DesignProcess

Step 1: Understanding the Way You Fish
The first step in designing your custom rod is to understand how you fish and what
you are looking for in a fishing rod. You should ask your self the following questions:

1. Will you use the rod to do primarily saltwater fishing, freshwater fishing, or both?
2. Will you be targeting a particular species of fish?
3. Do you prefer a spinning rod or a bait casting rod?
4. What techniques will you be using to fish (ie flipping, spinner bait, Texas rig)?
5. What type of handle feels most comfortable?
6. Do you have a reel seat preference?
7. What length rod are you most comfortable with?

Step 2: Selecting a Rod Style
Here at Skeet’s Custom Rods we will make just about any type of rod you want.
While several of our rods can be used for multiple applications it's always helpful for
us to know what specific fishing technique you have in mind. Some examples are:

- Carolina Rig            - Crankbait Rod        - Drop Shot           - Flipping Stick
- Jig Rod                   - Senko Rod              - Shakey Head      - Spinner Bait
- Spinning Rod          - Texas Rig               - Topwater Rod      - Wacky Worm Rod

- Inshore Rod            - Offshore Rod          - Pier Rod              - Surf Rod
-Trolling Rod

Step 5: Choosing Your Guides
Guides complete the customization of your rod. We offer guides in a variety of sizes,
colors, and materials. Guide material choices include: Aluminum-oxide,
Halide/Hardloy, Titanium Nitride, and Silicone Carbide. The Titanium Nitride
guides come in a variety of color combinations including blue/silver, blue/black,
silver/gold, black/gold, and holographic designs. All Skeet's Rods come standard
with Titanium Nitride Guides which are the most durable guides on the market.
These guides were designed to stand-up to the wear and tear of years of tournament
fishing and can withstand harsh saltwater environments. The inner rings are
stamped into the guides and guaranteed not to separate. Each guide comes with a
lifetime warranty and should one fail they are fully covered in the Skeet's warranty
and will be replaced for free.

Step 7: Decals & Inscriptions

Each rod bears the Skeet’s Custom Rod Logo, along with the measurement and weight
of the blank. You may select to have this information embossed in either Gold or
Silver. Additionally for a $5 charge you can choose to have an inscription placed on
your rod. Whether it is a name, nickname, special date, message, or phrase, the
choice is yours. All inscriptions are centered on the blank within the butt wrap.
There is no character limit but we do need to know in advance what you would like
your inscription to be. We are unable to make last minute changes to inscriptions
due to the finishing process involved in constructing the rod. The color choices for the
inscription text are Gold, Silver, White on Black, and Black on White. We are also
able to incorporate logos and symbols as decals. Just email us a copy of the logo or
symbol you would like incorporated into the rod.

Examples of inscriptions:

“For my greatest catch… Love, Karen”

“To (fisherman’s name here), Happy Birthday”

“Happy Anniversary
With Love, (your name here)”

“Tate “Skeet” Bennett
Christmas 2007”

Step 3: Choosing Your Rod Blank and Length
The blank is the back bone of your rod and as such is the most important
component selected in the custom building process. The type of blank used to build
your rod will depend on the type of fishing you do and the power and action you are
looking for. Here at Skeet's we don't use a single rod blank manufacturer. Instead
we use a variety of manufacturers products (Pacific Bay, Rainshadow/Forecast, etc)
and select only top of the line blanks for use in our rods. This allows us to bring you
the best blank for each rod style and application while keeping our rods light weight
and durable. Unlike name brand fishing rod companies we aren't locked in and
limited by what a certain blank manufacturer offers. So we can build you any rod
you're looking for.

We have blanks to cover any type of fishing and will be happy to make
recommendations if you are uncertain what power or action to select. Suffice it to
say we are able to build any type of rod on the market today and improve on it by
using our unique guide concept system. What we need to know from you is what
type of action and power you are looking for, as well as the length of the rod in feet
and inches. Once we know this we will be able to select the perfect blank for your
rod. If you would like a telescoping blank or a blank that can be disassembled into
two or three parts we can accomodate you. Simply email or call us to place your
order.

Step 4: Choosing a Handle/Reel Seat
One of the biggest advantages to designing a custom rod is your ability to select the
exact handle/reel seat that suits your particular type of fishing. This will include
selecting a length and diameter to fit your personal requirements. We offer a variety
of materials to create the style of your choice (Tennessee handle, pistol grip, full grip,
split grip, etc). What we need to know from you is what type of reel you will be using
(spinning or bait-casting) on the rod if you have one in mind, and if there is a
particular material you prefer (cork, EVA, cork wrap. faux wood, etc). If you have no
particular preference we offer a traditional style (blank exposed) full grip cork handle
and black butt cap for either a bait-casting or spinning rod.

Step 6: The Perfect Color Scheme
This is the fun part of the design process. At Skeet’s
Custom Rods we not only give you the option of selecting
thread colors, but you can also choose to customize your
rod by selecting paint colors for your blank. Please call or
email us if you are interested in a customized painted
rod. The average additional cost for a customized painted
blank is $50.

The standard Skeet's Rod wrap is a one color band wrap
with a separate tag or end wrap color (as pictured to the
right). Customers may choose any color combination for
the main band wrap and the tag wrap. The following
color choices are available for thread:

Solid Nylon Colors:
White, Black, Navy, Cobalt Blue, Dark Blue, Royal Blue,
Light Blue, Teal, Dark Green, Med Green, Spring Green,
Charcoal, Med Gray, Silver, Gold, Goldenrod, Lemon
Yellow, Sunburst, Orange, Rust, Peach, Rose, Hot Pink,
Scarlet, Candy Apple, Garnet, Purple, Tan, Med Brown,
Dark Brown, Chestnut

Metallic Colors:
Silver, Gold, Glitzy Gold, Copper, Bronze, Red, Dusty
Rose, Fuschia, Purple, Lime, Green, Burgundy,
Aquamarine, Ice Blue, Royal Blue, Rainbow, Pearl White,
Black

Trimar Colors:
Black/Silver, White/Silver, Blue/Silver, Green/Silver,
Brown/Silver, Red/Silver, Black/Gold, White/Gold,
Blue/Gold, Green/Gold, Brown/Gold, Red/Gold

We do offer a variety of different wrap styles and
patterns. We do not yet offer weaving. If you have an
idea or special request for thread work please contact us
by phone or email. There may be an additional $30
charge for thread work that is particularly time
consuming.