Finally I had the opportunity to start building rods. I wanted to do that before COVID and well I just could do it last weekend, We have classes once a year in California from mh. Well this is the process of learning and that's the result. It is my first rod and I build that from scratch. I'll be happy to see your custom built rods and hear about your story. I paired mine with Aldabra temporary to get a reel for it. Also I did short YouTube video it show the rod closeup. I thank my four teachers who did teach me very well.

 

 

 

I built my first rod, a spinning rod about 70 years ago with components and blank from Herters, Waseca, Minnesota.  Their slogan was "Finest Procurable Products."  I don't have pictures of it; it has long ago been retired.  The blank was glass, the grip made from cork rings with simple sliding rings to hold the reel.   The guides were wire guides, no ceramic rings then.  Another similar rod, a Heddon, that I still have and that I liked very much, is so loose and sloppy feeling that I wonder how I liked them.  Blanks have come a LONG way since then.   I still have the thread tensioner I used back then, but don't use it anymore.  My second rod was a fly rod, also with Herters components.  Pic is second rod.

@ATA Sam...that rod looks great.

 

My first rod was built on a Fenwick Feralite blank circa 1975. It had a cork Tennessee handle and reel was attached with 3M electric tape. The guides were Fuji...the ones with the glow in the dark shock rings.

My first rod was also built from Herters components in the very early 50s.  It was a trout rod for 4 lb line. I might still  have it.

1 hour ago, Alex from GA said:

My first rod was also built from Herters components in the very early 50s.  It was a trout rod for 4 lb line. I might still  have it.

@Alex from GA Between you and @MickD and @spoonplugger1 Spencer....you guys have over 200 years of rod building knowledge.

My first build was a 6’ Med F bait casting rod  with too large of guides and wrapped in D thread. I was pretty pleased with myself. As I learned and improved my skills I’d look at it and shake my head. lol I’ve since rebuilt that rod and still use it. I often wish I’d left it original just as a reminder of where I started. 

I am starting second rod, Spinning slow pitch jigging rod for my grandson. Today I did customize the handle to cut the cork to make. it to split grip handle style. 

9 hours ago, Delaware Valley Tackle said:

6’ Med F bait casting rod  with too large of guides

I did the same thing with a nice Loomis spinnerbait blank, very early, and had to rebuild it because I couldn't stand looking down the blank with those huge guides.  Actually rebuilt it twice, now with micros and it's very nice.

11 hours ago, Delaware Valley Tackle said:

I’ve since rebuilt that rod and still use it. I often wish I’d left it original just as a reminder of where I started. 

Same here . . .

Just to throw it back a little...When I started, all the baitcasting rods were kinda short. None of the handles I was making went through the reel seat. 

I remember when I saw the pistol grip first time and learn about them, I have an idea that I am not sure if it is 100% true, But I think it was American first develope the pistol grip and then Japanese hold onto it by making rods specialized for creek fishing with pistol handles and then graduate to what you can see in BFS trout rods today. 

5 hours ago, ATA said:

I remember when I saw the pistol grip first time and learn about them, I have an idea that I am not sure if it is 100% true, But I think it was American first develope the pistol grip and then Japanese hold onto it by making rods specialized for creek fishing with pistol handles and then graduate to what you can see in BFS trout rods today. 

Lew Childres pioneered several different versions of the pistol grip and  which Fuji would go on to manufacture. (70' and 80's).

http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/13Handleprotos.jpg

http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/16Pistolgripcase.jpg

 

Pictures from BassMaster