Phone 863-273-4998 or Email don@TheAmericanFisherman.com
"Custom rod building has, in recent years, been the fastest growing segment of the entire fishing tackle industry and every indication is that its growth is accelerating." Dale P. Clemons - Custom Rod Thread Art
Building custom rods started as a hobby 35 years ago for master rod builder D. O. Norton. Over the years he has perfected his craft to include virtually every type of custom built rod imaginable, including freshwater spinning, casting, pitching, noodling, centerpin steelhead rods, flippin sticks, flyrods, and shiner rods as well as saltwater spinning, casting, surf rods, boat rods and flyrods, and assorted hybrid’s. “If you can dream it up, I can build it”.
D. O. Norton is a member of the “Custom Rod Builders Guild” and has received their “Guild Certified Professional Rod Builder” certification.
Generally assumed to be more expensive than factory made rods, rods custom built by D. O. Norton are typically less cost than a factory built rod and offer the customer the ability to choose their own reel seats, handle types and lengths, guides and the thread wrap colors, as well as custom butt winds like diamond wraps. In addition, customers can request hologenic fish decals, sports team logo’s and matching wraps, as well as personalizing their rod with inscriptions (Happy Birthday, Merry Christmas, etc...) as well as your own name on the custom built rod.
D. O. Norton offers a full 100% warranty on all custom built rods as well as 100% full satisfaction guarantee. Although D. O. Norton will be happy to give you a quote using any manufacturers blank or components, he specializes in G. Loomis, Sage, Orvis, MHX, Gorilla, Thomas & Thomas, St. Croix, Phenix, Shakespeare, Benchmark and Sevier blanks.Best of Class Components
Custom rod orders may include your choice of components, or a selection of different components can be made available – pointing out strengths/weaknesses of each, as well as cost comparisons. Nowadays, there are such a wide variety of outstanding components; you can assist in building your own “one-of-a-kind” rod. Blank colors and surface textures have changed as well, offering choices unheard of 20 years ago.
Quality for less
If I had to include the cost of my time in building a custom fishing rod, I’d never sell my first rod. I enjoy building rods, and although I do appreciate making some profit on my time, I try to quote at a reasonable price – typically much less than you might pay for a similar factory built rod.
Lifetime Warranty
Most, if not all rod blank manufacturers offer some type of warranty on their blanks. Because a custom rod is not fully covered, in most cases by the manufacturer, D. O. Norton offers his own “Lifetime Warranty” on any rod that he builds. This includes the blank as well as all the components. If you have a problem with the rod, just ship it back to me and I will repair or replace, if possible (in some cases, such as G Loomis, they have chosen to no longer sell their blanks, and instead offer a credit towards a new factory rod). But just so everyone’s on the same page, I’m a one-man operation and I’m no spring chicken. The Lifetime Warranty is based on my life, not yours!
How To Order
So……how do I place an order? It’s actually pretty easy. You can call D. O. Norton direct at 216-339-6571 or 330-635-6682 or email him at dnorton@gcaservices.com or donorton13@gmail.com. You can also respond from this website.
Call or write anytime. Happy to provide samples of work performed, answer questions or just provide solutions to everyday fishing situations.
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