INTERVIEW WITH JEFF ALLEN -Creator of the finest of custom fishing rods
Yachting & Sportfishing Guide Hi Jeff, tell us how you got started making custom fishing rods. Tell us about the first rod you made. Jeff Allen of Fish Stix Nantucket “I was a fairly high end commercial photographer – travel ads, books, fashion magazines, then I got chronic Lyme Disease for a while. I got hit hard, I couldn’t drive, I had trouble seeing, it went totally neuro, so I couldn’t shoot photos. So as I was feeling a bit better I decided to get into making rods.
Y & SF – How do you choose rod blanks, and out together a rod with the reel seat, grips and guide systems. Jeff - I called the old guys like Bill Fisher and Barry Thurston, who were very helpful. As I was in the process of getting rehabbed for about 12 weeks, I learned, went and attended a few conferences, until I decided to give it a try. The first surf rod I made was for myself, and I still have it 10 years later. My wife said I was enjoying it too much when I was building it. I started at Fisher Tackle. It’s the most fun job or work experience I ever had. It’s like having a liquor store in a dry town. I make toys! I just got a dealership agreement with IRT Reels, handmade in Pennsylvania. They have lifetime warrantees, come in custom colors. You can even get them laser etched. I always fished as a kid. Now my R & D boat is the 21-foot Whaler “Outrage”. I also make a lot of freshwater rods for muskie, pike, lots of fly rods – half my business is fly rods.
Y & SF -How does an angler get to customize his or her own fishing rod? Jeff - I don’t do this online. I prefer to have them come in and bring their favorite rod. That way I get to see it’s type and condition. I can make it “bulletproof” if needed, and I also do tune-ups and storage. I have over 50, sometimes close to 100 blanks. I’ll help find the best reel seat position, and also have different types of cork. I prefer Alps Reel seats. And I also prefer all titanium guide sets, it keeps the maintenance low. I also have some stainless too if they want. They get to pick their colors, guide sets, and I pay a lot of attention to detail. It’s usually about a 45 minute to an hour visit. They get to see the whole process, faux ivory, how it’s made. Why it costs what it does with the parts and labor that go into it. I offer reel and rod cases if they are travelling. I also have a 1 part UV epoxy repair system, and they can store their gear over the winter. I have a 1963 rod, the oldest I’ve repaired. I have some of the vintage threads from Bill Pugh and Barry Thurston so I can match original colors. I also have a collection of older rods. I have of stack of them so if someone wants a vintage wall hanger, it’s here.”
Call Jeff at Fish Stix and let him create your next magic fishing rod.
508-221-0939 • www.fishstixnantucket.com 26
