Why no rod building topic yet

I am not going to put pictures of anything I build out in public but I really like seeing what those with talent and patience can do. I just built a one piece NFC 8wt and it is awesome. The blank discussions are very informative also.
Chip

5 Likes

Let’s do it, I’ll make a thread. And let’s see your rod I’ve made real cringy rods and some pretty nice ones, they all fish the same

2 Likes

Ya know, I was wondering the same thing. I’m currently building a casting rod for a fella, nothing special, but was going to post it just because. Then I noticed.. there was no where for it.

All in good time I’m :+1:

If I can get all my stuff back together I’ll be building another.

Don’t let it die! I would show the NFC GammaBetas I built but they are straight black and no fancy wraps just the best components. I used to get fancy but that eats a lot of precious time!

3 Likes




I did post this elsewhere, but if the goal is to keep the thread alive, hear it is again.
NFC Loomis Classic, 6wt 4p 9’
REC Ceracoil
Rec Snakes
CFX grip
Alum Seat.
TFO NTR reel.
Nothing fancy, just some gold trim bands.

4 Likes

Same as Smack - I like black, not a lot of flash. When I go nuts it’s a single trim band in metallic silver, blue or gold. Just epoxied up the reel seat on a 4wt LMX about 30 min ago. Grip’s in the mail.

3 Likes

I too keep my rods as simple as I can now. I like to start and finish quickly. Pretty metallic wraps, Diamond, Chevron etc…are the thing of the past. However I am guilty using abalone paper and Shrink tubing decoratives, just not on my fly rods.

2 Likes

I used to do tiger wraps and all that but it got too time consuming. I loved the random patterns and effects tiger wraps would produce. I have a bunch of photos way back I’d have to compile, I may do that soon and post a few builds.

2 Likes

The abalone wraps bordered with a nice simple thread wrap tipped off with metallic is fast, simple and nice looking.
I never saw the need for real fancy although I begrudgingly did some just to do them. After fishing them on jetties or wet suiting out to rocks to fish off I came to realize I spend hours wrapping to only bang them off boulders. :joy:
For me, simple is better. But I do love fancy wraps.

2 Likes

I’ve definitely posted these before. May have been on that other site :man_shrugging: but they’re probably worth a repost. Most wraps I do are on spinning or casting rods. My fly rods I’ll do some simple chainsaws or fade trim work that’s about it.

5 Likes

@Capt.Chris, that’s beautiful work :+1::+1:

2 Likes

Oh snap! Great work! That thread work is amazing and Clemens would be proud! I’ve tried that and did it just once……outcome was ok but nothing close to what you’ve done.

I use the same type of Burl when I build mine and I out rubberized rings on the Rob and bottom for added protection of my grip.

Bart

1 Like

@Capt.Chris beautiful work.

Like @VinnyL and @Smackdaddy53 said, I’ve done a lot of “fancy wraps” myself in the past especially on the “theme rods” I use to build, but I prefer simple on my personal rods. I’ll be building a 12wt here shortly and may do something extra on it, just because it’s already a big heavy ass rod to begin with.. Who knows though..lol..

There’s at least one thread already about rodcrafting over on the fly fishing board - and, of course I had to add my two cents worth… Like many I went through the beginning to almost advance stage over the years and long ago quit doing fancy wraps (and along the way quit making rods for customers…). Here’s a pic or two of what I’m up to as I keep a supply of rods for my anglers use on charters…

Learned over many years to always build two rods when needing a single replacement - just easier that way…

Built my first rod in 1971, back when we made the tools needed to do this or that - and I still have most of them, ready to go (but long ago quit using cork grips - except for fly rods…

My logo, only found on new rods - never used when just re-wrapping an old rod… some of my gear is well over thirty years old - and still in the hands of my anglers (until someone “high sticks” and shatters a perfectly sound rod - something that seems to happen all too often over the years…).

2 Likes

Wrapped my first rod in 1991 for a “commercial fishing” class I was taking in Jacksonville Florida as my electives in HS (instead of wood shop or auto shop).

I have built a lot over the years, but only as gifts for friends or for my own use.

They used to be fancy, but later I just cared about function and threw form out of the window.

A couple fancier ones I did in the past (both are 20 plus years old- but the pics were taken this morning)

Speed jigging/ Butterfly jigging rod (mud hole jigging blank)- Caught a lot of fish on it. Actually started a spinning rod for my wife (17 yrs ago- got everything done except wrapping on the guides)and never finished it because of work and children (and Dont offshore fish like I used to). Will probably finish that this fall now since my son loves to fish.

Big shark stick- it has a 50 wide on it - rated for 80-130. Gator blank. I did the same simple chevron under each roller guide. Complete pain in the backside to figure out the reduction in chevron size as the blank diameter diminished.

4 Likes

One important note- I hate rods not built on the spline… so that is one reason I started building my own.

I also only triple wrapped my offshore sticks ( with a low build glassing between each wrap).

I was always into overkill I guess.

2 Likes

I build a lot of Aftco bait nets for kids. Here’s a few rods as well. I always find the hardest part is getting quality pictures that can really show the details.

4 Likes