So I finally did it. I completed my first fishing rod. I've replaced tip tops. Plenty of guides but had never built a rod from a blank. My son wanted a rod with his old school colors, FSU. Now my youngest is asking when his will be finished. (The learning curve is steep!)
Mike
Germantown TN
Dude you freaking nailed it!
Nice build Mike!!! I have to try it this year. - Jimmer
Good looking rod. I have a build coming up, I just might borrow that thread combo. Bill
looks great Mike...and so it begins...🤙🏾
oh-oh welcome to the Rodbuilding rabbit hole ;D ;D
that rod looks good !!
Nice work Mike! However Carolina Blue would look better against that MHX logo :)
Thanks for the kind remarks! Now I'll start my younger son's rod in Alabama colors! Although my wife is not into fishing, I'll probably find myself building her a rod too in Georgia colors! (Saturdays during football season I like to go fishing by myself! 😉)
Excellent work, Mike! —-
Best, Fred
Finished my second rod for my youngest son with University of Alabama colors. He wanted his name painted on it and I actually like it better that way, more personalized. He has a Penn jigmaster (completely serviced) that matched just right.
Mike
it looks pretty good :d
:) Very well done , you took the time to do it right . The thread work is is nice and tight , the guides look to be in the right place . All that practice that you did payed off ...
Very nice. Next!
Very nice work Mike, it really helps you appreciate some of the good rods that others have built, once you have a go yourself, but I must say, your first & sencond rods are much better than I have ever completed, thanks for posting them, cheers Don.
Ok. Took a break from reels just long enough to build My new rod. It's a MHX X fighter that I'll take to the Gulf of Mexico to break it in. Pretty steep learning curve. I'm still having a few bubbles, but it's getting there
Mike G
Memphis Tn
If that's your second one you're a faster learner than me. Well done.
Down Another rabbit hole. I've built fishing rods for both my sons and a couple more for me now. My wife said where's mine? Well, That's all it took.
I can get her out on the water every couple years for half a day. The seas have to be forecast for just about flat calm! So might not get a lot of use but that's ok.
She wanted University of Georgia colors.
That's her reel she likes for bottom fishing in the Gulf. Sealine 400 with Bryan's 5 stack and Alan's handle.
:fish
They all look great. Nice work.
Todd
Nice looking rods, you've got it down
Wow! That makes me want to start building.Do you mind listing your building equipment if you have time,I have a cardboard mudhole rig,I can't see building a rod with it,My fingers go to sleep after just one guide,cubital tunnel had surgery now back like it was.Impressive work for 1st rods!
Quote from: jgp12000 on April 20, 2025, 05:04:38 PMWow! That makes me want to start building.Do you mind listing your building equipment if you have time,I have a cardboard mudhole rig,I can't see building a rod with it,My fingers go to sleep after just one guide,cubital tunnel had surgery now back like it was.Impressive work for 1st rods!
Unless you're trying to start a business one guide per day will still get you to a finished rod eventually
Quote from: jgp12000 on April 20, 2025, 05:04:38 PMWow! That makes me want to start building.Do you mind listing your building equipment if you have time,I have a cardboard mudhole rig,I can't see building a rod with it,My fingers go to sleep after just one guide,cubital tunnel had surgery now back like it was.Impressive work for 1st rods!
I bought the mud hole building kit. I did wait till it was on sale. I've found it has worked well for me. The one with the Hand Rod Wrapper and the Drying Motor with Rod Support. Keeps the rod nice and stable. The thread spool tensioner started to splinter (fiberglass?) so I wrapped it with tape. Seems to be ok but I'm sure I'll buy some replacements for it. I set up a building area in my boys room (they no longer use) with a long portable table. Yes my hand does get tired. The nice thing like Jason said, is I can close the door and com3 back later.
Nice work Mike.
There is a lot of satisfaction in building a rod right. And, those all look so good!
Frank
Great work on the rod. Forgot to say that on my previous post.
nice work, I like your inlays on the guide wraps on your last rod