Now Scott (A.k.a. Shfishin'sticks) Is Just Showing Off...

[Lucky Craft Man]

Well, I had Scott modify a G Loomis GLX CBR855 for me to create what I think is the ultimate prespawn jerkbait rod, which he did...

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/99721-effects-of-cutting-an-existing-rod-down-in-length/

Then I asked him to create for me a travel 7-peice 9'9" to 10'0" 5 wt. fly rod, but I could only find fly blanks up to 9' long and in 6-piece. Well, he took what I could find and created this...

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/105014-scott-formerly-known-as-shfishinsticks-does-it-again/

Then I thought I would stump Scott with a Muskie Rod project. I wanted a 10' + musky rod that was capable of casting Musky Innovations 2-Pounder (they actually only weigh 26 oz.). The only problem was that I couldn't store or transport a 1-piece rod over 8 ft. so this rod had to be either telescopic or 2 piece. After talking with Scott about this project (he thought I was joking at first) he told me that a telescopic rod over 10 ft. that collapsed down to under 8 ft. would just not work quite right (the guides would just be too far away from the reel seat) so he convinced me that a 2-peice rod was the way to go. Unfortunately, all the 2-piece blanks that were available that could cast the type of weight I was looking for were saltwater blanks, but these were way too heavy to realistically be fished all day casting heavy lures. Scott ended up talking with the owner of Tackle Industries who sold him an already assembled 2-piece 9' XXH rod that was capable of handling 8 to 36 ounces and weighed just over 13 ounces. Both pretty good specs for what I was looking for, but already owning a Tackle Industries 9' XXH Rod (great rods by the way), I knew it couldn't throw a 2-Pounder all that effectively.

Well, Scott bought the assembled rod, stripped it down, extended the handle assembly, put on a new reel seat with a fat cork handle, and spiral wrapped the guides. When it was done, he presented to me this 10'3" 2-piece masterpiece of a Muskie Rod...

With the added length and upgraded guides, he only added a few ounces extra to the overall rod. He also taped together 30 ounces of lead for me to try and cast. After a few test casts, I almost hurled that 30 ounces over his fence with not much effort. This rod is like a medieval catapult! Here is a close up of his wrap work...

Just impeccable workmanship. Scott ceases to amaze me with his skill and creative nature. I am out of crazy ideas. I truly thought this one would stump Scott, since he never built a muskie rod before and I was asking for one that is longer than anything out there and could essentially cast a small dog (not that I would ever cast a dog, unless of course, the bite was really tough ;-) Truly an amazing rod builder. Thanks again, Scott, and I will not rest until I come up with something you can not build.

[S Hovanec]

not that I would ever cast a dog, unless of course, the bite was really tough ;-)

Sometimes it's just a musky eat dog kind of day!

And then he takes ALL of that cork and does THIS!

which is why I refuse to use GOOD cork on his rods!!