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View Full Version : Silver Snake LTJ Series Rods



Fischadler
08-02-2010, 09:00 AM
It has been some time since I last posted on this forum but we continue to fish and refine the elements we like for light tackle jigging and casting rods used in the Chesapeake Bay.
Bill O'Brien and his team from Shore Tackle and Custom Rods at the Kent Narrows in Grasonville, MD built the rods based on my design and to my specifications.

38547

Both rods were built on the American Tackle Viper Series (Mag Bass) blanks. The spinning rod is 6'6" 12-25lb (med heavy/fast) and was designed for fishing larger 1.5-2.0 oz jigs with 7-10" soft baits. We used an Alps reel seat, custom grips and titanium guides. It is paired with a Sustain 3000 loaded with braid.

The baitcasting rod is rated at 10-17lb (med/fast) and was designed for 1/2 to 1.0 oz baits. This was the first time we have used a "micro" blank exposed reel seat and it will be interesting to see how it holds up over time. The split grips were custom made and the titanium guides are spiral wrapped. The reel is a Shimano Chronarch and loaded with braid as well.
Here's a recent action shot of the Silver Snake taken by the Captain of "Thunder Road." Note the custom Fischadler jighead used with a hotrodded 6" jerkbait.

38549 38550

Baldzilla 2.0
08-03-2010, 06:22 PM
they are sweet rods for sure. Having seen them in action I'd highly recommend them to anyone. I'm looking forward to my birthday present of the SS w/ sustain! Just wondering how well they will hold up to fish the size I catch?

Shawn Kimbro
08-03-2010, 08:16 PM
they are sweet rods for sure. Having seen them in action I'd highly recommend them to anyone. I'm looking forward to my birthday present of the SS w/ sustain! Just wondering how well they will hold up to fish the size I catch?

Umm, I'd say well......

Those are very nice looking rods, Mark. They're light and fast, just what I like in a rod. No doubt state of the art.

Guess I should come clean on why I don't use custom rods...... I'm a rod destroyer. It's extremely rare for me to make a rod last more than a year. No one reason, maybe I slam 'em in a tailgate, roll under a tree limb with them in the high rod holders, slap 'em against the outboard, wrap the tip in a rip, whatever, I tear them up. I wouldn't expect any local rod builder to replace any rod I break or otherwise damage due to my overly hard use. I have several damaged custom rods sitting in my shop now because I'm too embarrassed to take them back to get them repaired. On the other hand, it doesn't bother me a bit to take a rod back to a national brand dealer and get them replaced.

That said, I really enjoy seeing the latest and greatest custom made rods out there. There are some exceptional rod builders in our area and I'm a fan.

FLATLINER
08-04-2010, 07:38 AM
Nice setup. However, the second 2 pictures caused my computer screen to crack........

Steve F
08-04-2010, 07:57 AM
Very nice looking rods and Bill does great work...