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Post 02 Mar 2023, 23:21 • #1 
Sport
Joined: 01/02/23
Posts: 25
Location: Metro Detroit, MI
I chatted with Shane yesterday for a bit and this is his own blank; lightning fast recovery, progressive taper, deep bend, and a tip that loads beyond easy. It will make for a great creek sniper once the Michigan trout season begins at the end of next month. I have no complaints about it at all, Shane did a knockout job and the quality is right on par with my much more costly JDM rods from Smith and Daiwa. I'm glad we have somebody like Shane doing rods from the ground up, he's really the only game in town doing domestic glass BFS rods on his own blanks. A rarity on this side of the world.

Image


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Post 03 Mar 2023, 06:05 • #2 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 11/30/10
Posts: 1846
Location: Michigan
Thanks sir!


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Post 03 Mar 2023, 08:32 • #3 
Piscator
Joined: 08/10/05
Posts: 19076
Location: downtown Bulverde, Texas
Gorgeous combo - now turn it sideways and show us the handle.


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Post 03 Mar 2023, 08:41 • #4 
Sport
Joined: 01/02/23
Posts: 25
Location: Metro Detroit, MI
Thanks Ron, I'll shoot more pics later on after work. I don't have the ideal photo environment as it's my rather chaotic workbench, but I'll get more.


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Post 03 Mar 2023, 08:46 • #5 
Guide
Joined: 07/22/20
Posts: 175
Location: Ancient City, Florida
Very nice! Good comments on the tip recovery…hmmmmm


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Post 03 Mar 2023, 17:21 • #6 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 11/30/10
Posts: 1846
Location: Michigan
I think it's this one Ron.








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Post 03 Mar 2023, 18:16 • #7 
Piscator
Joined: 08/10/05
Posts: 19076
Location: downtown Bulverde, Texas
That's lovely - thanks - and a great match for either a small-frame Ambassadeur or newer low-profile reel.


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Post 03 Mar 2023, 19:30 • #8 
Sport
Joined: 01/02/23
Posts: 25
Location: Metro Detroit, MI
It definitely feels good in hand with my Ambassadeurs and their low frames. We have a snow storm going on right now, phone is on the charger in case the power goes out otherwise I'd have more pics.


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Post 04 Mar 2023, 10:20 • #9 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 05/22/16
Posts: 1760
Location: SJC
Shane does excellent work !


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Post 04 Mar 2023, 14:26 • #10 
Master Guide
Joined: 03/09/15
Posts: 684
Location: Arkansas
Wish I could play a Jedi mind trick on you. So nice.


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Post 07 Mar 2023, 09:14 • #11 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 12/05/06
Posts: 2086
Location: US-PA
OK I'll bite...

Shane, what's the difference rod action-wise between the 4'10" BFS and the 5'4" BFS I see on your website besides 6" and one extra section?

I'm gettin' itchy... ;)


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Post 07 Mar 2023, 09:32 • #12 
Piscator
Joined: 08/10/05
Posts: 19076
Location: downtown Bulverde, Texas
you're gonna need to scratch that.
I expect to add here later, too.


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Post 07 Mar 2023, 11:23 • #13 
Master Guide
Joined: 09/23/18
Posts: 614
Location: Eastern Wa
Bamboozle wrote:
OK I'll bite...

Shane, what's the difference rod action-wise between the 4'10" BFS and the 5'4" BFS I see on your website besides 6" and one extra section?

I'm gettin' itchy... ;)


As of this morning I expect to mate one with my 1500C at some point upon delivery!


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Post 07 Mar 2023, 19:43 • #14 
Sport
Joined: 01/02/23
Posts: 25
Location: Metro Detroit, MI
I'll offer some advice. If you're a stream angler, the rods in the 4'2" to 5'3" range are going to be worth looking into. I personally prefer the 4'10" length, it's about perfect for my style of fishing. It's short enough to be manageable in the sticks and long enough to get good distance in those more open areas along a stream or creek. The length is also very conducive to flip casting and short pitches. With good technique, you will be laser accurate which is paramount in stream fishing. The 5'4" that Shane also sells would be better in a lake or elsewhere that more open spaces will be more common.


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Post 07 Mar 2023, 21:36 • #15 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 05/22/16
Posts: 1760
Location: SJC
I have one of his 5'4" BFS rods, and I've really been enjoying exercising it at the casting pools so far. Haven't actually fished it yet (unexpectedly stormy out here this winter, darn groundhog :) ). I've been mostly casting 1/16 oz up to a little under 3g and with a light spool it can really whip the lures out there... ~80' with a 1/12 oz (2.5g) kastmaster seems pretty reasonable. But it is still controlled close in.

My "Chinese hooksnout carp" glass rod is probably closer to the 4'10" rod, also 3 sections. But Shane's workmanship would be far better.


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Post 10 Mar 2023, 10:52 • #16 
Sport
Joined: 01/02/23
Posts: 25
Location: Metro Detroit, MI
A quick comparison with my Daiwa Silver Creek Glass Progressive 5'1" L. The tip of the Graywolf is much more lively and will be much better for casting lighter stuff. When I do the bend test, the Graywolf has considerably more bend in the top third of the blank, but after that the bend is about the same. That's killer backbone for a UL blank which leads me to believe this rod will handle the occasional 20" browns I come across on my adventures. The blank diameter towards the butt of both looks about the same without me getting out the caliper. Both rods weigh exactly the same even though the Daiwa is composed of 1/3 carbon vs the Graywolf being what looks like 100% glass. At the tip, the Graywolf is marginally thinner. I'm still blown away by this rod and feel Shane has a big hit on his hands. I've been spreading the word on various BFS Facebook groups as well as other forums I'm active.


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Post 10 Mar 2023, 11:28 • #17 
Guide
Joined: 07/22/20
Posts: 175
Location: Ancient City, Florida
Dam y'all ;)

I havd been looking at these but resisted so far…. Have to check to see if he has blanks listed.


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Post 15 Mar 2023, 13:52 • #18 
Master Guide
Joined: 09/23/18
Posts: 614
Location: Eastern Wa
Got my 4pc 5'4" in the mail yesterday. Its going to be a great rod! Casts a nickle (5g) beautifully and alse a penny (2.5g) pretty well with my 1500c although i wouldnt go much lighter.


Last edited by fishhuntmike on 15 Mar 2023, 18:04, edited 1 time in total.

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Post 15 Mar 2023, 15:12 • #19 
Guide
Joined: 12/31/12
Posts: 326
Location: US-MA
What about an ultralight spinning rod for finesse fishing? What is your experience with those rods and does Shane also build them?


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Post 15 Mar 2023, 18:50 • #20 
Piscator
Joined: 08/10/05
Posts: 19076
Location: downtown Bulverde, Texas
Here's a 3-pc Shane shows listed in stock - yes, definitely, he will build what you want.
I'm not the guy who's tried one, though.
https://www.graywolfrods.com/product-pa ... ning-rod-1


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Post 30 Mar 2023, 08:19 • #21 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 11/30/10
Posts: 1846
Location: Michigan
Hey guys! So glad you are digging these rods. I am working on finishing up more, I am also working on a 2pc in Black Uni S glass.

For now I am offering blanks and ready to wrap kits if you want to build your own! I will have completed rods in stock in a week or so, I just need to put the final finish on and have time to photograph.

You can find blanks and ready to wrap kits here - https://www.graywolfrods.com/ul-bfs-rods
If you are coming from this page Use Promo code news15 at checkout and it will drop 15% off the order.

A few pics






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Post 30 Mar 2023, 15:47 • #22 
Sport
Joined: 01/02/23
Posts: 25
Location: Metro Detroit, MI
I can't wait to see what completed rods you have for sale next week. I really love that 4'10", it's fantastic.


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Post 05 Apr 2023, 13:04 • #23 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 11/30/10
Posts: 1846
Location: Michigan
Hey folks, I just added some in stock models to my website. There had been quite a rush on them this morning, but if the rod does not say "out of stock" it's available. You can take a look here - https://www.graywolfrods.com/ul-bfs-rods



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Post 05 Apr 2023, 13:17 • #24 
Master Guide
Joined: 09/23/18
Posts: 614
Location: Eastern Wa
Thanks Shane. Had to get me a little green spinning rod this am (544).


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