How much to spend on a custom rod?

[Dylan33]

I am new to the concept of custom rods. I want to get my dad something nice for a retirement/birthday gift. He really likes fishign with UL spinning rods for panfish.

What should I expect to pay for a basic to middle of the road custom rod? I think I know the answer is "it depends". I'm just looking for a range/ballpark as I have NO idea. Thanks

[bobbymalone]

Looks like the base model custom ultralight spinner at Thorne Bros can range from about $110-$200. Start adding titanium guides and whatnot you'll be in the $200-300 range in no time.

I'm posting a link, hope the mods let it stay since TB is a sponsor.

http://www.thornebros.com/muskie/rods/CUSTOM/panfish/panfish_shoppingcart.html

I'm building my dad a Ferrari-grade walleye jigging stick and it's gonna go about $350 when it's all said and done.

[unfrozen]

A custom builder can build you a very nice UL rod for around $170. I'm basing this on a rod built on a Batson RX7 IP840 blank and aluminum oxide guides and a custom cedar handle personalized with your father's name.

Hope this helps.

[Asandir]

It does truly depend on how much you want to spend. But I would echo what the others have said with most costing around 150. Depending on blank, guides and decoration, will be your final determination.

[upnorth]

A bit depends on the builder, some do it as hobby, some more to make money. I would figure out a level of quality you want and then contact a builder. Obviously the higher the quality the more it is going to cost. Blanks cost is going to be a big portion of it. Another cost is the builders time the more complex the more they will charge.

That being said I would say an upper mid line rod blank and a some extras should be able to get done for $150 - $200.

[pureinsanity]

You can get a pretty cheap im6 blank and not have much into components. It is all in what you want and who's building it for you.

[simple1]

I'm sure there are others but I highly recommend HarveyLee from this forum. He is currently building my 3rd rod from him. He made a Packer themed rod for my cousin that was amazing.

[CHM]

Dylan33, that's a good question. Here are some things to think about, and some questions you need to ask. You would be pretty close to the $150 to $200 range, plus sales tax and the FET tax. Yes, that seems like a lot to some folks for a little ultra light. Just because it is an ultra light doesn't make it easier to build than a 7' medium, except the 7’ rod will have two or more guides to wrap. As a custom builder, I can assure you that it takes the same amount of work to build a rod on a $30 blank or a $95 blank. So the labor charge is almost a wash. What I mean is, if you are going to go custom don't be afraid to spend a little more for a better blank.

No disrespect intended to anyone, but there are custom builders out there that simply glue on a pre-made cork grip and attach the guides using someone's spacing chart and they call that a custom rod. You can do that yourself if you watch a few youtube videos and then your Dad would have a keepsake that you made.

Here are some things to consider as you interview prospective builders. Most good builders do all of these things. There are many ways to build a quality rod, so don’t take this all as gospel.

I build my grips by gluing cork rings and then turning them on a lathe. I talk to the customer and we figure out how they hold the rod, and what diameter and style of grip they want. If money is a problem I offer to use a pre-made cork grip, but I explain to them that all that filler putty will start falling out eventually. I usually put a treatment of Cork Seal on all my grips unless the customer declines. It really keeps the cork looking good and is easy to clean. It also keeps the filler in longer on pre-made grips.

I don’t use spacing charts. For spinning rods, I set them up and test cast using a reel with the same spool size as the customer’s. The guide sizes are determined by the line size and type, along with the task for that rod. For example – a rod used only for vertical jigging with Fireline can use some very small guides, but a rod that will be used with 10lb mono to cast a jig and minnow would use a different guide set. I put each rod in a fixture and space the guides out to provide good stress distribution under varying load.

Finally, ask for the names and phone numbers of several customers so you can talk to the people that have bought rods from the builder. Any builder worth hiring will gladly give you a list of happy customers. Find out what the warranty is! His workmanship must be covered for life. What I mean is – if a reel seat comes loose or the butt cap falls off he should fix it for free. Components fail, blanks break. Much of that heartache can be avoided if the builder uses quality stuff and does a load test on the blank, as well as a close inspection to make sure the blank didn’t get damaged in shipment. Forget a lifetime replacement. Even the big name companies have stopped doing that. Custom builders can offer it, but your rod will double in price.

Chuck

[Northlander]

Call TB, Midwest Rods and a few of the rod builders on this site and ask them what they think. There are MANY good blanks out there that arent as expensive as the Loomis, Croix etc. but still as good. Set a price for yourself. I would say $200 will get you a very nice rod and have the builders tel ya what they would give you for that price. Compare them all against eachother and go from there. Lots of very good rod builders out there.

[folke2000]

Dylan33,

Just a thought...contact Thorne Bros etc, and build it yourself with their help. I'm sure that it would "multiply the value" of any rod you gave your dad.

Folke