Thread: building custom rods

How hard is it to build a custom rod? This question coming from someone with no previous experience.

Wouldnt call it hard. Just time consuming depending on how fancy you want to go. If you want something simple which is what I would recommend the first time aroud it s not bad at all. But the more fancy you go the more difficult and more time consuming it becomes.

All it is is putting hoops on a stick with twine. The prettier you want it, the more time consuming it becomes.

There's a lot that goes into building rods. A lot of time and a lot of money. It gets addictive. There's so many small details that have to be learned from failure. I've been building for awhile now and still learn new techniques all the time. I would recommend getting some books and dvd's and do a little research on cost of materials before you decide to buy anything. But there's no better feeling than catching or seeing someone catch a good fish on a rod you built

Biggest problem I know is that once you start you can't stop. You will make up reasons why you need to build another rod. One for Kings on a sunny day, one for Kings on a rainy day. You get the picture.
Lot of good places to get advice and instructions. Google Mudhole and look at the instruction on their site. Talk to the guys at J&M and the lovely ladies at the Rodroom.
On a serious note. IMHO, building your own rod will make you a better fisherman.

Like previously stated, the prettier the more complicated, just wrapping rods isn't hard, talk to a person who knows about it for all the little details

Thanks rodbuilder, I know you're pretty heavily into rod building.

Any advice on a decent priced rod blank for a first attempt?

What kind of fish do you plan on targeting with it?

Bass, Crappie, Walleye for my first attempt.