The Spoonpluggers Forum

Anyone build their own rods? Just ordered some 5’ ultralight blanks I’m going to build for the kids.

Paul Stanick is building rods, I'll get you his # if you want. Just send a pm.

Fun project with the kids. We built these 5’ ultralights

Santa is building rods

Nice job Bink.

First 2 Spoonplugging rods.
6’ medium heavy fiberglass
6’6 medium heavy fiberglass

you've started an expensive bad habit... Went on a jigging rod binge this winter myself.

Those are awesome Neil!!! What type blanks? How are you printing those labels? I did a ice rod wits come cork work. Turned out nice but my garage is still cover in dust.

Batson Revelation and Eternity blanks, or, Northfork Composites (G Loomis) Xray blanks are my preferred choices for spinning / jigging rods. Labels are factory and the River Rod's labels are from Decal Connection. Turn the cork on a Jet lathe. That does make a mess and takes quite a bit of clean up and time for the dust to settle before wrapping and finishing - I do run a dust collector when turning cork which helps. Your rods look really nice too!

this one is on the rotisserie waiting for epoxy to cure now

Geez Neil! If i had know you were rod building, I would have ordered a couple!!!
Beautiful job!

a 30 year old bad habit... I had an ACL done way back when and was bored to tears - it's been downhill ever since. Compared to what some of the Pro's do, I'm a complete amateur.

Neil that last one looks awesome! What’s kind of reel seat is that clear one? I need to invest in a dryer Iv been having to rotate by hand and babysit for hours.

Bink wrote: ↑Fri Apr 08, 2022 12:10 am Neil that last one looks awesome! What’s kind of reel seat is that clear one? I need to invest in a dryer Iv been having to rotate by hand and babysit for hours.

This the one you're referring to?
https://getbitoutdoors.com/getbit-breaper

It's not actually clear, it's just got a painted design on it.

And, turning rod by hand, there's a lot of big time builders that swear that is how you get the best proxy finish. So if a fella has time to do it that way it's actually a good thing.

Neil, I used to buy my rods at Wal Mart. Everything I owned was MH. One day a friend handed me a rod and said to fish with it. What a mistake and an eye opener. None of the rods I made ever turned out like I wished. Not pretty or what I had in mind. Now when I buy a rod, I go to the local tackle shop, bring a reel with me and run the line through the guides and feel how its going to be. I am fond of the Dobyns rods and have what I can afford. Each one is a tool to do a job like different golf clubs would be. When casting all day, I want to have what works in my hand and not wore out at the end of the day. You make some good looking stuff. John

John -- Really important matching reels to rods for quite a few reasons - primarily guide height and spacing. Lot of folks have specific handle lengths and handle material along with reel seat specifications...I try to have the person wanting the rod to get me the reel they'll use but if they aren't local it's a guess. There is a ton of great factory made rods in all price ranges for sale (I've never seen a Dobyns but have only heard good things about them). It's primarily something to do for a month or two when the water is hard.