Rod building question

[JohnMickish]

What exactly is to be gained by building your own rod over having the same rod built for you? Does a guy save money in the process? How many hours are we looking at?

I have to admit that I have thought about building my own for a few years but time gets to be more expensive and harder to come by as I get older.

[harvey lee]

A few reason more than the money I can also save with building my own.

I can design it the exact way I would like as far as handle length, colors and so on. If I would like a longer handle or shorter, multiple colors of thread wraps and inlays. One has the opportunity to create what ever they would like. A more personal rod for ones wants.

I also have learned alot on how to know which rod and action I really am looking for. I have always used one type action for jigging and after handling a few different blanks, I now am using a different action that I have in the past.

I also believe that it challenges me to see just how nice of a rod that I can personally build.

One can also build a better rod for less. Yes, one has their time in it, but its pride in what you built as far as I'm concerned.

While finishing my first rod wrapping the guides, it became a challenge to see just what a nice job I could do.

Its also fun and doesn't take a huge investment.

[CustomRodFan]

Mnfishinguy, what you will save is the labor costs. Not much more. Just a word of caution though - if you build one, you will build many and this will actually cost you more in the long run. Come one day, you'll have a rod for every application. I've got plans to build a deep sea rod and no plans for the vacation yet.

Never met a guy who built a rod and did not like it!!!

In the truest sense, the limits to rod building are your imagination. Do a search for the custom rod builders guild and spend some time lurking. That, will be your first puff into this addiction!

Having said that, I've been building for about 5 years now as a hobbiest and just find it so much fun. A great past time - per se'. Some guys actually make some good dough at this gig.

Expect 10 hours or so on the first build. I'd highly recommend a class to get going. It'll save you some head ache, teach you some quick skill sets that will save you time on the journey.

[JohnMickish]

How long does it take you to build one, since I have to imagine that you have cranked a few out by your name. I guess if a guy can build a $300 rod for $200 then thats a pretty good investment. Is that possible?

[CustomRodFan]

Good question...

A build will only take a few hours from say a "kit" i.e. buying the handle already made, market reel seat, etc. Simply assembling the components if you will.

I still invest 10 hours per build on average becuase now I am glueing my cork together (doing my own handles), getting pretty with wood & acrylic reel seats, doing thread art or feather inlays on the butt of the rod and doing more inlay trim bands and what not.

[JohnMickish]

I've seen the pictures of your work and I have to say it's very, very nice stuff.

[upnorth]

As already stated you can build a rod exactly the way you would like it. You can pick the blank you want, the length, the weight, the action, you pick the guides you want, the type, the style, the size. You pick the handle type( I turn my own from wood I pick up while hiking) the seat, the dimensions etc. And then you get into things like thread colors and decorative wraps and the sky is the limit.

You can also build a rod you will not find on the shelf. I was having a hard time finding a rod for lite line shore casting on Lake Superior that with a weight and action I liked so I built a spinning rod on a 9' 7wt fly rod blank. For what I use if for it works better than anything else I could find. The 9' or so blanks I could find were either the UL noodle rod type or the heavier Steelhead river fishing blanks and heavier than I wanted.

And there is something about building things with your own hands that some folks find appealing. I am one of those people, but not everyone fits that mold.

And yes you can save some major $$$ building your own rods, especially after you collect the basic equipment and supplies.

[Dark Cloud]

I'll second and third what everyone else said. Heres an example, I built this last year for myself 7ft ml-fast for pitching jigs primarily. The handle I made to balance and fit my style of how I hold the rod with the reel foot between my pinky and ring finger and I shortened up the foregrip so I can place my trigger finger right on the blank, plus the rod is built to balance the weight of that stradic exactly. Might be getting a tad picky but im happy and love how she fishes. I got a great deal on the blank and total in the rod I have less than 70 bucks plus around 5-6 hours of "quiet time" and a big chunk of that time is in the intricate diamond wrap...

There is definatly something to be said for fishing a rod you made, even better if you combo it with a jig or fly you tied also...

[JohnMickish]

I know I can build EXACTLY the rod I want with all of the options that are not available on an off the shelf rod but Thorne Bros will build it for me too. I'm just looking at what I can save in money to see if that will offset the time spent making it. I understand that a guy can really make a one of a kind piece of art if he wants to (I don't want to). I'm just looking at the dollars and cents of it. A store purchased Avid 7' ML Fast is about $170, a custom (purchased) avid is about $175 with no upgrades. If the kit is priced at $138? I'm looking at saving $40 right? Thats comparing no upgrades to no upgrades.

[upnorth]

If the kit is $138 you are going to save $40. I don't build from kits so I can't say if $138 is hight on not. You could call around, Mid West Rod and Reel and Thorne Bros are both sponsors of this site and I am sure they would steer you in the right direction in getting you the components for the rod you want.

[JohnMickish]

Why don't you build from kits? Do the kits come with the same guides, reel seats and such as the factory made rods?

On a related subject, why would a guy go to an upgrade guide? I see that a guy can spend some serious money just on guides alone. What do they do that the stock guides don't?

[harvey lee]

Just from the short time I have been looking at rod building, if one purchases the components and not the kits, one can build whatever they would like and not just the componenets that are sold in that kit.

The savings is nice from building ones own rod but thats not why I started it. I just wanted to build my own rods as I also make alot of my own tackle.

[upnorth]

People build their own rods for different reasons. There is nothing wrong with kits, but I like to build something a bit more customized, and I get a kick out of making things with my own hands. I try to do things like dress the foot of the guide so that that it winds up and leaves no sharp edges. I use finer thread and less wraps to wrap the guides and smaller guides further up the rod to make it lighter and more sensitive. I form the handles to what I think will be more comfortable and nice looking. Then I add decorative butt wraps to make the rod a bit more custom looking and definitely not something that is available off the shelf.

As far as upgrading guides go...usually what you are for is a harder and lighter frame and ring material, again you are looking to lighten the tip section of the rod to make it more sensitive. There are some that believe you will get a better/longer cast with higher guides, I don't use them but...

[crazyice]

 Originally Posted By: mnfishinguy

I guess if a guy can build a $300 rod for $200 then thats a pretty good investment. Is that possible?

One of my first rods would retail for around $320, I built it for like $165.

[Fullmoon]

Got to say the guys here are right on the money with their answer and advice. Nice to see everyone sharing. The hobby is a blast! Doing repair work is also fun and can make for some great bartering!!

Upgrades on guides are done for lots of reasons including the ones listed already. Sometimes it's cosmetic/asthetic, sometimes for weight reduction, reducing abrassion, guide rings that resist scoring from braid, etc. and even better casting distance with a certain combo of reel and line.

Ever see Fuji's Ruby guides? Yep, real rubies! Talk about big $!!

There are different theories on guide size and use, ie, the "concept guide theory", "micor guide", and others. It's interesting to read about and experiment with these ideas. There are some good building sites mentioned previously that have posts or articles on these. Dive in and Enjoy!!! If I can ever be of help, just ask. If I know it, I'll share it!

Happy Easter to all!!!

[JohnMickish]

Thanks for all of the input guys. I can see that for most of you rod building is a passion and you have spent many hours figuring out what you want. Thats cool.

I probably asked some dumb questions here but I'm just trying to figure out if I want to invest the time in another hobby or just continue to pay to have it done. I don't know if my wife will let me get myself into another "black hole" hobby. I think I'll have to give it a try though.

Hey, can a guy get ice blanks or are they just the tops of normal rods?

[upnorth]

You can get ice blanks. But you can also use top from normal rods. I have yet to buy an actual manufactured for ice rod blanks. Mostly top sections from fly rods.

[Dark Cloud]

 Originally Posted By: mnfishinguy

Hey, can a guy get ice blanks or are they just the tops of normal rods?

There are ice specific blanks out there. St Croizx offers a blank that is nice, Netcraft has a bunch and you can call thornebros and get any blank from any of the rods they make.

I like a soft tip with a fast action even in an ice blank which is nearly impossible when useing the tip from something else. Carefully sanding a solid fiberglass or solid carbon blank is what I do or a TB blank...

[rodmaker]

I think the only way for you to answer that question is build one for yourself. After that, determine if it's worth your time , or have Thorne Bros. or someone build one for you. If you really enjoy fishing, I would think after building the 1st rod, it would be a Winter project for future rods.