Custom rod building

[Jburke]

So I was considering building my own rod.  Just a multi purpose rod for anything I want to throw it at.  Mainly fish for bass, pike, trout, and the occasional steelhead.  This would mainly be for the bass and pike but maybe some steelhead as well.  I'm just looking to be pointed in the right direction as far as what is the best blank for the money.  I have heard a half dozen or so names thrown around in the past but want to hear from people that have actually used them.  Every company says theirs is the best, but I want to hear it from the people actually using them. Any tips or pointers would be great as well.

[carpsniperg2]

A ton of people like Lamiglas! I like them as well, If I could ever get my cuzz to build me one, I would be in business. I just picked up a couple of sweet new rods this year. But If I was going to build one I would look hard at lamiglas lots of diffrent price ranges and good warranty

http://www.lamiglas.com/

[fair-chase]

I would say Fenwick but since you can no longer get Fenwick blanks I really have nothing for you. 

[engelwood]

One of these days Carpsniper!!! LOL.

There are obviously quite a few companies that are making blanks out there that are easy to get your hands on, that is for sure. I have built 16 rods in the past couple of years and have built anything from St. Croix to Lamiglas, to G Loomis rods. I personally feel like if you are going to spend the time and money on a rod to build yourself, it might as well be a nice rod. Here's my stance on where you are at....

I would get a blank that comes with a lifetime warranty. This would include St. Croix, Lamiglas, North Fork Composites (spendy but very nice from what I'm told), etc. G Loomis used to have a lifetime warranty but I am confused as to what the status of that company is, I wouldn't know exactly where to go if I had to get one of mine replaced. I have only dealt with Lamiglas for warranty issues and they are AWESOME and local for me (Woodland, WA). They are even great if you have to mail them your broken rod, they will take care of everything with you over the phone and get you all setup and ready to roll again. They even offer to give you a fully built rod as a replacement if you don't feel like making another rod, at a significant discount. This being said, I think Lamiglas is a great choice for the type of rod you are looking to build, not only for cost, but also quality and warranty reasons.

There are a variety of levels of quality that you can get into for Lamiglas blanks, but the main ones I would even suggest are either their G1000, Certified Pro, or XMG 50 models (listed least to most expensive). I personally have some G1000 rods as well as a Certified Pro that I just built 2 weeks ago. From what I am told by some Lamiglas people (not to be named) is that the XMG 50 series is not worth the extra money over the Certified pro, but that the Certified Pro is definitely worthe the extra money over the G1000 series. From what I can tell with the rods, the Certified Pro is nice and will be worth the extra $20 in the end. From what you are looking for with your rod, I would suggest going with the Certified Pro - Salmon & steelhead series. The main reason I say this is becuase you mentioned that you would like to catch steelhead with it as well as Pike. My first choice for these two fish would be a 1 piece 7'6" or 1 piece 8'. The Certified Pro has a model XLB 96 1MT that is a 1 piece 8' 10-25 lb. line with 1/2 - 2 oz lure weight. If this seems too heavy for what you are looking for you could go with a 7'11" 8-12 or 8'2" 8-12. Personally I would lean hard to the 10-25 lb. 8'. This blank sells for $115.00 for the blank. You can get the remaining components (assuming you are running monofilament) for a total of ~$150.00 fully built. If you order your components through Angler's Workshop in Woodland (actually in the same parking lot as Lamiglas manufacturing facility) you get a 10% discount for a "kit". This will get you your rear & foreward cork grips, reel seat, eyes, winding check, hook keeper, and tip top. This is a great rod for that price. The retail price fully built is somewhere around $280 I believe.

If you wanted to go with a less expensive option you could always go with a G1000 model GSH 961MT which is a 8' 10-20 lb. rod with a 3/8-2 oz lure weight. This would also be a great rod, but is still $99.00 for the blank. Components being the same cost, your only saving $16.00 which is not worth going down to the G1000 IMO.

I know the guys down at Angler's Workshop pretty well and they have a pretty good website for ordering. If I were you and you wanted to get everything through them, I would give them a call and see if they would be willing to put together the package over the phone with you (they would be willing to do this most weekdays whenever they aren't slammed I'm sure) and then you could get the kit price and be sure that you get everything you need and want. If you have any other questions let me know with a PM and I'll be happy to help you out. Be careful with Rod Building though, it's pretty dang addictive!!!

[carpsniperg2]

  That's what you said last year

[Jburke]

Thanks for the info.  I'll have to check out their website also.

[ribka]

I have replaced broken 2 Gloomis rods within the past 2 years. Shimano bought out the company. Still very good with their warranty.

I have built 3 rods with Gloomis blanks. First choice but more expensive

Lamiglass and St Croix lesser cost and also good blanks.

[Jburke]

OK, now this probably should have been the first question I asked.  How difficult is it making my own rod?  It does not SEEM to be that complicated, however a rocket scientist I am not.  I did look at the Gloomis blanks but it seems that they are no longer going to be offering blanks, according to a website I saw.  It may be that they are no longer offering them under the Gloomis name, but just something that I saw.

[engelwood]

Building your own rod is not rocket science by any stretch of the imagination. Just a few key things that you need to get right (aka spine of the rod) that are important, but other than that, it's pretty damn easy. PM me and I'll shoot you my phone number if you want to talk about specifics.

Engelwood

[Happy Gilmore]

Buy your blank at Rainshadow in Sequim. they make phenomenal blanks that will stand up against Winston, Sage and GLoomis. My 8-9 weight 3 piece only cost $65 a few years ago. Rumor is they make top of the line blanks for a super premium flyrod company but, are not allowed to disclose which company that is? I've heard they make blanks for Winston, GL and a few others. Who knows what is true? All I know is their blanks are nice and they are cheap. 

Remember- the warrantees only cover the blank- you break it you get a blank- doesn't solve any last minute issues on a trip. I only know because I smashed my Sage 4 weight two years in a row on the same yearly trip. I bought a factory wrapped tip and had it sent overnight to Omak.(both years in a row)

Anyway- basic wraps are easy. Don't need any machines.

[Happy Gilmore]

Ohh, I don't see you finding a steelhead blank that you'll use for bass- I like an 8'-6" for gear fishing and a 10' 3 piece for fly casting.

On bass, I fish a stout 6' rod. Trout- any cheap rod for gear.

trout on the fly- Sage 4 weight and Orvis 6 weight for deep-six work.

[Bigshooter]

This is where my next blank is going to come from.

http://www.northforkcomposites.com/

[Happy Gilmore]

This is where my next blank is going to come from.

http://www.northforkcomposites.com/

wonder who makes the blanks for them? I've heard there are only a few companies in the states who actually "make" blanks. Rainshadow and Sage both local have their own manufacturing.

I have no idea if what I've heard is true but, GLoomis and a few others just slap their names on bulk lots of blanks purchased from blank producers from various countries. All they need to call it "made in america" is that someone in the USA tied on the guides.

[Bigshooter]

This is where my next blank is going to come from.

http://www.northforkcomposites.com/

wonder who makes the blanks for them? I've heard there are only a few companies in the states who actually "make" blanks. Rainshadow and Sage both local have their own manufacturing.

I have no idea if what I've heard is true but, GLoomis and a few others just slap their names on bulk lots of blanks purchased from blank producers from various countries. All they need to call it "made in america" is that someone in the USA tied on the guides.

Northfork is a blank rod maker.  They do not tie rods.  Gary Loomis started northfork composites when GLoomis said they were no longer going to sell blanks anymore.

[engelwood]

North fork eh? Someone has some change to spend on a blank!!!!! LOL 

[nwdp]

i have built a hand full of rods and most of the blanks were lamiglas.  Alot of people like mudhole mhx blanks for the money but, I haven't built one.  Building a rod is not rocket science but there is a learning curve.  Chances are your first rod isn't gonna be pretty i would suggest getting a $10 blank and some cheap guides for the first build.  If it doesn't turn out don't be afraid to cut everything of and do it again.  There are some other rod building specific forums on the web that might be a good resource for you as well.  Good luck, it's a fun hobby.

[ribka]

i have built a hand full of rods and most of the blanks were lamiglas.  Alot of people like mudhole mhx blanks for the money but, I haven't built one.  Building a rod is not rocket science but there is a learning curve.  Chances are your first rod isn't gonna be pretty i would suggest getting a $10 blank and some cheap guides for the first build.  If it doesn't turn out don't be afraid to cut everything of and do it again.  There are some other rod building specific forums on the web that might be a good resource for you as well.  Good luck, it's a fun hobby.

Good advice. Buy a few cheap blanks, seconds, blemishes. A bit of a learning. After 2 I got the hang of it

Cabelas has cheap blanks in their bargain cave

[Jburke]

After doing some doing some looking around and thinking about it I think I am going to hold off on building one, for now at least.  It's still something that I would like to do and I had also thought about starting with a couple of cheapo blanks first.