A few words from satisfied customers
G’day Larry,
Just dropping you a line to let you know how I have been going with the LJ Customs range. Where did I start? Well, the Striker, a blank that you reckon is 6-8kg was the first of your rods that I really got comfortable with and I must say that while the pulling power is equal to a 6-8kg the weight isn’t. This thing feels and casts like a 4-6kg. I remember one of the first trips I used it was in the running creeks near Teemburra Dam. The Striker not only cast little spinner baits and bib-less vibes, it pulled a 49cm sooty grunter, and several 40cm+ fish, in without a trouble. The area we were fishing allowed no room for error and resembled white-water rapids. The sooties had to be pull in against this, while the whole time they were going for structure! The Striker proved a beast tamer!
Moving on and my two favourite sticks are probably my lighter ones. The little Sweetwater Classic Spin is unreal fun on light sportfish like tarpon, trevally and the odd bream. I love that it can cast a 2” soft plastic only weighted with a resin head a respectable distance, yet can turn a trevally in running water – an awesome little rod! Oh, and the butt section of the rod looks great and is a joy to hold – love that grip you use! My other favourite is the 6# Hastings fly rod you made me. The finish is really crisp without being OTT and I like the effect of the feather mounted in the blank – very snazzy! As for cast-ability, this would have to be the lightest, easiest to use fly rod I’ve used and I am very impressed with how it lays out small-medium flies. Also, I must add, that while I was sceptical at first (it seems so light) I have quickly realised that the business end of this rod is ballsy enough to stop quite reasonable fish in their tracks!
Offshore, the Pinnacle Jigging stick on the XZoga 24kg blank you made me is so brutal I almost feel sorry for the fish! It’s a weapon! I have used factory jigging rods for years now and none of the name brands have the lightness and fish-pulling prowess of the Pinnacle. I love the thrill of getting smashed by big trevs halfway to the surface and just thumbing the spool and giving them the ol’ ‘come here’. You wouldn’t do it with too many other rods, but the Pinnacle just stops them in their tracks! Jigs well too, and works soft plastics just as well as it does metal knife jigs. The tip really allows you to put a lot of action into your lures!
Well, overall the experience I’ve had with the LJ Custom range has been unfaultable. The range is impressive in not only its quality, but also its extent. There is practically a suitable rod to go with every form of specific fishing and I like the way you build your rods for what people need and for what does the job, not for what is the prettiest. Sure, your rods might feel practical rather than flashy (with the exception of the beautifully finished and very purple Barra Mojo), but they are also within reach of anyone from the average weekend warrior to the most hardcore fishing nut. I still think you’re selling them too cheap!
Keep up the good work mate,
Lee Brake, Fishing Writer and Editor of NT and NQ Fish and Boat Magazines
I would like to take this opportunity to pay thanks to Larry Lockwood (LJ Custom Rods). I personally have been making up my own fishing rods for myself and close fishing buddies for the last 12 odd years. By no means do I profess to know all there is about rod building and have generally taught myself. It has only been in the last couple of years I have had the pleasure of meeting Larry on a personnel basis and more importantly working with him on Military operations during 2009.
It was during downtime on operations that we both discussed the fine art of rod building which led to the thoughts on a suite of impoundment barra specific rods. Larry new the technical sides of things and I had had numerous trips to some of the recognised impoundments up the east coast of Queensland.
We spoke about action, taper, length, line class, butt configuration, blanks, guides, etc, etc. From there Larry went to work and made up the first of these rods on his return to Australia. I waited in anticipation for the delivery and was a little apprehensive with what to expect.
On arrival I was put at ease when I opened the padded tube. From the initial care in the way he packages the rod to the custom fabric rod sleeve, I was impressed. Once I viewed the rod I new this was something special. The attention to details in the bindings, decals, epoxy, placement and distribution of the guides and more importantly the use of premium quality components was outstanding. All I wanted to do was mount it on the wall.
Yes I have used the rod a few times and what a pleasure to use. The lightness, superior strength, and durability are supreme. It I could say, it felt like an extension of my arm. It was as if it had been measured to fit.
Summary - If you have ever considered purchasing a custom made fishing rod, please call Larry or send him an email. He is up there with the best builders in the country.
One very happy angler 
Phil Lawlor
Hi Larry,
A few years ago, I asked you to build me a custom baitcaster rod suited to 2-3kg for lure casting. Over the years I have used this rod to tangle with fish such as threadfin salmon up to 1.2 metres, Queenfish up to a metre, and numerous other Northern species. My last fish was this 82cm impoundment Barra. Once again, the rod was perfectly suited for the situation. The lighter rod allows me to cast a variety of lures from small Halco scorpions in the 35mm size right up to larger ‘barra’ lures. The rod is a pleasure to use and is now one of my favourite outfits whether I am fishing the fresh for Sooty Grunter and Saratoga, or the salt for Barra, Threadfin Salmon, Trevally, Queenfish and a host of other species. Well done on a quality product and I am sure other fishers will all soon be utilizing your skills and services for their own custom work.
Regards,
Anthony Gomes
Editor
NQ Fish and Boat and Cape Yorker Magazine.
0429 701323
Anyone who loves fly fishing loves good gear, this rod is up with the best and I have some wonderful fishing rods which bear some very well known brand names. I am very hard on my fishing gear so I found that the LJ Custom rod would do everything that I asked of it and more. We can all buy a rod off a rack and all have the same rod, but a custom rod is something very very special, unique and one of the kind. No one else will have a fishing rod like yours and it is such a pleasure to use......seems to be able to subdue fish better than my other rods.
Cathie Bassett
President, Darwin Flyrodders Inc.,
Champion Angler Saltwater Flyfishing Challenge 2007, 2008, member of Champion Team Saltwater Flyfishing Challenge 2007, 2008.