Hello all,
I'm Mike from Wisconsin. Ive been buying custom made ice rods the last two years. And it has sparked my interest in trying the craft. Could you please advise me on a good company to buy supplies from, and also help me with a list of essentials I need to get started. Also looking for opinions on best brands for blanks. Thank you in advance.
Mike

All the companies to the left of the page are top notch or they wouldn't be listed . Please tell us what you're looking to build Mike as thats the only way people could give you an appropriate list of essentials , sticking to Ice rod blanks or thinking about something else ? As far as " Whats the best brand " of blanks , good luck with that one , thats a never ending quest that none of us has figured out but if you tell us what you're looking to do we can give you places to start.

Thanks for the reply. My initial goal is to make some ice rods for me and the kids. I like noodle rods for panfish, 28" or less, with split seatless handles. Preferably a wood handle. Also would like to make a few walleye rods similar, but a bit heavier action.

OK thats the kind of info that helps to get great recommendations , unfortunately for you, i'm not the one that can provide it since i don't ice fish but i do have some links that will help.




[www.rodbuilding.org]


[www.rodbuilding.org]


[www.rodbuilding.org]

As far as blanks are concerned take a look at Bass Khang's offerings.His power noodle blanks come 36" long so you can cut them down to whatever length you prefer, the tips are light enough to fish gills without a spring bobber and at $7 a piece you can build a bucket full of them for a reasonable price.

What's a good wrapper to start with?

Hi Mike, I too am a newbie and just as clueless about a surf rod build as you are about an ice rod build, the best advice I can offer one newbie to another is to learn every minute detail about the rod you intend to build from the butt to the very tip of the rod. Use the top of this page "FAQ,Photos,Library" if it's not there then ask this forum, there are loads of pro builders like Herb and Jay and others I have not yet known that will steer you in the right direction. There is no greater joy in life than to participate in a sport WITH your children. Have a happy build and all the best Nick R.

I was in similar shoes as you at the end of last year.

Several of the vendors on the left hand side sell rod building kits. Mine came with a blank, all the components, and the basic things I need to build that rod, along with instructions. While I admit 3 months later I have upgraded many of my tools, it was great because it got me into the craft without overthinking things and spending a boat load of money.

Ice rods are the most challenging for me since they are so flimsy, hard to control in wrapping. Just a warning, if you start with them you might get discouraged, but trust me, it will get better with the more stout rods.

10-4 on the situation with ice rods and their overall response.


However, the solution is very simple. To wrap these very light action rods easily is to use a pair of very compact rod rests that capture the blank on each side of the guide in question and quite close to the guide, so that the short distance between the two rod rests does not allow for any significant blank deflection.

Here is one example of a rod rest using 3/4 inch shower door rollers to support the blank on extended narrow bars to allow for hand access close to and under the guide being wrapped:

[www.rodbuilding.org]

Another example of a very compact rod rest using fiberglass rod sections with a groove cut into the top with a dremel tool and inserted into a cutting board base. Multiple holes have been drilled into the cutting board base to allow the vertical rod rests to be spaced very closely together, or further apart.

[www.rodbuilding.org]



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/02/2019 10:07PM by roger wilson.