Versatile, all around surf fishing rods

[surfwalker]

I, like many of you walk and cast, and cast while walking. I have been using a Lami blank, GSB1081M, for the past 14 years, I like it. Matter of fact, I use a 9 footer 99% of the time. When I like something I stick with it. It?s rated 1-3oz., but I find that 3 is pushing it. I don?t throw really big wood and pencils are a chore to get into rhythm for me with this blank. I throw small plugs, poppers and metal with it and only require one advil pre walk, instead of the 2 or 3 that I used to take with the previously used 9 foot S-glass. I'm walking open sandy beaches.

I find it comfortable, not heavy, loads up nicely and does most of the work for me on the cast. I have caught nice Bass, downtown blues, nice albies and freaking big cow nose rays on it, never let me down, although the operator has on occasion.

I totally agree that there is not a perfect rod or blank for all occasions, and you have to feel comfortable with your casts, to each his own.

[Monty]

I, like many of you walk and cast, and cast while walking. I have been using a Lami blank, GSB1081M, for the past 14 years, I like it. Matter of fact, I use a 9 footer 99% of the time. When I like something I stick with it. It's rated 1-3oz., but I find that 3 is pushing it.

Sounds like a real nice light rod.
I sometimes use a Loomis, 8'10" also rated up to 3 oz, its about a 10 oz rod, throws the plugs you mentioned. Takes very little effort to cast. When I plan on throwing mostly plastic and small stuff I use this or another 9 footer have.

[Monty]

Well a couple years later.
I had shoulder surgery late 2013, ended up getting a CTS Vapor Trail 11 foot rod, it weighs 10.8 oz.
Its rated for 1-3 oz but I have thrown from 1/2 oz to 4.5 oz with it (4.5 oz Beast Darters).
In 2014 my shoulder wasn't 100%, but I used the rod about 90 percent of the time and really liked it.
In 2015 my shoulder was a 100 percent and I used the Vapor trail 98% of the time, awesome rod, amazed at how after 6 or 8 hours casting my shoulder felt great.
Crazy light, easy casting, works pencils easy, sensitive, great in fighting fish.
And it has been durable, I have fished with it on the rocks in Montauk and have not been easy on it, leaned on it at times in the water as a walking stick.

Its a custom rod, I paid a lot for it. One thing I have learned is when buying a custom rod its important to be as open with the guy making it as possible. Rich from CTS made it and it's everything I asked for. Others will use the same blank and the rod will come out very different. I got lucky and its perfect for me. Because I have seen my rod vs others with the same blank its been a great leaning experience. If you get a custom rod, be specific what you are looking for in the rod, discuss components and different guide layouts and the differences in the layouts (very important). What the effect the guide layouts will have on the rods action and feel.