Custom Fishing Rod Build Thread

[pickardjw]

I've been learning how to wrap my own fishing rods for a little over a year now. Figure it might be fun to share some of the ones I've completed so far. Here's the first one I built:

Auburn Themed Kokanee Downrigger Rod - Blue Primary
Rod Blank - CRB Freshwater E-Glass - 7'-0" Moderate Action, Light Power, Two Piece
Guides - CRB Black Performance
Thread - Prowrap Size A - 9720 Red Copper Metallic, 470 Blue Marlin
Grip - CRB Cork - 9" Rear, 2" Fore
Reel Seat - CRB Aluminum Comfort Lock - Size 16

This rod has been great. I'm not in love with the length of the grip, I tend to like a longer one to stick in my hip or rest along my forearm. Also realized how much the epoxy clear coat darkens the colors of non-colorfast thread. I think the colors did turn out pretty good though and the metallic thread really pops in the sunlight. The tip sensitivity is great for detecting bites from smaller fish on the downrigger and there's plenty of backbone to pop the line out of the clip.

[Bullkllr]

Nice job! Looks really good.

I've built many rods over the years. Eventually I gave up on the fancy wraps after watching a few get broken.

[Encore 280]

I've got a surf rod that needs a couple new guides, the plastic liner is missing on a couple. Anybody in Kitsap do rod work?

[Blacklab]

Very nice👍

[Alchase]

I found a 7' rod with a medium action lower and a light action upper is about perfect for trolling Kokes.

[pickardjw]

Salmon / Steelhead Baitcasting Rod
Rod Blank - MHX 8'-6" HvySalmon Rod
Guides - ATC MicroWave - Single Foot - Chrome Duralite
Thread - ProWrap Colorfast 455 Cobalt, Colorfast 552 Neon Green, Metallic 9880 Pearl - Size D
Grip - CRB Cork 12" Rear, 3.5" Fore
Reel Seat - CRB Premium Graphite - Black - Size 18

Built for a coworker, this is the first rod I did with Size D thread and wow...so much easier to work with than Size A. Attempted to match Seahawks colors, think it came out decently close. The metallic thread as a border on the fore end wrap really makes the pattern pop. Pretty fun pattern, I'll probably do more of it. Saw blade wrap on that first double foot guide since he's a carpenter. He said it performed well his first couple times out but haven't heard any more feedback.

[pickardjw]

Pre-epoxy photo of the fore end wrap.

(Future rod pics will be much better, started taking pics with the old DSLR instead of my broken iphone camera...)

[Jake Dogfish]

Really cool!  I wish I had that kind of skill.

[pickardjw]

Really cool!  I wish I had that kind of skill.

I've learned pretty much all of it from youtube. And trial and error...nothing like messing up the last step and having all the thread on a guide wrap unravel   

[jay.sharkbait]

What kind of epoxy are you using?

[pickardjw]

Propaste for grips and reel seats, prokote for tread finish.

[GWP]

Very pretty rods! Nice work!
I break them (all) enough I quit buying expensive rods unless it is for someone else.
A good portion of mine have had sleeve repairs. Some have mismatched parts, but they still catch fish.
Sucks to break any rod, worse when they cost more, but it is fun to use a rod you built yourself, particularly when they are as pretty as those!

[pickardjw]

Just finished up a couple heavy duty jigging rods for a coworker. The orange gets a little mellowed out in the iPhone photos. It's pretty vibrant to the eye and looks amazing in the sunlight. Fun build, he's a carpenter so the saw blade under the first guide just make sense!

Rod Blank - MHX 6'-0" Saltwater Offshore
Guides - CRB Heavy Elite
Thread - Prowrap Size D - Colors 862 Black and 225 Neon Orange
Grips - ATC EVA Foam with eTekGo X-Tube heat shrink wrap
Reel Seat - Fuji Deluxe Graphite

[Angry Perch]

That's really cool stuff. What's it cost a guy to get into rod building with the necessary tools and equipment?

[pickardjw]

That's really cool stuff. What's it cost a guy to get into rod building with the necessary tools and equipment?

A few hundred for a wrapping stand, reamer kit, rod turner, and miscellaneous tools. Mudhole.com is my main source for all gear, components and supplies.

[Angry Perch]

That's really cool stuff. What's it cost a guy to get into rod building with the necessary tools and equipment?

A few hundred for a wrapping stand, reamer kit, rod turner, and miscellaneous tools. Mudhole.com is my main source for all gear, components and supplies.

Pretty reasonable. Sounds like a good winter hobby.

[7mmfan]

Those look great, nice work!

I've built a couple in the past. First one was a 10' float rod that I loved, until a friend stepped on it after I landed a nice steelhead. Just haven't had the need or urge to do another one in a long time. It is pretty satisfying to fish with a rod you put together.

[BigGoonTuna]

I built a rod wrapper out of a couple pieces of scrap lumber and a thread tensioner. Have built a few dozen rods for myself and others on it over the years, works good but I’d love to have a nice professional model.

I just miss having a somewhat local shop that sold rod blanks and components. I have a hard time ponying up for blanks that I can’t put my hands on to check out first, and the shipping is usually a killer on the longer ones.

[pickardjw]

Yeah, the shipping on one piece blanks hurts.

[boneaddict]

I love this type of stuff.   Beautiful work.   I built a couple  rods back in the day using Sage blanks.  Gosh that was fun.   

[pickardjw]

I love this type of stuff.   Beautiful work.   I built a couple  rods back in the day using Sage blanks.  Gosh that was fun.

Thanks Bone. I find it enjoyable about 50% of the time and frustrating the other 50%. But it's worth it at the end of the build and every time I fish with them after.

Working on a baitcasting salmon rod next. Probably to sell. Going to branch out on the fore end wrap designs and do something a little more involved than the fade pattern.

[pickardjw]

Haven't updated this in a while, meant to keep a more steady stream but the move to OR has stymied my rod building. With a couple new ones in the hopper figured I'd update with a past build.

Here are the specs on this one for an old coworker's kid. They moved to Texas and he broke the rod tip hopping a fence to fish a pond a few weeks later, so I ended up making a second top half!

CRB 6'6" Color Series - Moderate/Fast Action, Medium Power, Two Piece Spinning
CRB LZR Guides
Prowrap Size B Colorfast Threads in 449 Wild Blueberry, 807 White, 325 Fire Red, 822 Silver Smoke
Winn Grips and CRB ACLR Gunsmoke reel seat.

[pickardjw]

The old DSLR camera settings were not ideal, I'll stick to the iPhone going forward. Unless Bone has some advice on settings!

The red/white/blue inlay on the guide wraps was excessive and a pain. Pretty, but less functional with that much thread. I'll stick to single color or less-spaced inlays in the future.

[Sandberm]

Can you recommend a good epoxy?

I want to repair an eye or two on some rods I own. 

[pickardjw]

Can you recommend a good epoxy?

I want to repair an eye or two on some rods I own.

I use ProKote. This kit should have everything you need if you're just applying more epoxy over the existing stuff. If you're wanting to remove and re-wrap the guide then you'll need some thread as well. I wouldn't recommend that unless the guide is actually loose or damaged.

https://mudhole.com/products/prokote-rod-building-thread-finish-preloaded-syringe-kit

To get an even coating, you'll need a rod turner to spin it while the epoxy dries. If you're not that worried about it being pretty you can go with a couple very thin coats. Or build a makeshift rod turner with a drill and zip tie, supporting the other end of the rod somehow.

[Boss .300 winmag]

🤔

[Born2late]

One of my brothers is into making custom rods and gave me the pick of one for my birthday in September and he just got it done and brought it over for Christmas. Absolutely awesome feeling, can’t wait to use it trolling for salmon. It funny because we are so different in our talents in things we do well. I am always humbled when I get a custom gift from him. Underneath the wrap at the cork is tanned salmon skin.

[HntnFsh]

Beautiful work!

[metlhead]

I'm too cheap and always thought a custom rod was silly. To have one built by a brother changed my thinking. That is a special gift.

[Happy Gilmore]

[/img]link=topic=279550.msg3942972#msg3942972 date=1735219265]
I'm too cheap and always thought a custom rod was silly. To have one built by a brother changed my thinking. That is a special gift.

Being cheap is the primary reason for buying blanks. I've done a few in a cardboard box. Turn out good. They all just follow a recipe for spacing. I've done 2 rainshadows and a sage 4. I didn't do anything fancy. Have a guide buddy who makes his winter money wrappingrods building me 2 salt water rods and one for a friend right now. Couple blanks was my birthday present this year. I like Batson because they are local. Built my second rod off their blank I bought from the old pole building in 2002. They gave me a warranty on the second old Forecaster I had broke just this year. I think that alone is incredible. Great local outfit. I highly recommend.