Purchased the BG blank for a GT rod. Very well finished and great stealth color for the tropics! Looking forward to my build and next trip to “GT Land”... Ed ODonnell

Excellent blank...smooth, progressive feel with lots of power. Perfect length for a #12. Extremely durable and shock resistant (like when a client high sticks at boat side) compared to carbon fiber. Highly recommended.

Perfect rod for gulf of Mexico jacks

A 12 weight rod should do a few things well. It needs to cast a 12 weight line. It needs to cast the size flies you would expect of a 12 weight - billfish flies, aerodynamic dogs like big crab flies, and oversized poppers and gurglers that generally look like seagulls ploughing into a stiff breeze. And it needs to pull hard on big fish. The Boca Grande does this very, very well. Fishing alone in the tropics has some inherent challenges, especially with a fish near the boat and sharks not far behind. The Boca has limited interest in highsticking, ergo just bend the damn rod and grab the fish. I like this very much. Like all rods, the deeper the bend the less concerned the fish is though, so rod angles are still critical. If you want genuine power, keep the angles flat and pull like hell, but there is great comfort in using the bend for cushioning, especially for those species that don't like being manhandled - often the softer touch is a more productive tactic. The Boca Grande can be as rough as a Wildling's beard or as a gentle as a drowsy puppy. I like that very much too. I built my Boca, so I didn't expect it to be as refined as a professional build. Builder skills aside, the components are superb. The kit is easy to follow and there is enough of everything to tolerate a learning curve. If competition distance casting and ultra stiff, fast action rods float your boat, you might not like it. It's not one of those rods. The Boca Grande has, however, very obviously been designed by fine flyfishers who know what a fishing rod should do and have known it for a while. It's been as fun on the flats as it has in the deeper stuff. Experienced friends have enjoyed the Boca's style and those on a learning curve appreciate it's forgiving nature. It's a great fishing rod, it's a lot of fun and it does the subtle, important things very, very well. It is always in my boat and I use it a lot because it adds a whole lot of value to my day.

I had a Boca built by Zeb at Snowman Custom Rod Works, what a beast! This rod's potential is unlimited, especially if you put it in the hands of a good flycaster! I have used it off the coast of Southern California, and it is a perfect tool for our big local Yellowtail and white seabass and up to medium tuna. I'm taking it to Cedros Island off the coast of Baja later this June for a glass only trip - I'm bringing a 990, Bandit and Boca, no graphite, just Epic glass! Cant wait!