Rod blanks.

[mike morris]

Is there anywhere I could just buy plain rod blanks? I'm thinking about making a few of my own custom rods. I made an old fashioned jiggle stick last month out of a rod blank that was given to me. I thought it turned out pretty neat... Think it would be cool if I could make a few that I could attack my reels to.

[DinkADunk]

Sure Jan's Netcraft, Mudhole, Thorne Brothers. They all have ice fishing blanks, what are you looking for? I like the Thorne Brothers blanks because they make them very long and you just cut them to the length you want (within reason and after you figure out the action).

[blackdog1101]

I've built lots of fly rods, and have bought many items from Mudhole. Good folks, good prices, well recommended.

I've also made two ice rods from broken rod tips that I bought in the Bargain Cave at Cabelas for $1 each. One I built from a light fly rod tip, the other from a heavier spinning rod tip. They're obviously not "custom" since they aleady had the guides attached, but they do the job.

[EyeSkater]

There are several good sources of blanks out there; most have been named already. Interestingly, there seems to be darn few actual ice rod blanks available from manufacturers. I believe most (not all) ice blanks are blemished, excess, or otherwise unsaleable stock from the manufacturers. Some sources like Thorne Bros are using very high-end blanks designed specifically for ice rods. If you need or want a specific action and level of performance, this may be your source...but more costly too.

I have been to Jann's Netcraft in Toledo. Great supplier, but their ice blanks are mostly a hodge-podge of lengths, colors, diameters and actions. They brought me out a bundle of 25 and I picked thru them to get what I wanted. A $10 blank is most likely a throwaway item to the manufacturer. It's not too big of deal to the casual rodbuilder, but I'm usually counting on battling one or two walleyes over 10 pounds (and a bunch over 7) every winter. I want the best rod I can buy or build.

'Eye-Skater