...how many of you actuallly make a living building fishing rods?..and if you do whats your advice for young builders?


MJ



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 04/26/2011 12:05AM by Michael Joyce.

Best advice: It is a great way to (possibly) pay for your hobby, but don't expect to get rich...

Walt Natzke
Ripon, CA

1/ Get involved with / set up a business relationship with 1 - 3 of the sponsors (including business license for wholesale pricing).
2/ Make contact with local fishing clubs & organizations (BASS chapters, Trout Unlimited chapters, Charter boat captains associations & tackle shops). Offer a repair service - I make more $ per hour at this than building new rods.
3/ Charge enough to cover your costs plus labor (ie: don't be afraid to ask a fair price for your work).
4/ Eventually you should consider setting up as a reseller (based on business relationships in #1).



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/26/2011 08:06AM by Ken Preston.

I believe Ken is right and i also make more from repairthan new rods. I would suggest you show up at your local tournements and don't be afraid to show off your work

Paul@soonercustomrod.com

mike, i do it because i enjoy making things and the process. I personally don't want to have to come home and have a bunch of rods to build if i don't feel like it. I have no intention of making this a full time job, making this a chore and not a passion. If i can make enough to support my habit then i am happy. this has also brought me many friends throught he years that i cherish. i would guess that there are very very few who truly do this as a living.

If you're going to do it for any sort of a decent living, you won't come out building $200 rods. You're going to have to build $1000 rods.

.............

Beer money LOL

Bill - willierods.com

There are probably a few hundred people making a full-time living in this business ... and very few "getting rich". 99% of them are manufacturers and distributors. Almost without exception, builders doing it professionally still have an income ... either from a day job or a retirement pension.

I echo J.P. Timberlakes statements exactly ! I've had a job for most of my life and I definitely don't want another one. IMO building full time would take the fun, experimentation, etc out of it and it would become just another "have to" situation
I get more out of the reaction from people when they get a one of a kind rod built specifically for them that I would in selling 20 "off the rack" identical cookie cutter rods. Don't jump as this is just my personal preference. Everyone has their own reasons and that's what it's all about!

Mike (Southgate, MI)
If I don't want to, I don't have to and nobody can make me (except my wife) cuz I'm RETIRED!!

Great answers....just wanted to throw that question out there. JP's was great because "having" to build a rod is horrible compared to "wanting" to build one.

MJ

NERB that types with a bar of Ivory soap in his mouth.

I will echo Mike and J.P. I also get a kick out of building rods for charity @#$%&. A lot of times the person that wins it does not fish and knows little about a fishing rod. These people think it is the prettiest fishing "pole" they have ever seen. Sometime I will build one specifically for the ladies. It will be Pink, Purple, some pretty color, and the bidding goes wild.

J.B.Hunt
Bowling Green, KY

If I wanted a boss over me to tell me what to do and complane when I am late for work --- I would get a JOB

Did body work for 30 some years and had enough of that

I work when I want to even at 2:00 in the morning and no boss to yell at me -- I yell at my self - But not often

Bill - willierods.com

I had a welding shop for over 10 years and people would say "but you are your own boss"... wrong, when you have customers you have a thousand bosses and mine used to call at all hours of the night. If you love to build rods, you may want to keep it as a great hobby and charge what you can. Plus, not everybody is suited to run a successful business, doing something that you love, does not necessarily guarantee success. Good luck on whatever you decide.