Just a shout out to say Thank You to TH Custom Rods.

Last year, Travis and I came up with an idea for TH to make me a DR1264 with some carbon handles, etc. The rod was made, but after a trip or two on the water, some flaws with the design were found and I sent the rod back per TH's recommendation.

I gave TH the OK to use my rod as an experiment. Knowing that, TH didn't have to, or need to do anything at that point. But they did. "Send it back for free and we'll try something else/new/different to fix the problems."

TH changed up the rod a bit, but again, due to the nature of carbon handles not flexing, the rod was having some issues while under a full stress load in the down rigger. Again, the rod was sent back, this time with the instructions to just forget the carbon handles and go with a high quality cork.

All of this work was done for free. Yesterday the rod showed back up, and it looks great! Since it now has cork handles that will flex under a stress load, I don't forsee any of the previous issues I was having with the rod.

Since I was already having a rod shipped back to me, I had TH make me up a Rainshadow XST "Husky" 1264c. Purple wrap with gold inlay using the gold SciTic guides. I have an XST 1025c that TH did that is very similar and it's an awesome "Husky" looking rod! Nice to have a 1264c to go along with it.

Again, the 1264c also showed up yesterday, and as always, the craftsmanship on the rod was excellent, to say the least.

I thing that is my 5th or 6th TH Custom Rod. I've been very pleased with every single one of them.

I know there are many other good rod builders out there, but as a board sponsor and having personal experience with TH and his products, I'd highly recommend them to anyone needing or wanting a rod built up for them.

Thanks TH!

Darnit Parker, I have that exact rod and haven't used it yet. So are you telling me I won't like it? What issues were you having with it?

My advice would be to go out and use it. If you don't notice any issues with your rod, than it's fine.

What was an issue for me, might not be one for you.

Oh yeah, you have email.

I'll take this one Parker

In basic terms.... a 1264dr loads up and flexes so much from tip to butt, the blank bends inside the unflexible carbon handles and forces the grips to shift off the blank. I recall Parker's rod blank shifting all the way to the edge of the carbon handle and touching it...crushing the grommet seal at the head of the grip...not good. Over time I would bet that the grips would fail due to the inflexibility of the carbon fiber.
A cork handle will flex with the blank much better when you have the rod loaded up on a DR.

I think the carbon fiber is ideal for the very end section, say last 8-10 inches, of a DR rod that spends it's life fishing inside the rod holder getting beat up.

I have a custom rod I got 8 or so years ago from a guy and it says CR 1023 12-25 lb on it but has no other markings. Is it a Rain Shadow ?? Its a dark grey blank

By the way, that's excellent customer service on TH's part to rework that for you for free.....

Good to know.Good luck,
STRIKE ZONE

Sage advice right there Parker

Good news Parker.

Sounds like a business that wants to stay in business.......by taking care of their customers!

In this day and age of the world seemingly going to hell it's nice to hear of a company taking the high road with their customers. I sure like and enjoy the Sage they built for me a year ago.

I would be interested in knowing if TH used the WBTC arbor for your rod, I will drop him a line and find out.

We developed this part to arbor both seat and Carbon handle and gives you an EVA trim in between to help seal the gap when the rod is under load. I have the Carbon handle on the following rods with zero problems after Six hundred hours or more of abuse. BP1024 aka DR1024, RDR86M, RDR86MH, IST1143,XST1143, IST1082, IST1025.SWS597 and IP904.

We have worked with TH since the beginning of this company and he has been an outstanding example of a full service Rod Company.

I emailed you some photos Karry.

Thanks for shedding some light on the situation. Parkers rod was built Knuckle buster style aka Canadian Moocher/Down Rigger. The woven carbon was used as the fore grip probably twelve inches. As you could imagine the DR1264 aka BP1264 would flex considerably above the seat under load and the eva shims are designed to give in this situation but due to the extreme flex of this blank this handle cant be used in this style of set up. Cork or EVA would be the only way to go on this because of this flex. I would consider using the Carbon on the rear depending on the length preferred. I have the Carbon handle on mine but its set up traditional rear at 12 inches Carbon with a five inch cork fore grip and no problems.

I could imagin what Th had to go through to fix this up for you from expierence, it was no easy task and thats awsome he stands behind his workmanship as usuall.