|
Updates
On
Hold
(17th
January 2025)
Further to my
previous announcement I've decided I won't be taking any
more rod orders until the first of March. This will give
me time to stock up on the fittings I've settled on and
get the website updated to reflect that.
Orders currently in will be dealt with.
Apologies for the inconvenience. Hopefully all will be running
smoothly by spring.
|
All
Change
(14th
January 2025)
Over the Christmas
break it was announced that Hopkins and Holloway, my primary
source of rod building supplies and UK distributor of Fuji
fittings had gone into liquidation. The new Fuji distributor
is based in Europe. I can see this will mean it'll make
more sense to order large stocks of rings and reel seats
rather than use a UK based wholesaler to carry stock for
me.
If I was twenty years younger I'd just order from Europe,
but at my time of life I can't be arsed with the hassle!
As yet I haven't decided what to do about this. I'm thinking
that it would be easier to start using fittings which I
know are readily available at short notice, in smaller quantities,
from UK based suppliers. Of course a switch to American
Tackle and Kigan fittings would mean I'd be unable to match
previously built rods.
In the meantime I'm on a go slow while I make up my mind.
I have some ideas for new rod fitting specs. Watch this
space!
|
Xmas
Holiday
(18th
December 2024)
That's me done
until the New Year. Feet up, phone off, emails ignored!
Thanks to all
who have had rods from me in 2024, and wishing everyone
a Happy Christmas and a fish-filled 2025.
|
Xmas
Orders
(23rd
November 2024)
If you were hoping
to have a rod built before Christmas 2024 you've missed
the boat. I've a lot of work on and little chance to get
anything else started and finished before Christmas.
But watch this space for a surprise!
|
Rod
Shipping News
(28th
October 2024)
Shipping charges
have been on the increase for some time, but they have now
got silly for anything longer than 200cm and to ship outside
mainland UK. Add on the hoops that have to be jumped through
to send parcels to Northern Ireland are insufferable.
I can do without
hassle, so have reluctantly decided that I will no longer
be sending rods to Northern Ireland, and carriage on rods
with sections over 6ft 6in will have to be increased to
£40, which still sees me subsidising it.
|
Bushido
Lure Rods
(1st
May2024)
Bushido lure
rod blanks are now in stock and build specs settled. Details
here.
|
Rod
development
(23rd
April 2024)
I've been trying
out the Bushido lure rods read more at Lumbland.
|
Rods
in Stock
(26th
June 2023)
I've changed
my eel rods again. Last season's 10ft 3lb Torrixes are up
for sale. Will also make good small water pike or carp rods.
Info on Rods in Stock page
and pics on Lumbland.
|
New
rings and handle fittings
(26th
May 2023)
Too much to write
about here so click over to Lumbland
to read about rings and fittings added to my rod build options.
|
Rods
in Stock, new
handle fittings and specs
(11th
May 2023)
It's that time
of year when I get a bit of time to play around with ideas
for rod build. I found a couple of blanks which I hadn't
got round to building so put handles and rings on them using
non-standard fittings. Prices and details on my Rods
in Stock page. Pictures on my
blog.
EDIT
- Rods sold.
American Tackle
are starting to become popular in the carp rod world, partly
because they offer good quality black reel seats, and also
(I think) because of their steel lined rings/guides. I can't
see the value of the weight reduction on distance carp rods
that weigh a ton, but I guess they look nice!
However, they
are not recommended for use with braid, so of less use to
pike anglers I reckon. I've put a set of these Vortex rings
on a new trio of tench rods I built myself - which also
have a new split Duplon/shrink tube handle design that took
me a while to get the way I liked. I'll be trying it out
on some other rods soon. Maybe with some other AT rings.
More info and photos on my Lumbland blog.
|
Rods
in Stock
(22nd
January 2023)
Belated New Year
wishes! I think I'm on top of my backlog now, but orders
are still coming in so still no promises of quick turn rounds.
However, I do have four rods in stock.
These are one
P-1 with standard ringing and cork handle with Fuji butt
cap, one each Trickster Heavy and Light built standard but
with SiC rings, and one 7ft 6in, 5-30g VHF I found lurking
built similarly to my standard VHF fixed spool build but
with smaller ring sizes. Prices on my Rods
in Stock page.
|
Back
to Work
(10th
November 2022)
Following what
was supposed to be a minor operation with short recovery
time, but turned out to be a bit more than that, I've not
done any work for the last three weeks during my convalescence.
If you've had an order in for some time but not heard anything
from me, this is why!
I'll be starting
to catch up with the backlog from next Monday, but any orders
received in the last week or so will, therefore, take a
little longer to complete than they usually would. With
that in mind I can't guarantee any new orders will be completed
before Christmas.
|
New
Rod
(15th
June 2022)
After a little
deliberation I have added a rather niche rod to my predator
range. A stepped up P-5, which I have named (with my usual
originality) the P-6. AKA The Beast!
I haven't done this on a whim, this is a rod I have previously
built as a special for a couple of customers. One was looking
for a beefed up P-5 to use with large natural baits and
the other wanted a long rod to troll large artificials on
big loughs. I reckon the P-6 would also make a good UK catfish
rod and will certainly work as a spod rod if you are a fan
of 11ft rods for non-predators.
The action is
similar to that of the P-5 so it will bend if you
have something big enough on the end of your line that you
aren't afraid to give some stick. Anyone who thinks the
Loch Tamer is a broom handle not only needs to tighten their
drag but also avoid The Beast like the plague!
Spec and price
here.
|
Rods
in Stock
(23rd
June 2022)
Three SS12-225s
which I put the wrong handles on and a Staker I built for
myself but decided it wasn't what I was looking fore before
I used it in my Rods in Stock
page.
More info and
pics here.
|
Ordering
Rods and
New Torrix Additions
(13th
June2022)
I'm back taking
orders again!
I've updated
my Torrix Specialist page
with a few more rods.
|
Ordering
Rods
(7th
May 2022)
My plans to catch
up on work last month got scuppered by illness and a week
in hospital. The Spring Break is now extended until early
June. If you would like to place an order fro rods it will
be best to wait until then when I hope I'll almost be on
top of things.
|
Rods
and Blanks in Stock/Spring Break
(29th
March 2022)
I've been sorting
through by stock of blanks and found some part built rods.
These are now fully built and on my Rods
in Stock page. The P-3 I was building for myself
but ran out of rings, which didn't arrive until pike season
was over, so didn't get used. I also have some blanks in
which aren't regular builds which I can build up to your
spec. I'll add these later.
As I am still
trying to catch up on builds for customers, and this is
usually my quiet time, I'm not taking further orders (apart
from stock rods) until the middle of May, or sooner if I
get the decks cleared.
|
Return
of the Duelists
(24th
February 2022)
Harrison's have
resurrected their VHF blanks in the 9ft models, which means
I can build Duelists again. It'll be a while before I have
blanks but they will be available soon. I intend to try
to hold stocks of the Number 1 and Number 2. Don't hold
me to that though!
|
Good
News/Bad News
(4th
February 2022)
The good news
is that I'm easing myself back to work, the bad news is
that carbon prices have forced an increase in blank prices
and as a result my rods will be going up in price. The increase
will take effect around the middle of this month. Order
now to beat the increase!
|
More
trebles
(21st
September 2021)
I now have stock
of barbed and semi-barbed, bronzed O'Shaughnessy trebles
in sizes 4 and 6 in packs of 25.
Available here.
|
No
more Duelist rods
(19th
August 2021)
Harrison's have
discontinued the VHF range of blanks.
Sadly that means
there will be no more of my Duelist rods.
They have also
stopped making three piece float rod blanks.
|
New
treble hooks and rod ordering update.
(11th
August 2021)
As Partridge
trebles were a pain to get hold of with any consistency
I stopped selling them a while back. The cheaper Eagle Claws
in the pattern I stocked have also become difficult for
me to get hold of. I have now filled the vacuum with a modern
hook pattern (chemically sharpened point, black nickel finish)
at a reasonable price. They have a round bend and are a
medium gauge wire with a small barb. To start off I have
sizes 4 and 6 priced at £4.50 per pack of ten.
Check them out
here.
At last the blank
delivery situation is improving. I've had two deliveries
over the last fortnight and am expecting two more deliveries
soon (over 60 blanks). As a result I'll be doing a lot of
catching up on building rods to fulfill back orders for
the next month or so.
It's been a nightmare
trying to keep on stop of what blanks I have on ordered
with new rod orders coming in so until I have cleared the
log jam I'm not taking any new orders.
I hope things
will be sorted out towards the end of August/early September
.
|
Clearout
sale
continues
(26th
April 2021)
The moulds are
going fast! Some PVA and other coarse tackle added to a
dedicated sale page.
Check it out
here.
|
Lead
and feeder mould clearout sale
(3rd
April 2021)
I'm making space
and clearing out some stock to do it.
All my bomb and
feeder moulds are on sale. Check them out here.
When they're gone, they're gone!
|
Webshop
glitch
(19th
February 2021)
A customer kindly
made me aware that he was unable to pay for an on-line order
using a card without having a PayPal account. I had a dig
around backstage and think I have sorted the issue out.
I can only imagine that some PayPal upgrade or other altered
a setting because I hadn't touched anything!
In other news
I've built a couple of rods using the new-look Fuji reel
seats and rings and have to say they look smart together.
Pictures to appear on my blog (which went AWOL for a while
- this time entirely down to me messing about behind the
scenes but appears to have returned...) when I've completed
some other rod work worth showing. I might even get some
fishing news on it as I have some new tackle to try out!
|
A
few things
(4th
February 2021)
That's the last
of the DPS reel seats in black. No more available, so anyone
wanting to match up an existing rod which has a black DPS
18 is out of luck. The closest I'll be able to get is an
American Tackle version which I'll probably keep a few of
in stock. Otherwise it's the new finish (see update below
for link) on all DPS seats as standard. I'm also on my last
batch of BSVOG rings, when they are gone it'll be the new
rings as standard.
Blanks are still
slow in coming through, still with now clue as to what will
arrive next but it does seem to be a case of my main bait
rod blanks arriving before lure rod or specialist blanks.
Anything involving special treatment, such as spigots on
Tricksters, is pretty much on permanent hold!
Finally, I apologise
for not replying to e-mails as quickly as usual. I read
some business expert say this is the most time efficient
way to deal with a heavy e-mail load. So that's my excuse
sorted out!
Thanks again
to everyone who is patiently waiting for their rods to be
built. I'm making some headway but no sooner do I get some
blanks in than they are assigned to the building queue meaning
I still have no spare stock!
|
Transition
Period
(6th
January 2021)
The
new Fuji finishes are starting to arrive. Read all about
it on Lumbland.
|
New
Year, New Changes
(25th
December 2020)
It's
been a while coming but Fuji have now discontinued their
black and gunsmoke finishes to both rings and reel seats,
and my standard BSVOG ring has gone too. This means that
I will only be able to match rods built in the past while
my stocks of these fittings last. Which won't be long.
The
word is that the change is due to the new finish is more
protective when it comes to stopping rusting, and there
was some health and safety issue with the old finishes.
There is probably some truth in this but it's been noticeable
for a few years that when the black finish went from a semi-matt
to a gloss it was more easily scratched. I wonder if the
new finishes are more scratch-resistant?
The
black finish is replaced with what Fuji call 'Frosted Dark-Grey,
and the gunsmoke with ''Shiny Gray'. The BSVOG is replaced
by the BCLSVOG
which features the wraparound design already in use with
the existing SiC and Alconite frames, which will remain
the same but in the new finishes.
If those
changes isn't enough I've been told to expect Harrison's
to drop some of their older blanks next year. The carbon
supply problems the industry has experienced this year being
the primary driver behind this rationalisation.
All
in all, if anyone is thinking of having any rods built to
match existing ones, especially older carp or specialist
rods, it would be wise to get them ordered sooner rather
than later. Although the slow supply situation is continuing
it might mean a good match will be possible.
On that
cheery note it's time to thank all my customers who have
outstanding rod orders with me for their patience, there
really is nothing I can do to speed up the blank supply
chain, and wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New
Year. I'm hanging up my varnish brushes until January now!
I do
still have a few rods In Stock!
|
Covid
and Christmas
(23rd
November 2020)
The
blank situation hasn't improved any, so I still have a backlog
of orders which is growing by the day. It's looking unlikely
that most will be completed before Christmas, and any placed
after today will have no prospect of completion until some
time in the New Year.
Blanks
are arriving now and then, but I'm completely at the mercy
of Harrison's as to what turns up and when. There's no guarantee
blanks I ordered weeks ago will turn up before blanks ordered
yesterday! 'Unusual' blanks are taking the longest, so there's
a better chance of getting one of my predator rods built
than something like an Avon with a spliced in quivertip.
However,
I do still have a few rods In Stock!
|
Covid
hold ups
(9th
October 2020)
A short
note to apologise to anyone who is waiting on their rods.
I'm not in the worst situation regarding deliveries from
Harrison's as I only have a back log of a couple of months,
but they are struggling to keep up at the moment. Angling
experienced a boom earlier this year after lockdown was
eased which created a demand for tackle. Added to that there
have been staff shortages due to periods of isolation.
Blanks
have been coming through in dribs and drabs, but not always
everything I need to complete some orders of mixed rods.
I haven't
been to the factory for six months but I envisage everyone
there running around like the proverbial headless chicken!
Please
believe me when I say I'm as frustrated as anyone who is
waiting on their rods. Thank you for your patience.
In the
meantime I do have some rods In Stock!
|
Rods
in stock added
(30th
September 2020)
Beat
the wait for the new pike season! Ready to fish rods added
to my In Stock page.
|
Old
articles added
(11th
July 2020)
I've
added a link to my articles for The Pike Pool to my Articles
page. Or just click this
link.
|
Nice
Words Belatedly Updated
(10th
July 2020)
I've
been a bit slack at blowing my own trumpet or the last few
years, but I've added some recent words of appreciation
which I've received to my Nice
Words page.
As much
as these give me a fuzzy glow I get an even warmer glow
from hearing that people have caught big fish and personal
bests using my rods.
|
Fuji
supply Update
(12th
May 2020)
BSVOGs
are back in stock in sizes 30 and smaller, but no 40s. So
now I can fit them to anything other than BB350s and X-1s.
It's madness.
RBC
19s are back too, so that's straighforward.
|
Fuji
supply woes
(3rd
May 2020)
The
situation regarding the BSVOG rings which are standard on
most of my rods has not improved. I am lacking one crucial
size. For a limited period I will be able to fit them to
BB350s but no other rods. Worse still the BMNAG Alconite
rings I use are also of limited avilability so they're not
a viable alternative. I think MNSG SiCs might be a possibilty,
at much greater expense, as an option.
With
the above in mind I am now using Seymo 247S rings as my
standard - they are almost identical to the BSVOG, and offering
Kigan's as an upgrade.
The
Fuji RBC butt caps I fit to Axioms and specialist rods are
also on long back order, so I'll be fnishing all cork butts
with a nylon button. At least retrofitting an RBC butt cap
isn't a big job should they ever reappear.
|
Ring
News
(15th
March 2020)
I've
put a post on Lumbland which has pics and info about the
new Fuji rings and some other ring news. CLICK
HERE to read it.
|
Changes
ahead
(20th
February 2020)
As customers
with recent or pending rod orders will know the supply of
BSVOG rings has been nonexistent in some sizes since early
December. While Fuji is a Japanese company, like most firms
these days, it has manufacturing plants in China. Every
business getting stock from China is suffering supply problems
at the moment due to factory closures caused by the Coronavirus
mess. This is compounding the problems. Things are not much
better right now, but improvement is promised...
However,
there are big changes coming to all Fuji's black framed
rings. For environmental reasons (I don't know what) the
current black coating is being stopped and replaced with
a new finish. I'm expecting a sample of this shortly.
This
means that if anyone wants a rod building to match one they
already have with black framed Fuji rings it would be a
good idea to get an order in now. Or certainly within the
next couple of months because at some point this year I
expect making a match to be difficult at best or impossible
at worst. I've not determined if this also applies to reel
seats, but I suspect it does.
As
Fuji's gunsmoke finish is also changing (although apparently
not to the naked eye) it might be safest to opt for Kigan
rings if you are ordering a rod soon with the intention
of having one or more matched to it in the future. Maybe
also go for plain steel hoods on Fuji reel seats - just
in case.
This
is as much as I know right now.
|
Torrix
addition
(29th
September 2019)
Over
the last two or three years I've been asked to build an
increasing number of floodwater barbel rods, mostly for
Trent anglers, on the 2.5lb Torrix blank. As a result I've
added this to my Torrix Specialist
Rods page.
|
Torrix
rods for sale.
(15th
April 2019)
I'm
selling my three 11ft 2lb Torrixes as I have no plans for
tench or bream fishing this spring. Details on my blog here.
|
Torrix
rods for Predators added.
(8th
April 2019)
I know
that Torrix blanks are designed for c*rp fishing, but they
don't know that! While I wouldn't recommend the twelve footers
for predator fishing some of the shorter blanks are actually
pretty useful tools. The three I prefer and my thoughts
about them can be found here.
|
Rebuilds.
(30th
March 2019)
That's
it. Absolutely NO MORE REBUILDS. If it's not a DLST rod
don't even ask. Sorry if that sounds blunt but I simply
don't have the time to undertake this work. I will still
replace broken or damaged individual rings but that's about
it.
|
FXH
now available.
(1st
June 2018)
At long
last I have the reel seats to allow me to turn the blanks
I got ages ago into FXH lure rods. Details of this rod which
was previewed at last September's PAC Convention can be
found on it's dedicated page.
|
Blank
Colours
(8th
May 2017)
Painted
blanks are now only available in a choice of burgundy and
clear coat.
|
Contact
Details
(30th
June 2016)
As of
July 1st my virgin.net e-mail address will be discontinued.
If you have that in your address book please change it to
my dlst.co.uk address.
|
Rebuild
service
(23rd
March 2015)
After
the recent
breakage of a pair of rods in transit I have reconsidered
my rebuild/refurb service as no amount of insurance can
replace a much loved rod that is no longer in production.
As a
result I am now only willing to undertake rebuilds/refurbs
on rods which I have built or on rods delivered to and collected
from me in person.
I hope
the reasoning for this is understood.
|
|
|
|