Although the primary interest of a custom fishing rod is the technique, it is also possible to associate with this technique, an outstanding finish for the visual pleasure of its owner.
The beginnings of the project
It all starts with a meeting at dumonteil Limoges workshop on Gujan-Mestras on a beautiful day of New Year 2022. The future owner, Jérôme, wishes to have a set of exceptional rods to track his favorite fish, the barbel in river. The best blank, the best reel seat, the best rings, the most beautiful materials and colors, Jerome wants to have the best.
The objective is to find a 12.6 foot (3m96) rod with a power of 2.25 lbs (in order to throw feeders loaded with bait of about 120 g) as well as a semi-parabolic and harmonious action to have fun on the water. For the finish, Jerome wants to use walnut from his department, Creuse, an old dry wood with already beautiful veins in perspective and elm burr as an insert. All this beautiful woodwork will be machined and combined with a high quality cork heel.
For the selection of the blank, the choice turned to the mythical Harrison Torrix 2.25 lb in 12.6 feet. The blank which answered perfectly to his research. Harrison is known for its exceptional blanks in the field of carp, it also seems to be very interesting for fishing specimen fish in rivers.
This blank will receive a Fuji Titanium Torzite dark grey ring bar to combine sobriety and high performance. But the choice of the reel seat, the shape of the wood and aluminum parts, the ligatures as well as the inscriptions, remain a mystery at the beginning.
Discussions take place and ideas flow. The drawings and other multiple sketches will gradually bring to light the final result. Very excited about the project, Alexis starts testing and several ideas are born:
- Starting with the reel seat, which will be a modified fly rod reel seat with a carbon insert to push the finish to the details.
- A sketch sent by Jérôme and prototyped to validate the shape of the handles and reel holder.
- The step of choosing the colors of ligatures as well as the inscriptions to measure.
- Or, this choice in cork with various tests of the stock that Alexis has to see the result.
- And finally, the color and shade of the anodization of the finishing rings, which will receive a small zirconium to bring a brilliant and very subtle touch.
All this time spent on the creation of these rods, through testing and other modifications, results in two exceptional objects that border on art.
What is the specimen feeder?
It is a fishing technique from the other side of the Channel specialized in fishing for barbel, chub and other specimen fish, an approach derived from carp fishing and feeder fishing, very much practiced in England with specific equipment that is beginning to develop in France on our rivers.
It is a pleasant and surprising fishing which can be static or in stalking. It is often practiced with one or two rods with feeder weights ranging from 40 g to 160 g for strong currents. The baits can be of animal origin (maggots, earthworms...), vegetable (corn), manufactured (boilies, ham pate, gruyere...) or artificial.
The feeling?
These Harrison blanks are progressive and fun to use. A harmonious action in combat which also hides a good reserve of power to bridle the beautiful fish of river.
It is also an interesting rod for the anglers of sea bream in calm water on the basin of Arcachon in search of lightness and robustness to take pleasure in fishing fish of modest size. The flexibility of the tip and its white color offers a real tool of precise detection and will know how to foil the distrust of the recalcitrant sparids.
Finally, the configuration of the rod, with wood, metal and multiple layers of varnish, suggests that its weight is stratospheric, but when finished, the rod weighs 238 grams and offers an outstanding balance when equipped with reels in size 6000.
Exceptional canes
The combination of visual pleasure, noble materials and great technicality brings to the enthusiasts a timeless rod of exception which will resist to the hazards of throws, fights, weather and hours spent at the water's edge. Jérôme, the happy owner, is delighted to see that his dream has become reality, two jewels made by an artist!
It is therefore possible to offer yourself a set of exceptional fishing rods. According to your aesthetic tastes, your technical specifications and let yourself be seduced by unique sensations.
