Fishing Resources

  HQ Guide Service

Data for Review

Date – Summer, 2009
Manufacturer – Big Dady Custom Rods
Reviewed by - Andrew Ragas owner, www.fishing-headquarters.com

About Big Dady's Custom Rods

During the winter of 2008, the Fishing Headquarters was in the process of contacting various tackle companies for the purposes of online sponsorship for the website. After hearing several positive reviews from certain anglers, and successful internet searches, Andrew Ragas, owner of Fishing-Headquarters.com, became convinced that Big Dady Rods was a viable option for becoming a website supporter. After several e-mail exchanges, both parties agreed that they could come to agreement and benefit from working together. So far, the marriage has been a successful one.

Big Dady Rods, owned by Randy Emerich, is operated from Pottsville, Pennsylvania. Emerich has been a fisherman for over 45 years and in that near half-century period of time with fishing rods, he has found that you only get what you pay for. As a young angler, he was always in pursuit of that perfect fishing rod, often finding that the mass-produced factory rods didn't always fit everyone's specifications and styles of fishing. Quality was what he wanted. Soon, he discovered custom made rods.

Emerich writes, "When I held my first custom rod in my hand, I knew that was the rod for me. But the cost! I was paying many times the cost of a store-bought rod. I found the quality, but how can I find the affordability?"

Good question. Here's his answer:

"Factory rods are made by people, so why can't I just make my own? With a lot of research and trail and error, I found that almost perfect rod. The rod that I built. I can pick out my own action, my own length, and even my own handles. I can make a rod that fits me, not some rod that fits many."

"So, what can I do for you? Simple. Let me build that rod for you. Let me show you the experience and craftsmanship that I put into all my rods that I build. There a lot of rod builders out there and most build nice rods, with a nice price to go with it. I feel that everyone needs a good rod to fish with, even if it just one. Why should they pay a high price for it? I try to give my customers more for their money than just a nice rod. I give them something to be proud of. Fishing is a sport and we should all use the best equipment that we can afford to compliment that experience. My customers agree."

Big Dady Rods is capable of building any kind and type of fishing rod, whether it is for spinning tackle, baitcasting gear, fly fishing, ice fishing, and deep-sea. It does not matter. Anything is possible, from custom cork handles, reel seats, guides, and blanks. Emerich sits down with each of his customers to customize the rod to their reel for optimal performance. He offers personalized names on each rod along with any special event.

"We build our rods with top quality components and stand behind every rod we build," writes Emerich. He concludes, "We've even gone further than most warranty claims and we do our best to serve your needs."
 

Impressions:

During the winter of 2009, I was in the market for a multi-purpose casting rod with heavy action. My sole intentions for this rod was to use it for fishing in the heaviest of all cover by either flipping and pitching jigs into the thick grass, dense wood, and up against docks and boat houses.

Luckily, the website was already sponsored by Big Dady Rods at the time, and since my main obligation with this partnership was to test and review some of Big Dady's Rods, and at the same time not having anything suitable for fishing heavy cover, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity for me to ask Randy on what he could provide in a new rod.

After some strategizing, I told him "Make the strongest and most durable rod you can make without breaking the bank." Some of the specifications I was seeking were 1) Long handle for horsing fish is a must. 2) Ability to take on heavy braid.

This rod was a free gift you know, therefore, I didn't want Randy to go all overboard with this project. Something basic and good was what I wanted.

And I got it. Along with a second rod to be used for another style of fishing.

Randy delivered big time! In return, he wanted me to review his gifts as honestly and accurately as humanly possible. He told me to take a full year, and now the time has finally come.

The rod given to me was a 6-foot 10-inch flippin' stick' made from a Lamiglas blank which has been discontinued, but according to Randy, can still be found in replacements. The black handle seen in the photos above is a graphite/carbon tube with a PacBay minima split seat. This open reel seat allows for more feel and sensitivity and when fishing with glass, this feature is beneficial for picking up light bites. Besides the blank and sweet-looking handle, the guides are Fuji Alconites with Batson running guides which are located between the stripper and tip-top.

When I received the rod, Randy wanted me to take notice to the stripper guide being located farther up from the grip, 27 to 29 inches above. This was so that I could easily underhand and flip my bait.

For the pitching and flipping purposes, I paired this rod up with a previous-generation Quantum Accurist 570PT. The reason for this choice was that the Accurist features an ergonomical flipping switch that can be automatically set and adjusted. I also figured that with the faster gear ratio of 7:0.1, not only could I try forcing myself to fish slow, but I could also cover water faster and possibly cast and burn the presentation if the situation ever called for it.

On the water uses

Casting & Retrieving:

A lot of anglers who make their living by flipping and pitching like to stand atop their boat's casting deck on their tippy-toes, and unload the bait with an underhand motion. For me, my style of flipping and pitching is different. I do it side-arm, and almost skip it underhand. It's almost the same though, I swear! And it works.

But what matters most is that you can place the lure into the destined target. With this rod, doing the aforementioned was nothing short but perfect. The accuracy was stellar for both short and long distance lure placement.

Other than casting surface frogs and burning them through thick pads and grass, the Big Dady flippin' stick saw very little casting. Rather, it was utilized more for flipping and pitching towards nearby targets.

Here is how the rod fared for both flipping and pitching:

Pitching: Pitching is the ability to hover a lure over the water into the targeted zone. On any given day, I prefer prefer pitching over flipping because it allows me to hit a target from a farther distance, so spooking fish is less likely. Poor pitch and Flip rods don't have a fast enough action so the lure is tossed uncontrolled and falls far from the targeted area. This rod with a Lamiglas blank exhibits real confidence when cast in a smooth flip of the wrist, the lure seems to extend right off the rod in a straight line, making it easy to control height and distance.

2. Flipping: What flipping encompasses is being able to place the lure right over the targeted fish. This usually requires anglers to be close enough to the target to get the lure in position and it requires a more stealth-like approach. I usually reserve this technique for when pitching is not a option, and when I am less than 20-feet away from the target. The Big Dady rod is built like a solid stick, enabling you to flip plastics or jigs softly up and down through the target area. Doing this in a smooth motion the rod has no flex at all, so accuracy is unaffected.

In both categories the rod was excellent. It felt just as strong and accurate over 20 feet distances as it did in tight quarters of less than 5 feet.

Power:

Lamiglas is, or was known as a brand of fishing rods made out of one of the strongest glass and composite fiberglass materials. With that being said, Randy got the specifications right for me, and the rod was constructed for all about power.

Largemouth Bass were able to be hoisted and plucked out from cover with 10-pounds of weeds attached without breaking off, and if you look below, you can see a 30-inch class Pike that was pulled free, and into the Frabill, from the thick jungle.

Ergonomics and Design:

In terms of ergonomics and design, this custom job in particular was flawless and error-free in the departments of construction and selected components.

The sub-7-foot length was absolutely perfect for lure placement at both long and short distances, and what I like most about this rod is the fact that it was not overloaded with an outrageous number of guides. I feel that this positively affected the smoothness of pitching and flipping.

However, if I had to complain about this rod in any way possible, I must ask where the telescopic handle is because many of the well-known flipping and pitching rods these days come with that feature. All of the mainstream factory-made rods have it. However, like Randy says in his statement, "You get what you pay for." In my case, the rod was a free gift, so I can understand why this addition would not be included.

Last but not least, and probably from catching too many fish within it's first full week of usage, the tip-top came loose and undone from the blank. With some rod repair glue, it was fixed. This was just a minor error from the builder that I thought I should mention in this review. In the end it was not a big deal and my repair has been solid ever since.

Presentation:

Flipping and pitching was the name of the game with this rod. Jigs in the 3/8oz to 1/2oz range were the main applications for this set-up.

In addition, this rod was also a good back-up choice for frog fishing the same types of weeded and slop areas I often flipped my jigs into. With my fast burner reel, swimming buzz frogs over the thick lily pad mats and through dense weed growth was near-perfect!

No matter how I fished and what exactly this set-up was used for in terms of application and presentation, I always found myself in-control of the fish, and had the upper-hand in every battle I took part in.

In the end, as a fisherman you always want to have an edge over the fish and for this ability and what I was able to catch during my year-long review session, I must thank Randy Emerich for making a most-excellent fishing rod, recommending something good that fit within the free price range, and for ultimately listening to the needs of his customer.

With some collaboration, a flawless fishing rod was both constructed by builder and enjoyed by angler. . . . And will continue to be enjoyed for the next few seasons to come.

Construction & Quality:  For a custom build and being on a budgetary limit of getting something pretty basic, I feel that Randy put his best abilities into the construction of this rod. As for the components such as guides, rod blank, reel seat, and handle, everything is strong and superb! However, I would have liked to see what his telescopic flipping and pitching rods would have been like.   9/10

On The Water Uses:  An exceptional rod for pitching and flipping, and horsing fish out from the thickest, dangerous and nastiest of cover.  10/10

Design (ergonomics):  The rod is relatively lightweight, thus it was easy to fish with for several full days of non-stop fishing. What I probably like best about this rod is the extremely-strong Lamiglas blank, and how visually-appealing the diamond-patterned graphite handle is.  10/10

Presentation:  Excels when a slow pace of fishing is needed. Likewise, works well when power fishing is called for when you need to cover water and fight fish quickly.   10/10

Price:  Hey, I got this rod for absolutely free, so I cannot complain. But if I originally was a buyer and had to pay the listed $150 price for it, I'd find it to be well-worth the purchase, and the price fully justifiable. I got the best value in a rod that might seem limited to most anglers.  10/10

Average Final Score = 10/10 

Positive:

• Custom built rod. Randy can make anything!

• My specifications were matched perfectly!

• Exposed reel seat allows for increased sensitivitiy.

• Can handle the thickest of cover.

• Lamiglas blank is major benefit, and strong.

• Graphite handle looks beautiful.

• Very few fish were lost.

• Great customer service and no-excuses warranty.

Negative:

• Original poorly-glued tip-top was fixed.

• Wished rod had telescoping handle so that I had something to compare against most popular factory rods.