Rod Building 101

Anyone know of any good books or video on rod making? I want to get around to making a shorty w/ lighter action to match my 5' Okuma's which are waayyy too beefy.
Nothing more satisfying than catching fish on a homemade lure and homemade rod, especially if you make it YOURSELF!

The Rod Rack in Hayward actually has classes on rod building. Thats where I learned. I would look at the calstar 195 for a short light rod. The calstar 600XL is also a good one if you like graphite and the faster action that comes with it. Both blanks can be cut down to suit your needs.

The Rod Rack in Hayward actually has classes on rod building. Thats where I learned. I would look at the calstar 195 for a short light rod. The calstar 600XL is also a good one if you like graphite and the faster action that comes with it. Both blanks can be cut down to suit your needs.

Elric...  probably the best book to get is "Rod Building Guide" by Tom Kirkman.  This is an authoritative reference with lots of pictures.

http://shop.mudhole.com/s.nl/sc.20/category.400/it.A/id.8571/.f

Another great resource is a DVD by Ken Preston called "Rodbuilding Basics and Additional Techniques".  This is available on the web from multiple vendors... here's one...

http://shop.mudhole.com/s.nl/sc.20/category.401/it.A/id.11783/.f

Finally... if you just order Mudhole Tackle's catalog... it contains about 6 pages that covers the fundamentals of building a rod.

The best resource that I use to keep on top of current technology and for information sharing is...
http://www.rodbuilding.org

I'm always willing to answer questions if you need some help.  

Erik

The books and videos are great referances. I however prefer to learn from a hands on approach (seeing and doing). At the rod rack you purchase a blank and all the components and build it during the class. I forget the cost of the class but its not real expensive. You would probably pay more if you bought all the different books and videos. Plus Steve is a great resource when it comes to rod building. You will also get a chance to meet some other cool people that share our passion of fishing during the class.

Good luck
Mike

I agree with Mike to some extent... seeing is worth a thousand words.  I think that's why Ken Preston's DVD has taken off so well... most people don't have a source of instruction nearby.  I've never taken a class, but I probably would have if I knew there were classes available when I started building rods.  

I have found that having at least one good reference book around is invaluable if you plan to build rods on a regular basis.  You'll learn the basic fundamentals in a class, but as you begin to build new rods for different applications, a good reference book is essential.  If you have success building your first rod... you will likely want to build more... the craft is addicting to say the least.

I don't personally own Tom Kirkman's book... rather I taught myself from Dale Clemen's book "Advanced Custom Rod Building".  This is an excellent reference but is now a bit outdated in some respects.  Tom's book reflects the current state of the art and is a better reference in that it has many more photos to describe steps that are nearly impossible to describe in words alone.

Anyone can assemble a fishing rod.  The steps involved in basic rod assembly are not all that difficult to learn.  Mastering those steps and applying the "science" side of the craft to the point  where you can craft high quality rods that perform in a superior manner for a variety of applications takes a lot time, learning, and practice.   And then there's the artistic side of the craft... the limits of which are nearly endless.  I learn something new with every project I take on... the craft just never gets old.  

Enjoy...

Erik

Thanks guys!

Very informative. I'll probably go both routes as I prefer the hands on approach. Of course, i'll probably forget alot, so some reference material is always good to have on hand.

Now I just have to figure out the rod I've always wanted!

If you want to experiment a little and not spend a lot of $$... you might try getting a couple of the Mudhole Special E-glass Blanks and trim them up to suit your specifications.  

These a very good quality blanks... I've built several of them and have used them extensively... they are very durable and pretty light weight for E-glass.  They only cost around $16.00 each.  Being E-glass... they're going to have more of a moderate action... which seems to be what you're looking for since your Okuma's are so fast they don't act as a good shock absorber.

I'd suggest probably the SPSWB7L (12-20# blank) and trimming the butt and tip to get the desired action.  

http://shop.mudhole.com/s.nl/sc.20/category.244/it.I/id.87/.f

Just a thought...

Erik

Elric,

I too am currently attempting to build my first rod.  I stripped an old 25-50lb Shimano I had lying around.  You might consider going to your local Flea Market and getting some junk rods for practicing on.  Like Erik said, rodbuilding.org is a good resource for help and ideas.  Take a look at the pictures and library.  I built a jig for hand wrapping for about $12.00.  The specs are in the library section.   If you don't have a table saw I could cut the wood bits for you.  Also, checkout www.merricktackle.com.  They don't sell to the public but you can order their stuff through http://summermoonrodworks.com/

Jonathan

FYI...

I have wholesale accounts with Merrick Tackle as well as Mudhole Tackle and Anglers Workshop.

While I don't keep a very large stock of supplies, I can possibly save some shipping $ by ordering multiple blanks at a time and combining your order with my regular orders.  Shipping on blanks can get quite pricey otherwise.  

Erik

When are you all thinking of taking a class?  I'd be interested in joining you.

-Allen

Depending upon cost, I would be into taking a class.  I don't see anything at the Rod Rack right now though.  Next time I go down there I'll ask if any will be scheduled.

What's up w/ this Rod Rack place? I left a message and an e-mail, yet no reply. Maybe if we tell them we've got a couple guys interested in a class, he may be more responsive.
I'll bring some snacks and maybe we can make a party of it!

I'm thinking about some time in the evenings and I'm pretty much open when.

Let's get a headcount and maybe someone in the area can drop by and get some details.

If you guys don't get a response from the Rod Rack, and if there are several people who are interested, I would consider providing a class from my garage in Santa Rosa sometime in the next couple of months.

Also, if I knew what type of rod you wanted to build, I could put together component kits at a reasonable price to get you started with a turn-key  rod project after the class.

Let me know how many would be interested in this.  We could cover the fundamentals and even get into some more advanced subjects such as New Concept Guide Placement, Spiral Guide Placement, and some of the elements of thread art.

Let me know how many would be interested.

Erik

I may be at the Rod Rack tomorrow.  I'll ask about lessons but maybe we should just take Erik up on his kind offer.