Any rod builders out there? I have been building since around 2019-2020. I have made a small side business out of it mostly for friends and family. I build a lot of small ultralights for kids and a bunch of Aftco bait nets for kids. I was hooked when I built my first rod and then proceeded to catch fish on it on the first trip out. Here’s a few recent builds…
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Noice!
I used to build quite a few but put my equipment in storage. About to get it out and work on some rods and finish a few others. I used to get fancy but now I keep it simple! One color and done!
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Use to build a lot of rods, wouldn’t buy a factory wrapped rod. And repairing a lot of my buddy’s rods. As my fishing evolved more to fly, I quit building as much. However, looking at my declining quiver of spinning rods, it’s time to get back to it. Unfortunately, many of the manufactures of fishing rods won’t sell blanks anymore. Like smack daddy I kept them simple and light, focused more on performance than looks.
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I started building rods at about 14 yo because I liked the custom rods I used to see on SoCal sportfishing boats I basically grew up on but could not afford to buy them. At on point while I was in HS, I worked at a tackle shop and was their rod repair, stock and custom rod builder. I have built and repaired all types of rods: fly, spin, conventional for both salt and fresh water. I was never what I consider a master at it but can wrap with decent quality. I really liked doing diamond wraps and pictogram weavings. Sorry I don’t have pictures to back up my claim but this was in the 1970’s to 1980"s.
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I too build rods. Started out building a few for myself, then for gifts, and have sold a dozen or so.
Like others have said, I prefer a minimalist build. No decorative wraps, light on the epoxy, and only the lightest components. This makes for the highest performing and lightest rods; but customers wanted “pretty” over performance and I don’t make rods for customers anymore.
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@60hertz did a couple mods/repairs for me on high-end factory rods and they all looked like OEM.
Quality craftsmanship!
I build rods.
I made a side business out of it too. Mainly for friends, family and some guide buddies. I do it in the evening to keep me off the couch.
Isla_Rod_Company on Insta.
I build mostly fly and inshore spin, but I am building a suite of offshore rods at the moment.
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Yep.. Rod Builder myself. I don’t as many as I use to, with material and shipping cost going crazy, but still knock one out from time to time. I use to build a lot of “theme” rods. Military service, Football teams, that sorta stuff. Fancy wraps, and whatnot. But for rods that are going to used for actual fishing, I keep it simple. For those it’s all about weight and balance. Most of my personal rods don’t even get a logo, or a very minimal one.
Here is my most recent build, and the only one I have pics of that are easily accessible.
Rod Geeks Inshore Carbon 2
Fuji Titanium guides (Spiral/Acid wrapped)
Fuji ATSM seat
Eva Grips.
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I’ve built a couple of fly rods for myself and typically do my own repairs. I prefer to them simple and clean looking but I do like seeing how the fancy stuff is done.
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I’ve built a few dozen at this point—most of them for myself and my father. I’ve gotten away from the decorative wraps and have leaned heavily into function over form. Most in my regular rotation have titanium guides and plain black wraps.
I broke down and bought a power wrapper last summer before building a bunch of travel rods for a trip to Alaska. It significantly speeds up guide wraps and makes for a much cleaner thread finish application.
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Same here. Unfinished blanks, light components, minimal wraps/epoxy.
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Welcome aboard @jsbyrum Glad you joined the party!
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Built my first rod in 1971 down here in south Florida back before “graphite” blanks were available - and still at it all these years later. Build nearly every rod on my skiff that I hand my anglers and wouldn’t have it any other way. Still using the homemade power wrapper (back when we used sewing machine motors to power a mandrel with a Jacobs chuck) and my rod building bench that my Dad designed nearly fifty years ago now.
That said, when one of my anglers broke the heaviest rod on my skiff (a brute of a graphite rod rated at 20 to 40lb line used for big fish at very close quarters…) I picked up a very inexpensive Ugly Stik rod to replace it a few days ago. I can’t buy the components for what that finished rod cost these days, For many years manufacturers stateside were willing to sell their blanks to builders. As so many are now located offshore - my choices (and their availability at wholesale…) are much more limited. Still, the ability to create exactly what you need in the way of gear - is very satisfying…
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It really is ridiculous how cheap you can buy a finished rod compared to building one these days. Building them is something I really do enjoy though.
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I enjoy building them as well the only problem, if you consider it a problem is I don’t see as well as I did so it can get a little frustrating even with coke bottles for glasses.
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On this topic, where do you guys source your reel seats for saltwater rods size 8 and up?
My go-tos are Mudhole and GetBit as they’re both local. But finding “cool” seats with carbon fiber inlays and other options is proving difficult lately.
@MRichardson those two probably have the better selection over most places with Fly choices. Another source I use, although they don’t have much in the way of Fly gear in stock, but can drop ship from their suppliers is Voodoorods out of Lafayette LA. Super nice folks, live inventory on the site, and I’ve never had a problem with them ever.
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@MRichardson
Alps
Fly rod crafters
REC
Getbit
Mudhole
Anglers resource
Alpstackle
I’ve had good service from
in Summerland Key
He has a pretty good selection
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