Building your own fishing rod can be a rewarding and fulfilling experience for a number of reasons. When you build your own rod, you have the freedom to customize it to your specific needs and preferences. You can choose the length, action, power, and materials that work best for the type of fishing you enjoy. Building your own fishing rod allows you to ensure the quality of the components and craftsmanship. You can hand-select the best materials and take the time to assemble them with care, resulting in a higher-quality finished product.

While building your own rod requires an initial investment in tools and materials, it can be a cost-effective alternative to purchasing a high-end commercial rod. You can often build a rod of equal or better quality for a fraction of the cost. There is a sense of pride and accomplishment that comes with building your own rod. You get to use a tool that you created with your own hands, and you may find that it enhances your enjoyment of the fishing experience. Overall, building your own fishing rod can be a fun and fulfilling hobby for those who enjoy fishing and DIY projects.

Building Fishing Rods Step by Step – Determining Your Fishing Rod Build

Before starting to make your own rod, it’s important to determine the purpose of your build in the first place. Do you want a rod purpose-built for one style of fishing or do you want your rod build to be useful for multiple types of fishing? Consider the type of fishing you plan to do, the size of fish you want to catch, and the materials you want to use.

1. Type of fishing: Different types of fishing require different kinds of rods. For example, a fly fishing rod will have a different design and action than a spinning rod or a baitcasting rod. Decide on the type of fishing you want to do before selecting a rod blank.
2. Size of fish: The size of the fish you plan to catch will affect the length and strength of your rod. Larger fish will require a stronger and stiffer rod, while smaller fish can be caught with a more flexible rod.
3. Materials: Fishing rods can be made from a variety of materials, including fiberglass, graphite, and bamboo. Each material has its own strengths and weaknesses, so choose the one that best suits your needs and budget. There is much variability in components, so it will be critical to understand the end use of your rod, longer casts, slow pitch jigging, jerkbait fishing, etc. so that you can understand which components will perform the best in these conditions. 

Once you’ve determined what kind of rod you want to build, you can start gathering the necessary materials and tools.

How to Build a Fishing Rod Step 2 – Gathering Equipment and Materials

To start making a rod, you’ll need a few tools and materials. Here’s what you’ll need to gather:

1. Rod wrapping jig: A rod wrapping jig is a tool used to hold the rod blank in place while wrapping the guides.
2. Razor blade or scissors: You’ll need a sharp blade or scissors to cut the wrapping thread and trim the excess.
3. Heat gun or hair dryer: A heat gun or hair dryer is used to cure the epoxy and make it harden faster.
4. Sandpaper: Sandpaper is used to smooth out any rough edges on the rod blank.
5. Protective equipment: Gloves, safety glasses, and a respirator are recommended when working with epoxy and other adhesives.
6. Epoxy or other adhesives: Epoxy is typically used to attach the reel seat, handle, and guides to the rod blank.
7. Rod wrapping thread: Thread is used to wrap the guides onto the rod blank, and comes in various colors and sizes.

How To Build Fishing Rods Step 3 – Choosing Components

Once you’ve gathered all of your materials, you’re ready to begin compiling your components. Here are the basic components you will need:

1. Rod Blank: The rod blank is the main shaft of the rod and comes in various lengths, powers, and actions. 
2. Rod Reel Seat – The fishing rod reel seat is the part of the rod that holds the fishing reel in place.
3. Rod Handle – Handles come in all different types of styles, designs, and materials including foam and cork. 
4. Rod Guides – Guides can be purchased individually or as a set, and you’ll need to select an appropriate size and material for the rod blank you’ve picked. 

We hope you’ve enjoyed this overview of how to make a fishing rod. In subsequent articles, we’ll begin to dive into what you need to consider in each component of your rod build. One of the things that you will need to learn is how to select a fishing rod blank, so if you want to stay along for the journey, please consider subscribing to the Angler’s Resource email list so that we can send you new custom rod building content as soon as it becomes available.