Custom Rodmaking
 

Any Pelicans make their own fishing rods? I'm planning to build a Chinook and Chum salmon rod now that the rivers are closed for the season.
I selected a Rainshadow blank 10'6" long, fast action rated 12-25 lbs. I'm thinking blue zirconium guides and a 14" cork rear grip and a 2 1/2" cork rear grip. I'm just not sure about threads, epoxy, decorative wraps, or general technical skill.
The local rod maker in Lake Stevens WA offers a class for 35 bucks. I'm thinking that would be money well spent. Any advice?

All of my experience in rod building was with bamboo fly rods. I have several still, but much prefer the graphite fly rods now. A $35 class seems reasonable to me if it would really cover the entire build. Cabellas and others offer books and kits for rod building, too.

I made a pair of tuna rods about 10 years ago. Took a class at a local tech school. It was fun.

I made a 5wt flyrod with a Sage graphite II blank. Made my own little wrapping stand and you place the spool of thread in a teacup and run the thread thru the middle of a thick book to hold tension. Worked out real well.

The last rod I made was a 3 pc. 11 wt. on a Loomis blank... It was probably 10 years ago.. I think the blank cost almost $400 then :eek:

I too made a little stand to hold the blank...

Years ago I decided the "theme" all my rods would be... black windings with silver wraps... I'd have to go count but I think I have 15 rods now from lightweight sweet-water rods to heavy tuna sticks, and they all have the same look... Never thought to take any pictures of the rods or windings...

I do have some flies I tied handy... we use these in the backwaters of LI can get some nice stripers and weakfish with these... top is a spearing clone... bottom is a tube eel..

I can crank a bunch of these out in a sitting...



http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1298595263.jpg

Sounds like fun. There is a rod builders forum on the web somewhere. I used to check it out. My favorite store for rod building is in Woodland called Anglers Workshop. Good people. An interesting note is that Loomis, Lamiglas, Talon? and maybe another rod company call woodland home. Lot o' fishin in woodland. I like the idea of the class. I have built a few rods and went to a couple of workshops. Always valuable to see others mistakes and successes.

Have fun.
Larry

Made several inshore saltwater rods about 15 years ago. Including a custom short calico bass rod for my then 5 yr old son. Yellow blank with his choice of black and green triple layer wraps. Still have it and looks wonderful.

Speaking of... I have a stand of black bamboo in my yard. Possible to dry and split this and then make a rod out of it? I think it would look good...

Sounds like the class is the way to go. I'll post some pictures and such as the project gets rolling.

+1 for Angler's Workshop in Woodland. I don't build rods, but my dad does. I have stopped in at Angler's Workshop many times to get him gift certificates and supplies - great selection of stuff.

As for the black bamboo "homegrown" don't do it. Cane rods come from Tonkin cane. It is special. Don't know why. The material cost for the bamboo is about 10% or the rod cost.

On a related subject, some of the biggest rip off artists I have seen are guys making "custom" rods. They go on about the balance, etc. and charge an arm and a leg for something that is crummier than a nice production rod.

Sorry, I had to vent.

Larry

Rods
 

I've got my Grandfathers Bamboo Powell rod with two tips. It was custom made for him by Powell and has his name on it, I can remember him using it on the head waters of the Feather river ( near Almanor, Ca ), when I was a kid. I won't use it now for fear of breaking it. It's a good piece for the wall in my man cave.

I use my Winston rod now.

Steve

73 911T MFI Coupe, Aubergine

Please don't put a Powell on the wall. They take a set from the gravity pull and damage them. Take your vintage cane to the river and catch fish. If you are careful, they are fine. Leave rods in the rod tubes unless fishing.

Larry

Powell
 

Thanks Larry, good advise, needed someone to push me to use it. Will hit the Truckee river with it this Summer.

Steve

73 911 T MFI Coupe, Aubergine

SWEEEET! I have a cane rod from my grandfather as well. He wasn't as flush as yours. It is a South Bend. I have caught fish on it however.

Same here. I made a stand up rod about 20 yrs ago. Help up for yrs, until I closed the tailgate of my Bronco on it. :(