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My Mother asked me what I wanted for my birthday, which was 8/4, and I told her I would like a custom rod. She said, "order it". So I did. I picked it up last night from Dom who owns Southern Custom Rods, and was eager to try it out.
I was able to knock the skunk off it in short order today. Picked up a 16" red which was quickly subdued by the 7' 3" custom rod. It has a medium light action with a fast tip, split handle and tangle free guides. It is very light and extremely sensitive. It must also be said that Dom obviously takes great pride and care in his rod building.
I later hooked a slugger of a 23" red and finally after a few trout from 12" to 16", got hammered by a 24" sow of a trout.
Thanks again to Dom of Southern Custom Rods for a job well done. All fish caught today were released to fight again. All were easily handled by top notch tackle.

Congrats Jim

Sweet!

Nice birthday present and a great way to christen it. You must have caught the only trout between St. Marks and Tampa.

Happy belated, my friend!

Nice Reds & trout right there!

What type of area did you get the Reds in? For example, creek mouth, oyster bar, shoreline, out on flats 3 feet deep? And what time of day and tide?

I have still NEVER caught a redfish and am trying to figure out his, when & where to achieve success.

Nice catch!

What size reel do you have on that rod? I've been thinking of trying the new Penn Clash in 2500 or 3000. I've never had a nice custom set up and I've been thinking in it for awhile.

Thanks for any information.

awesome Mr. Jim! glad to see you putting it to good use. i again appreciate your business and hope you enjoy your rod for a very long time!

Ted in Tally, the Red was caught back in a cove lined with saw grass. There were mullet everywhere. That is the key. Look for mullet mudding, jumping, and just pretty much being mullet. As long as you are not spooking them you should be good. Cast around the edges of active mullet. Even slightly away from them from time to time. I was using a 1/8oz jig head with a 3" electric chicken Cocahoe Minnow. Bouncing it on the bottom in about 2- 2 1/2 feet of water on an incoming tide.
I have caught fish in the same area on spoons and topwater plugs, but was wanting to try my new jig rod. Sometimes I will just mix up the bait and the presentation until I hit on something that works. Some days they are picky about the lure, color, speed, depth etc... Other days they will eat an old shoe if you throw it at them.
Back in the creeks and coves if you find the mullet, MOST of the time you will find the reds nearby. Getting them to eat is sometimes more of a challenge than I have patience for.

Can'tCatchAnything,
I am using a Quantum Smoke PTS 25 on that rod with 10 pound Suffix 832 braid and a 20 pound flouro leader. I like the weight of that reel and if I were not using it I would go to a Shimano Stradic Ci4+ 3000, again for the weight of the reel.

Good you got out Jim
You did better than I did ,been catching a few shorts the last 2 days

Thanks for the details, fishnfool.

Sent you a PM Ted. Not sure if it went through or not, so I resent it and it is still just sitting there.