I must say that I'm truly inspired by some of the work I've seen in this forum...but one nagging question keeps popping into my head; What is the incentive to build custom rods~is it personal, or professional? In other words, you invest all this money getting setup to do it...build a number of less than perfect rods while you learn the craft (presumably) at a significant cost..and for what? Don't get me wrong, I make all kinds of emotion-based, expensive-fishing-gear decisions all the time, and AM feeling the temptation to get into rod building. The logical side of me is saying that I'll get all the gear, make a few rods, then have to invest alot in blanks to continue the hobby. The number of rods I actually need is "zero"...but I know I would want to keep at it.

Trying to understand, needing some direction..or argument to get into yet ANOTHER fishing-related obsession! lol

Cheers,
TZB