Hi all,

I've been searching far and wide with no luck yet. I'm trying to find a source for pre made ice fishing rods that are complete and ready to be attached to a handle.

I'm just starting out building, I'm a woodworker and would like to make a few handles and not yet make full rods from scratch.

Thank you,

Travis

Your not going to be able to find what your looking off the shelf, your looking for a custom rod builder that will build you a rod with your handle. I do not know if anyone will build you a rod with no handle, well they might but it will be the same cost as having one build with a handle $80-$120

Go ahead and build one from scratch. Blanks and components for an ice rod are pretty inexpensive. Basically all you do is put on a handle and wrap on some guides, it’s not rocket science. Give it a try.
Norm

Travis,
Just pick up a bunch of these rods:

[sportsmensdirect.com]

Your choice of model.

Then, after getting the rod, cut off the grip and make one of your own and glue it on.

Of course, the rods as received actually work very well.

Take care

By the way, you can contact the folks at [sportsmensdirect.com] and check to see if they still have any of the rod blanks that have been setup with guides already.

A while back they sold these setups and may still have some in a back room.

Take care

Travis, you could easily wrap the guides on with a fly tying bobbin..only 3 or 4 guides plus a tip guide..no special tools needed..

ben belote Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Travis, you could easily wrap the guides on with a
> fly tying bobbin..only 3 or 4 guides plus a tip
> guide..no special tools needed..


and if you don,t want to mess with epoxy, there are one part finishes(no mixing) that look good, even varnish.

Thanks all, great info. Yeah, I'm pretty handy but when I seen the epoxy and then needing to spin the rod to maintain the glue properly for the guides I got a bit hesitant.

Travis,
If you worry about a dryer, buy a $10 motor and build a dryer and support system since you are handy.

Take care

If you need help, just drop me an e-mail.

I hand rotated rods for the first 10 or so years I built rods. Didn’t have a lot of money when I started building. Basically coat the wraps with finish, suspend the rod between two supports, and turn a 1/4 turn every 5 minutes for the first four turns, then every 10 to 15 minutes for the next hour than every 20 to 30 minutes until the epoxy will no longer move. Depending on the epoxy used and the temperature of the room, after two to three hours you will no longer need to turn the rod. If you see any sagging, just remove the sags. Sagging if it occurs will occur within the first 20 min or so. Epoxy finishes are self leveling and will cure nice and level even with hand turning. It’s also an easy way to learn just how much epoxy is needed to give a good finish. Most people use more epoxy than needed. Don’t be intimidated, you’ll be surprised just how easy it is. Ice rods are pretty small and don’t need a lot of space for turning, can probably be done using a cardboard box, as your support or the backs of two folding chairs.
Norm

Thanks you all again, much appreciated.