species without having to change rods. It has the backbone for the larger fish and still has the sensitivity and flex in the tip to make kokanee fun to catch.”
“The build quality is fantastic. The craftsmanship is great, and the rod is just beautiful. On top of that, it is American made. I haven’t had any issues with any of my Prolite rods. Clients can be hard on gear, and that’s where durability matters. This rod is a real winner for me, and I won’t leave it behind.”
“Chris knew exactly what I wanted when I first spoke to him. He knew what the rod was about, what it needed to do. It was like talking to someone in the mirror.”
The Answer
“What was really fun about this build is that Brett already knew what blank he wanted and what it was capable of,” said Wegeleben. “From the Prolite side, the fun is bringing that rod to life. He had a vision for what he wanted, and it aligned closely with what we normally build.”
The rod was built in Prolite’s X-Style aesthetic—sleek, clean, highly functional, and intentionally affordable. The blank is a composite of fiberglass and graphite, combining durability with power without adding unnecessary weight. And unlike many of Prolite’s trolling builds, Brett asked for a traditional casting guide train instead of a spiral wrap, which is how his Bare Bones Series rod is built.
The result was the Prolite 7'10" BBPSDR710L-C Bare Bones Pro Series Trolling Rod: moderate action, 4–10 lb line rating, and true multi-species capability. “To build a rod this versatile usually requires compromise,” said Chris, “but this one doesn’t. The trend in rod building is technique-specific rods. If you can build a rod that covers multiple techniques at a high level, that’s next level.”
About Bare Bones Guide Service
To fish with Brett Brady or to learn more, visit www.fishbarebones.com, follow him on Facebook at Bare Bones Guide Service, or call him directly at 530-263-4451.
About Prolite Rod Technology
To see the entire line of Prolite rods or to build your own custom rod, visit proliterods.com.
California Sportsman Magazine
Brett was recently featured in California Sportsman Magazine for his work targeting landlocked king salmon at Lake Oroville. Read the full article here: Locking in Oroville’s Landlocked King Salmon.
More from Brett Brady and Mark Fong
Captain Brett Brady, owner of Bare Bones Guide Service, recently appeared in an episode of Catch America, and in this video he is joined on the Feather River by outdoor writer Mark Fong — the same Mark who authored the story above. Together, they break down an early fall steelhead trip, discussing gear setups, bait choices, egg loop rigs, soft eggs with slinky weights, and how Brett adjusts to fast fish and changing currents.
The episode includes quick bites, double hookups, surprise salmon encounters, and the kind of authentic river moments that define Brett’s style as a guide. Seeing Brett and Mark fish together adds depth to the collaboration behind this rod and brings the story full circle.
Prolite Bare Bones Pro Series 7'10" Trolling Rod
The same rod built for guide Brett Brady — light power, moderate action, and tuned for kokanee, trout, landlocked kings, and multi-species freshwater trolling.
View Product