hello every one i;m new to the site and to rodbuilding. boy do ihave alot of questions and don;t know where to begin. ..ok i live on longisland and i fish the ocean i see a lot of real nice rods but the prices can really put a dent in the pocket. so i need to learn how to build my own. but nothing fancy for right now,one step at a time

Click on the FAQs , library, and Glossary on the top of the page for starters ,there is a ton of info in them . You can also use the search button to look for specific items . If you are looking for parts , the sponcor list on the side of the page will lead you to unlimited products , just look around . When you have decided to ask a specific question , try a search first and see what you come up with . You can also scroll thru the endless previous posts pages , alot of times you will see the question you are about to ask already answered for you . Have fun , hide the credit cards . John

Got Fish ?

The Flex Coat DVD, How We Do It, is a great beginner's guide to rod building. For more specific information, the Volume 7 #1 issue of RodMaker has a detailed article on building all manner of surf rods. For now, get the Flex Coat DVD, you can worry over specifics later.



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We have some great sponsors listed at the left side. I have ordered from several of them and have never been disappointed in their service. I recently ordered some standup blanks from Utmost Enterprises and from Lamar Reel Seats. These blanks will be made into rods for snapper and grouper fishing in the Gulf. I have to build several because my kids always want to borrow mine. I paid less than $30 a blank. I know I will save some money on these and I will have the rods I want or need for that style of fishing. From time to time our sponsors will have sales and you can get some blanks at a very good price. There will be an expense in getting started in rod building but it will all work out in the end. I started on a 9 wt. fly rod today that when finished I will have around $100 tied up in it. It will be as good as those $600 rods that I see in fly shops. I also got the blank at a discount from Lamar Reel Seats. This is a great hobby and I am sure you will enjoy catching fish on rods that you made.

Ellis

Another good video is the one by Doc Ski on building custom rods. He deals more with the heavy stuff but you will learn how to install butt grips and wrap guides. Tom is too modest. You shouldn't be without his book ROD-BUILDING GUIDE. It is a great book for anyone starting rod building.

Alvester; The person you want to look up is Billy Vivona he is there in your area. He is the head of a group of Builder called the Nerbs (north east rod builders) or Abe goldberg the professer he's from Long Island. Billy holds building classes up there some where



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/04/2005 07:34PM by Barry D Thomas Sr.

Alvestor. In additin to the references above, check the Rodbuilding forum + archives on stripersonline.com, and the noreast.com message boards. SOL is a surf fishing site, the top one in teh NOrth East, and there is info on every surf blank imaginable in the archives.

The Rodmaker article on surf rods has to be the definitive work on the subject. It has anything and everything that's ever been done on surf fishing rods. Blanks, guides, handle lengths, how to match blanks to your customers size and strength, what holds up and what doesn't. It was really detailed.

Alvester , your email is hidden . Give me a call at 804-746-9711 . The way we have been sending surf blanks to NY and MD I thought every body there had one by now . We will be glad to help how ever we can . Robert w/ Fishsticks4u . We are on the sponsor list .