Build Your Own Custom Fishing Rod, North House Folk School Course

To guide you through your first foray into rod building, pick up a comprehensive book on rod building. One of the best is an old standby, The New Advanced Custom Rod Building by Dale Clemens. By the time you’re finished, you should have at least two extra feet of line hanging from the end of the fishing pole. Before the invention of fishing reels, ancient civilizations would use sticks, such as bamboo, for fishing poles.

As you practice, you’ll find that gaps can be smoothed out with the rounded end of your razor blade or clippers. I usually use my fingers, but make sure they’re clean to avoid getting oil from your skin onto the thread as it may affect the finish. When you’re about 3/16” away from the point at which the guide foot meets the vetical part of the guide, stop and proceed to next part. Our kits include a “preformed” grip, but it still must be reamed to fit snugly on the butt section of the blank above the reel seat. Pay attention to the taper of the blank when reaming, noting that the diameter decreases as you proceed “up” the blank.

How to Make a Homemade Fishing Rod

Turn on the dryer and brush on a few layers of the epoxy as the rod rotates, making sure to apply the epoxy around the entire guide wrap. Use the razor blade to trim the tag flush with the wrapped thread and then use the Burnisher to ensure that the entire wrapping is smooth and flush with the blank. Continue wrapping until you reach the guide foot and then clip the thread leaving approximately one inch of thread loose. Clip the excess thread and continue wrapping the thread around the blank being sure to keep the thread nice and tight. You must ensure you have the proper amount of tension to keep the thread from unraveling. It is best to use Two-Part Epoxy to affix the rod parts to the rod blank.

The pieces slipped, slid and twisted as I worked, and to make a long story short, the polyurethane rods were the ones that became tomato stakes. I use industrial epoxy now, which is surprisingly friendly– it dries slowly, so if I have a problem I literally have hours to solve it. There are many more retail dealers but these will get you started.

Keep in mind that there may be several flat spots located along the spin of the blank. Use a Chine Marker to place a 3-4 inch mark on the flat spot. The peaceful waters, the surrounding scenery, and of course, the thrill of the chase, are all anticipated as you plan that fishing trip.

Fishing Rod Building Kits

We will work directly with you to design your set around individual needs. From the blank to the tip, the reel seat to the wrap, taking the time to customize your fishing rod will all be worth when you see the finished product. The rod blank is the core pole that you will use to build your new fishing rod. You can purchase these in a variety of colors and sizes. The purpose of the Reel Seat, on the other hand, is to hold the reel to the rod securely.

First, you’ll need to ensure your fishing rod’s central part is prepared before tying your fishing line. You’ll want to use the same 3/32″ drill bit to put two holes into the side of the 3/4″ PVC pipe. As you plane, always keep the outer face of the bamboo, called the rind, against a chamfer, so that you don’t cut through the fibers there, which are the strongest. Alternate planing between the remaining two sides with every pass, so you don’t plane more off one side than the other and end up with asymmetrical strip.