Hello to all,
New to the site and to rod building
I would like to get started but not sure where
to start.i thought about purchasing a starter
kit but all kits say there the best.I want this
to be a hobby not a job.advice ,tips,anything
really would be great so I can get started.
Thank you in advance.....

Craig

Check out Mudhole.com they have some very good kits at a hobby price. Their MHX rod blanks are a good quality and priced well.

Hi Craig,
Get yourself some books like Tom Kirkman's "Rodbuilding Guide" which contains excellent basics or Dale Clemen's "Advanced Custom Rodbuilding" which has been acknowledged as the rodbuilding bible. The Mudhole kits are good plus they can supply you with all the components of your choice to complete a build. Do some practice before you start a build and see if you can find a builder in your area who is prepared to help as that can be invaluble.

ESFNEM Col
Port Kembla, NSW
Australia

Go to the ICRBE next week. You will learn more than you can ever get on your own, meet the folks who make and design, and get all the supplies you need

to start out look at a lot of ""' you tube "" there is a lot on " you tube " it will give you a lot to soak up an a lot of ideas

The kits are really bare minimum in my opinion. You will find that you will want more and more equipment and want to try more techniques. You will soon have a shop section of your house, storage bins for parts and thread, rod blank storage, a cabinet for epoxies and the myriad of bottles and containers you obtain.
Once that proves insufficent, or just not as efficent as your mind can imagine, you will upgrade all that. It's a vicious cycle...

Craig it would help to know where you fish, what you fish for, and how. Also if you are looking to build a spinning, casting, or fly rod. I'm always a little surprised when folks ask for advice but don't mention any of the above.

A kit is an easy way to start. However I think that the guides and handle options are lacking and you can do much better. It is best in the long run if you acknowledge that you are going to build more than one rod and buy a stock of parts up front. It is the shipping that will kill you and it stinks to not have the perfect sized guide to make the rod just right.

One point I'll mention. If you are going into this to save money stop right now. It isn't that it is impossible to save a few bucks just that you are quickly going to be upselling yourself. Given the time and effort to make a nice rod it makes sense to spend a little more on the blank and the guides. Soon you will see how much better the rods fish. Then you will be spoiled and unwilling to fish with what you used to consider "okay".

Blank names like Lamiglas, St. Croix, and Baston/Rainshadow are always wise buys. Add Seeker and Calstar if you are after tuna. Typically your best value is the blanks about 1/2 to 2/3rd's up the product line. That might be a SC3 or RX7 but so much depends on what you need for where and how you fish. Mudhole's MHX line is good value and an ideal starter blank IMHO.

Your best buys will be discontinued/closeout/overstock/blems. However it takes time/experience to know what you are buying in that market. The other best deals are black friday/cyber monday period. In all cases you want to plan your fishing arsenal and purchase a few blanks (and all the parts) at a time or shipping will kill your budget.

You mention you want this to be a hobby and not a job. Okay, cool. We are here to help. Just understand that it is you that is making a decision to make a custom rod. Some degree of thought and planning is required of you in the process. There is no point in going down this path unless you are willing to make sure your rod will be better than a store bought rod of the same amount of dollars. You can't compete on wholesale pricing and volume. You will have to do it by making better choices on the blanks for your applications and better fit and ergonomics for your style of fishing. In short you do have to do your part. Rest assured it is within your abilities and fun. Rest assured you are about to start an addiction.

I'm not trying to chase you away. Just trying to get you to approach this with an "all in" mentality.

Russ in Hollywood, FL.

First,I would like to give a BIG thank you to all who took
The time to reply to my post.I live in southern Ohio,about
An hour south of Columbus.I fish freshwater,mainly for bass
Panfish and little for walleye.I really just want to get started
And realize that this will probably be an addicting hobby.
I was just looking for some guidance into getting started.
I have been reading and watching you tube,and have
Picked up some info.I have yet to purchase anything,as
I want to narrow down what I need before hand.again thanks
For the help and I look forward to the forum.

Craig

Go to youtube an watch Anglers Envy you will learn a lot just from a few videos. Other than that just ask some specifics and the people at mudhole will also give a helping hand.

Craig,

What point are you at in your rod building? Are you wanting to know what basic equipment to obtain first, before starting to purchase your components? In addition to the how to?

Chris



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/17/2013 02:01AM by Chris Herrera.

Craig, I live in Dublin, OH, and enjoy the same kind of fishing that you do. My favorite all around Ohio blank is Mudhole's SJ782-MHX. I fish bass, bluegill, crappie, saugeye, walleye and perch, and if I could only use one rod, this is it. I have also become a recent convert to the Microwave guide system and I have built several Microwave rods for myself and customers. The blank is 1.7 oz. and finishes to just over 3 oz. - light as a feather. Mudhole has a kit (MHXMW-11) that includes this blank and Microwave guides. If you want to upgrade, per Russel's advice, you can skip the kit and purchase the blank, upgrade guides, reel seat and handle system, etc., separately. Feel free to email me and I will send my phone # if you want to discuss.

John Gaylord
Keewaydin Custom Rods
Dublin, OH; Naples, FL
jgbuckeye@gmail.com

John,I will e- mail you.
My email add. Is craig_73@myfrontiermail.com

Thanks,Craig