April 2026
This March we enjoyed an incredible few days at the PCSS Show in Del Mar / San Diego. We came to dig deeper into how you fish the West Coast. What you reach for. What you wish existed. And one thing became very clear, very quickly:
You guys know your gear – and you’re pushing it forward.
It’s all about the Air
If there was one takeaway that stood above the rest, it was this:
Light, fast, ultra-responsive blanks are where things are heading.
Our CTS Air series got picked up, flexed, cast, and talked about all weekend.
- Air XT – Wanting a crisp, slightly stiffer tip? You got it immediately. Built for short, fast, accurate casts. Purpose-built for modern finesse.
- Air LX – In that 8’ range, this one struck a chord. Ultra-sensitive, exceptional power-to-weight. A blank that just feels ‘alive’ in hand.
- Slow Motion – our extremely smooth SPJ blank. For your slim, super lightweight builds.
And then there was the bigger conversation happening around it… BFS is not niche anymore. It’s the future.
Power Conversations
When the talk turned to serious pulling power, a few models stood out quickly. For jigging, West Coast anglers made it clear: PE3-6 is the everyday workhorse, while PE6-10 is where things go serious. We’re also seeing growing interest in lighter PE2-4 slow-pitch setups.
Start your power search with our SD Jig and Firth series.
On the West Coast, casting distance isn’t optional – it’s everything. And your style reflects it. Deep, parabolic bends. Rods that load right through and launch like a cannon.
- BayCaster – this is your wheelhouse. Purpose-built for that casting style.
- Vapor Trail – for the surf, this got serious attention.
- Baymaster M – has you covered for Livebaiting
The most picked-up blank…
The show favorite was our carbon / S2 glass hybrid (Firth) built for jigging, live baiting, and serious sportfishing. And it didn’t need much introduction – the translucent Azure finish did most of the work, stopping people in their tracks.
One-piece feel. Smart shipping.
One of the biggest practical challenges we heard? Getting longer rods shipped without compromise.
So here’s how we solve it:
We offer precision-sectioned one-piece blanks, fitted with an internal spigot. Once received, the builder bonds it – restoring it to a true one-piece feel.
No shortcuts. No performance loss. Just smarter logistics.
The colors you couldn’t put down
We bring our CTS Color Vault to every show, and it’s always a crowd favorite, with its 60+ sample colors. There was plenty of time spent comparing finishes, matching ideas, and imagining custom builds.
The standouts this time were clear:
- Mamba
- Candy Apple Red
- Army
- Tanzanite Blue
Performance always comes first – but let’s be honest, how it looks matters too.
San Diego reinforced something we’ve always believed: Great rods aren’t built in isolation. They’re built from real conversations with real anglers.
We’ve got the ranges. We understand the techniques. And we’re set up to get the right blanks into your hands – wherever you are on the West Coast.
If you stopped by and talked with us – thank you. If you didn’t..
Now you know where to start.
Check out our full catalog here – and feel free to reach out to our support team with any questions.
