JB Salter Jig Poles

Well, the toy truck dropped off a package that I had been waiting all week for. It was with much anticipation that opened the box to see my two new rods. To say the least.......I am disappointed! I was appalled when I saw that the reels are held on with electrical tape, the eyes are not straight, sloppy glue job on the eyes. I'm torn about whether to call the man back and complain about his craftsmanship or to just suck it up and go fishing. I had really high expectations for an $80 custom tied rod........I just don't know what to think:scratchhead You guys be honest with me, what would you do? Thanks for the advice. I really don't want to call this man, I know the conversation won't go well when I tell him that I'm disappointed in his craftsmanship.

You payed for a product and it should be up to par.....I would call and complain or ask for your money back.

I have 4 of his rods and have no complaint......of course, I was able to see one before I bought it and knew what I was getting.....I love it that the very lightweight reels are taped on.....especially when I accidently stepped on one and had to replace it......IMO, the man has a very good rod but it appears you had expectations of something different.....maybe comparing it to another brand......as far as the eyes not being straight. I recently read on the forum that this is maybe the trend to keep the line from sticking to the rod.....I think that was the reason......I have landed some 10 or 15# fish on this rod....catfish and buffalo....I love the stiff butt with good tip action.....

being "up to par" is a matter of interpretation......

sorry you are not happy with your purchase.....JB is a fair man.....call him or try the rods first then call him....

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Originally Posted by prefers shiners

I have 4 of his rods and have no complaint......of course, I was able to see one before I bought it and knew what I was getting.....I love it that the very lightweight reels are taped on.....especially when I accidently stepped on one and had to replace it......IMO, the man has a very good rod but it appears you had expectations of something different.....maybe comparing it to another brand......as far as the eyes not being straight. I recently read on the forum that this is maybe the trend to keep the line from sticking to the rod.....I think that was the reason......I have landed some 10 or 15# fish on this rod....catfish and buffalo....I love the stiff butt with good tip action.....

being "up to par" is a matter of interpretation......

sorry you are not happy with your purchase.....JB is a fair man.....call him or try the rods first then call him....

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I'm sure they probably fish great, I was just kind of disappointed when I opened the package to find the reels and most of the handle covered with electrical tape. In my mind, I guess I envisioned something much more slick and polished. When I think "custom built", I was thinking something really, really nice. I think I'll try one out before I call him and complain. Like I said, my expectations and what I actually received didn't match up very well.

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....I recently read on the forum that this is maybe the trend to keep the line from sticking to the rod.....

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That was me Bruce who posted on the main forum - I guess you knew that. I recently bought two of the new SlabSticker rods from B'n'M that had the guides twisted. I was looking for feed-back because I didn't know what the deal was. Thought as well it was an issue with craftmanship. I am going to try them and see after I heard from folks on this forum. Barry, like Bruce said, maybe call him and explain what your expectations are. I don't know him, but if prefers shiners trust him - I do as well.

My father grew up with his kids in and around port Allen. He has a few of his rods and they all kooky that way. I I guess it's all in what you expect them to look like. He has one that is atleast 20- 25 years old because I used it when I was little. They may night be pretty. But the work and will last forever if taken care of.

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Originally Posted by Barry70Stang

Well, the toy truck dropped off a package that I had been waiting all week for. It was with much anticipation that opened the box to see my two new rods. To say the least.......I am disappointed! I was appalled when I saw that the reels are held on with electrical tape, the eyes are not straight, sloppy glue job on the eyes. I'm torn about whether to call the man back and complain about his craftsmanship or to just suck it up and go fishing. I had really high expectations for an $80 custom tied rod........I just don't know what to think:scratchhead You guys be honest with me, what would you do? Thanks for the advice. I really don't want to call this man, I know the conversation won't go well when I tell him that I'm disappointed in his craftsmanship.

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This is done to keep the weight down. the reel is use only to hold the line, not to play the fish. The reel is also free spinning for casting. I would recoumed stopping by his shop for a lesson on how to use his rods. He has help in making his rods. Mr. Salters is 80+ years young and can't do it all himself.
Like PS I've landed some big fish with his poles. I've also tried a lot of differant pole setups over the last 40+ years and my Salters is what I grab first. I'm sure he would buy em back, If not you can send em to me. I'll need em sooner than later. LOL

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Originally Posted by jig rig

This is done to keep the weight down. the reel is use only to hold the line, not to play the fish. The reel is also free spinning for casting. I would recoumed stopping by his shop for a lesson on how to use his rods. He has help in making his rods. Mr. Salters is 80+ years young and can't do it all himself.
Like PS I've landed some big fish with his poles. I've also tried a lot of differant pole setups over the last 40+ years and my Salters is what I grab first. I'm sure he would buy em back, If not you can send em to me. I'll need em sooner than later. LOL

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They're growing on me, I covered the handles with heat shrink, and they look and feel much better. I'm gonna cover some of my other jig pole handles with heat shrink too. I'm sure I'm gonna love'em once I get a chance to fish with them. Like I said, I was just kind of shocked when I first opened the box........not expecting to see my new $80 rods wrapped in electrical tape! I compared the eyes on the two rods today, the tips appear to be off center about the same, so I'm assuming they do that on purpose. If I can ever get off of these dang graveyards and go pull in some slabs, I'm sure I'll feel much better about my new purchases. I will sell'em to you though, $100 each:).......just saying, I've customized'em now! Haha, happy fishing!

my brothers son&law bought him one over 15 yrs ago. it is his favorite go to pole. he said if he wasn't so broke after he retired , he would buy another.

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Originally Posted by Barry70Stang

They're growing on me, I covered the handles with heat shrink, and they look and feel much better. I'm gonna cover some of my other jig pole handles with heat shrink too.

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OK....I think you may be on to something......so teach an old dog a new trick....what does the heat shrink do to make it better......I may want to do it also.....I've developed a bad habit of hooking my hook in the end of the butt and it's tearing it up....just fast that way.....

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Originally Posted by prefers shiners

OK....I think you may be on to something......so teach an old dog a new trick....what does the heat shrink do to make it better......I may want to do it also.....I've developed a bad habit of hooking my hook in the end of the butt and it's tearing it up....just fast that way.....

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Are you familiar with heat shrink? It goes on loosely and you heat it and it shrinks to a nice tight wrap. It completely covers the electrical tape and looks like a factory handle. It has a really nice feel to it too. PM your address and I'll send you some. Measure the length of the area you are wanting to cover. I'll try to post a picture of it tomorrow.

Barry

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Originally Posted by Barry70Stang

Are you familiar with heat shrink? It goes on loosely and you heat it and it shrinks to a nice tight wrap. It completely covers the electrical tape and looks like a factory handle. It has a really nice feel to it too. PM your address and I'll send you some. Measure the length of the area you are wanting to cover. I'll try to post a picture of it tomorrow.

Barry

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Barry, you are too kind...I have used it but on smaller applications.....thanks for the offer but I will pass....might pick me some up from harbor freight or lowes if I decide to do it.....yes, post a picture....

Here's a pic of the rod handle with the heat shrink. I used yellow electrical take around the end since the eyes are wrapped with yellow.
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e2...dhandle001.jpg

Barry that is a very neat and professional looking job. I might have to look into doing that to mine. Thanks for the picture.
"gene"

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Originally Posted by Barry70Stang

They're growing on me, I covered the handles with heat shrink, and they look and feel much better. I'm gonna cover some of my other jig pole handles with heat shrink too. I'm sure I'm gonna love'em once I get a chance to fish with them. Like I said, I was just kind of shocked when I first opened the box........not expecting to see my new $80 rods wrapped in electrical tape! I compared the eyes on the two rods today, the tips appear to be off center about the same, so I'm assuming they do that on purpose. If I can ever get off of these dang graveyards and go pull in some slabs, I'm sure I'll feel much better about my new purchases. I will sell'em to you though, $100 each:).......just saying, I've customized'em now! Haha, happy fishing!

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Hey B stang, One thing I forgot is JB has balanced the pole too. He puts wieght in the butt of the rod. Shaves the handle too.

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Originally Posted by PawPaw "gene"

Barry that is a very neat and professional looking job. I might have to look into doing that to mine. Thanks for the picture.
"gene"

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You are very welcome sir!

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Originally Posted by jig rig

Hey B stang, One thing I forgot is JB has balanced the pole too. He puts wieght in the butt of the rod. Shaves the handle too.

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I didn't realize that, thanks. It is a good feeling rod.

WOW Barry......thats impressive.....I like it.....guess I'll try it out on one of my poles (I have 5 of them)....

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Originally Posted by prefers shiners

WOW Barry......thats impressive.....I like it.....guess I'll try it out on one of my poles (I have 5 of them)....

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Only 5........you have a few to go;) I counted mine the other day, 9......I really didn't NEED these two JB Salter poles, but I WANTED them! I think it's almost impossible to have too many guns or fishing poles, lol! Offer still stands for the heat shrink if you can't find the right size, just let me know.

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Originally Posted by Barry70Stang

Only 5........you have a few to go;) I counted mine the other day, 9......I really didn't NEED these two JB Salter poles, but I WANTED them! I think it's almost impossible to have too many guns or fishing poles, lol! Offer still stands for the heat shrink if you can't find the right size, just let me know.

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I meant I have 5 Salter poles.....can't publish how many others......too many eyes and ears around here.....
thanks again for the offer....

went fishing with my brother yesterday. we were fishing in a sharp turn in the channel, with a bass chasers in high gear . fighting the wind kept pushing us out of the channel. Bro was trying to get one line unhung when he found one of his poles missing from the rod holder. There FLOATING on top was his Salters . the only pole in the boat that would have been recovered. we caught 42

Mine floats too and its so old,some may even say ugly......lol

going tomorrow to pick me up 2 more poles.....

Yea......actually, I was going there to have the eyes redone on the tip end section of one of my poles and Didi said for me to buy 2 more poles while I was there......I didn't argue.....and by the way....they did the eyes for free....JB was not there so I managed to get out of there pretty quick....LOL...

I agree JB Salters are great poles...if fished the way they are designed to be fished. When I got mine my wife and I went to see JB at his shop...and spent a fun and enlightening 3 hours there (JB talks...a lot). He showed us how to fish his style and why he designed the pols that way...then gave us a bunch of copies of fishing spots, ways to tie setups, etc. Kind of a shortened version of the class he teaches a couple of times a year at LSU. I have a Wally Marshal, B&M, and a Salter for long crappie poles...and I grab the Salter first every time. I too wondered about the looks the first time...but I had a 22" Choupique (sp?) hit one of the bk/ch jigs I tie once and the fight was on! Eventually the Salter pole got it into the boat...what a blast!

ive known jb for 30 yrs and i drive from the shreveport area to buy his poles...if you arent satisfied with his product iam sure he will make it right whatever it takes........i have 6 of his rods iam using now

I have never used a jig pole of any kind. Not sure what I wold do with one if I had one.

Jig fish for sacs. Once you try it your hooked. IMO You'll catch more too.

When the fish are behind the buttonwoods use the jig pole to get at them. Use it to jig deeper when the spawn is over. Can't see myself without a half dozen. Spiderrig with them.

And you can't fish with and reel 16 casting rods at a time,like some people who fish 16 jig poles at once. A sight to behold.

Not my thing I had a demonstration from him years ago and had to pass on the pole I like my BnM's too much to switch, he's proud of them thats for sure there is no better pole or baits than his LOL.

I did have one trip where the button woods made it to where I wish I had one. Spider rigging is not something I'll ever do. I love my spining reels on Falcon HD ULs. Just bought a lew's 7 footer to see if it will help me take up the slack on windy days. Really excited about the 50 or so I'm going to catch tomorrow.

I have a pole that I bought from Mr JB about 27 years ago and I still use it caught a nice mess of sac a lait this weekend at Angola

What does it take to get in Angola to fish? With out a sentence. LOL

Inside connections.

I got invited to fish it a few years back when my son in law was a deputy. The warden was visiting the local sheriff and my son in law was there with them. He invited them up to fish and bring whoever they wanted. Just had to state the reason for going and who invited them. I never took him up but I've seen some pictures of some of the big slabs caught there.
"gene"

I have read too many of James Lee Burke's books featuring Dave Robicheaux to ever want to get within 50 miles of Angola. :yikes

I was happy to see this older post was brought current

YOU MAY NOT SAY ANYTHING BUT IF I PURCHASE IT, AND IT WAS LIKE THAT HE WOULD BE GETTING IT BACK, WITH A NASTY NOTE.. YOU PAY HARD EARNED MONEY FOR SOMETHING AND DON'T GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR THAT IS NO GOOD..

mikeg

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Originally Posted by PawPaw "gene"

Inside connections.

I got invited to fish it a few years back when my son in law was a deputy. The warden was visiting the local sheriff and my son in law was there with them. He invited them up to fish and bring whoever they wanted. Just had to state the reason for going and who invited them. I never took him up but I've seen some pictures of some of the big slabs caught there.
"gene"

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maybe time for a road trip? I'm ready.

That invitation has long expired. How about one to the Lac.
"gene"