Why Build a Fishing Rod?

Customized for You

Distinctive anglers match their fishing tackle with similar detail to the businessman who buys custom tailored suits.  Sometimes no matter how many fishing rods you look at from the tackle store, none matches your specific feel and weight requirements.  You can build your own fishing rod to your exact specifications and feel from ultralight trout rods to extra heavy boat rods or tuna sticks.  It is 100% up to you.

Satisfaction 

There is nothing like the pride and satisfaction when you catch fish with a rod that you crafted yourself.  

Design to Your Unique Style

You can design and create a rod that matches your image.  You can even pick a theme when building your rod.  It is possible to do any color combinations, intricate designs, chevrons, diamonds, combinations.  You can even “write/weave” letters or designs in thread patterns or find ready-made decals or mylars that align to your needs.  Most off the shelf rods do not have decorative wraps on guides or near the handle which are one of the most distinctive and fun parts of custom rod building.

Build Your Skills

If you can build a fishing rod from scratch, you can also be able to repair rods that might break or need a guide replacement. 

Quality Components = Quality Fishing Rods

Superior quality rod components such as handles, reel seats, blanks (shafts), guides (eyelets) are not cheap.  If you buy a cheap rod blank (shaft) it could split or crack.  If you buy cheap guides (eyelets) they can develop rough spots or pop out. I have had these happen before and given hours invested in building a rod, it is worth using quality components.   Don’t expect a custom fishing rod will be much cheaper than one you can buy in the tackle store.

It can Become Addictive (in a good way)

Rod building can be fun and an effective way to build creativity and design capabilities.  It can also become a habit.  When I was in high school, I was building and repairing so many rods for myself and others that I overworked my shoulders and had to take some time off to recover.

Setting Expectations

It takes care and time to build a custom fishing rod.  It is not a simple plug/play effort.  The individual guides are tightly thread-wrapped in patterns to the rod blank (shaft).  The finish epoxy needs to be carefully applied to minimize bubbles or drips.

Before you go out and buy all the components and build your first new rod, you should build your skills by repairing or updating an existing rod in your collection.  If you have a rod that has broken guides or needs refinishing, you can take on this smaller project before starting a build from scratch.  You can change the action and feel of an existing rod by trimming the length or replacing heavier guides with lighter ones.

Build your knowledge

The New Advanced Custom Rod Building by Dale P. Clemens is the “go to” guide for rod building enthusiasts.  It covers the various techniques for selecting and assembling reel seats, handles, guide wrapping and finishing.  There is a section detailing the diverse types of decorative diamond wraps including:  mylar-accented, transparent mylar, diamonds with trim threads (my favorite), alternating diamonds, solid line diamonds, lattice diamonds, split center diamonds, double diamonds, double chevrons, diamonds surrounding diamonds, and many more.    This book was published a while back, so there are even newer designs like decals and rod building tools available on the Internet.

Dale also wrote Custom Rod Thread Art which is targeted for more advanced techniques for designing customization and character to your rods.

There are also many online sources for rod building information and parts.  Here are online retailers with a wide variety of rod building components and information.

• Mudhole

• The Rod Room

• Anglers Workshop

• Janns Netcraft

Custom Rod Builders Guild has a Facebook group where builders share ideas and projects for custom rod building.  You can also see great design ideas on Instagram for Custom Fishing Rods.

How to Get Started Building a Fishing Rod

It is hard to measure and assess “feel” and weight from a computer screen, so it is best to go to a tackle store or fishing retailer and find a rod that is similar or close to what you are looking for.  Note the length, weight, action (stiffness, bend, power) number of pieces, number and type of guides, type of reel seat, etc.  You can then use this as a baseline for the rod components for your build.

Choose your components

You can certainly look to build your first custom rod from a kit that the online retailers provide.  They have pre-selected components that are balanced so you can get started easily.  I caution that you pick a kit that has quality components and not look to choose by price.  It will be well worth it.  I have custom rods that I have used for over 30 years.  Technology of rod components has improved over the years, so there are newer rod blanks that are quite thin and light, but are very strong.

Rod Blank (shaft) – Length, weight, action, power, color. You can pick 1 piece, 2 piece or multiple depending upon your preference.  In general, smaller rods (in the 6ft range) should be 1 piece for strength and consistency of action. 

Reel Seat/Handle – Type, color, size, handle material (foam, cork, etc.), handle length before reel seat and behind it.

Guides (eyelets) – Typically look for the lightest guides for the build and action of the rod you are using.  Most guides are lined with ceramic rings.  For lighter rods, guides with single feet have minimal impact on fishing action.  Double footed guides are stronger and make the action a bit stiffer.  Guides for wire line or larger fish have multiple rollers that are cushioned with bearings.

Other Items – You will also need to pick other components such as: thread colors, epoxy glue (reel seat), epoxy finish (thread coating), color sealant (thread prep), design add-ons (mylar, decals, etc.), hook/lure holder, single edged razor blades (thread trimmers), burnishing tool (you can use the handle of a soup spoon to help align thread wrappings).

Basic Build Steps

You can find detailed videos and instructions for building your custom rod.    It is best to go slowly and take your time.  The end result is worth it.  The overall steps include:

1. Find and mark the spline of the rod blank.  The spline is the line with the maximum strength of the blank.  You need to be sure to align the guides and reel seat along this axis.   Here is a video from Flexcoat to help find the spline.

2. Layout and glue the lower rod handle (slide it down from the top to the butt end)

3. Install the reel seat (usually use cork tape or wrapping to have the necessary width for gluing.  Make sure it is aligned to the spline.

4. Install the upper rod handle similar to the lower one.
5. Begin marking and wrapping the guides.  It is best to use masking tape initially to space and place the guides before wrapping them.  Make sure you align the guides perfectly straight with the reel seat and along the spline.  Wash your hands before touching the thread.  Oils and dirty can discolor them.  Once you complete the wrapping do not touch the threads until you seal and epoxy them.
6. Check the alignment of reel seat and guides after each wrap is completed.  Adjust as necessary.
7. Seal threads with color sealant.
8. Glue the tip top with heat activated glue
9. Finalize any designs and thread art
10.  Finalize the threads with epoxy thread finish (such as Flexcoat).  Take your time here.  A drip or bubble in the coating will require some rework. 

SUMMARY