Rod building ?

[Fin Addict]

I am getting a new rod and have decided that I really like the blank on the Legend Elite from St. Croix. Tried one last weekend and did not like the reel seat or handle at all. Checked the other handle option at the store and did not like it either. I am contemplating buying a blank and building one to get it just right. What supplies do I need to do a decent job and what should I expect to spend for these? Looks like parts only I save $100 over a completed rod if the tools needed are close to that # I would prefer to have it right.

[Roscoe]

My dad got into rod building about a year and a half ago. He likes it alot, and I like it because he builds me rods the way I want. I bought a st. croix blank also and had him put the kind of reel seat on it I liked. He buys most of his equipment at jann's netcraft. They are reasonably priced and have a good selection of components. If you are handy you can build a nice rodmaker/turner for very little money. Other than that only some simple, inexpensive tools are needed. A good book is a must.

[D189]

Fin:
I have been building rods for about 15 years. Call Cabela's and ask for their Tacklecraft catalog, you will find all your supplies there. They also sell kits with all the parts included. This is a good way to go for your first rod. Practice with a kit and an inexpensive blank first before you try to build with an expensive blank. Get a good book on rodbuilding too. Dale Clemens has some good ones. Expect to spend about ten hours on a rod. It's a great winter hobby. Good Luck, D189

[mark]

I've been doing rods for a couple of years, and i have the two catologs the other posts are talking about also. But if you want a cheeper supplier with the same componence try,
Wild River Distributing
Box 233,Marine, Minnesota 55047
phone 1-651-433-2217
Fax# 1-888-433-2624

It's a little mom and pop store but they have the stuff you want, and they can walk the walk and talk the talk check them out first!! mark

[SteveB]

Check out www.danderods.com. they sell GLoomis closeouts and overstock for deep discounts and those are great blanks.

I've been building for about 5 years and have done everything from 9&1/2' 8wt fly rod down to a 4&1/2' panfish jigging rod. I tried to build the jigging rod for as cheaply as I could, just for fun. I've got about a $60 retail graphite rod for $12. I caught a 6# carp on it the other day by accident using 5# line and had one of the better fights of my life. Its a kick catching fish on your custom rods.

I've found that for rods that retail for over $100 I can usually buy the materials at half that price, the blank being the major component of cost. But sometimes I've bought rods I could easily build, like long trolling rods. They're not worth the effort when they only cost $50. The other benefit of rod building skills is in repairing rods. I've rebuilt tips that I snapped night-fishing. Just stripped the guides, bought a more-or-less matching tip and re-wrapped the guides; good as new.

I've found that the only tool that is critical and not already laying around the house is a very slow RPM motor for turing the blank while the wrap epoxy dries. The best place to look for one is in a scrap washer or dryer; get the timer motor. Otherwise every tool I have used can be created from junk around the house. Building your own wrapping jig and other tools is easy and inexpensive, too.

Cabela's will provide a pretty good rod building guide with any of their blanks or kits. Books are nice for details but you can do just fine from the Cabela's guide. It includes guide spacing tables for most types and lengths of rods. I've even gotten guides spacing recommendations from customer service people at well-known companies that sell blanks and rods. You can always just measure up a retail rod, for that matter.

WARNING: you might find your self with more rods than you know what to do with, but at least they're exactly what you want.

[cmb]

I just finished building my first rod. It was mare or less a kit from cabellas tackel craft. I bought the blank I wanted and a "handel kit" that included everything else. the rod I built was a "custom graphite" lite action blank. I think it came to about $45. great pearch rod and I had a blast when I cuaght a big sheephead on it last week. I recomend that anyone interested should try one of these kits. I made a stand/wraping jig out of scrap plywood, and did the cup and book thing to add tension while wraping. I even expereimented alittle and did a sharp 3 color diamond butt wrap. I have enough walleye rods so I think I will make a nice ultralight for river smallies and other small but fun fish. I just might be addicted to this. you can't buy a better rod than one you design to meet your needs and style, and only you can give it your personal touch

[eye-catcher]

Don't know where you live, but here in the Twin Cities of Minnesota there are a few different shops that handle a complete line of rod building supplies and have a full shop for you to use.

I built my first rod at Thorne Bros. If you buy your blank, handle components, and guides from them (and their prices are competetive) you can pay a twenty-dollar shop fee and use all of their equip, thread, adhesives, etc to build your rod. I am now building at home, but for your first rod it is nice to have one of the custom rod builders there (they have about 15 of them) to ask questions of and get a little help.

Also, I agree completely with the advice of not trying to build your dream rod on your first attempt. Take it from someone who learned the hard way on a $170.00 blank.

[Fin Addict]

Thanks for all the great responses. I am in Mpls. and think I will head up to Thorne Brothers and use their supplies and advice for the first one anyway. There is something I am not wild about in almost every rod I pick up and I find myself getting pickier as time goes on. I think this might become addictive. Maybe I'll make a couple noodle rods for downrigging first. Lots of guides to practice on for a couple 10' rods.