Why build? How much I am really going to save? As a novice, I would buy an inexpensive blank and when finished have an inexpensive rod. Or buy an expensive blank and screw it up as a first timer So, why do it? Is personal satisfaction and gratification enough?
I am wrestling with this idea and keep going back and forth between building and buying.
Comments?
paflyfisher
[This message has been edited by paflyfisher (edited 10 May 2005).]
Why build?
You can save some money by choosing a good blank and using less expensive componants. For example a Pac Bay aluminum reel seat with a wood insert for $12 instead of a Venturi nickle-silver one for $50.
You can save a litle with your ‘sweat equity’ but don’t expect to have the skills of the folks at Winston or Sage right away.
Maybe you like the action of a Cabela’s Stowaway (blank only $30), but don’t like the stripper guide, handle shape, thread color or reel seat. For $40 worth of componants you can build you own version. so for $70 and a few evenings work you can craft your own.
As for starting with a expensive one or a cheap one it’s your choice. If you don’t like the blank you may end up with a rod that has sentimental value but you don’t actually fish with.
You can strip the componants and rebuild the rod if you don’t like how it turned out. Short of breaking the blank (which it possible) it’s hard to ruin somthing. Expensive blanks from a big name company are sometimes guaranteed against breakage.
Prices range from $30 to $400 for blanks. There are good casting inexpensive blanks, there are also bad ones. I expect you pay a premium for a name brand, esp. one with a warranty, but you can test cast a factory rod and then buy the same blank.
why not build ? why tie., why fish,I have a lot of fun building and don’t care if i don’t save money.but if you shop around and your not into the latest blanks etc you can save a lot of money.newest blanks are not always better.
kengore you hit it right on with your reasoning. I enjoy building my own, I am teaching my son (8y) to build, he is working on his 1st rod (I’m his technical adviser). You won’t save alot of money but you can put better guides on than what may be available on store bought. You can build it with your favorite color thread, add design wrap to the butt. Build one because you want to, not to save money.
Jeff
Lets Go Mets
There is nothing like being able to say I made it myself…FB.
“You are wrestling with the decision to build, or buy…?” Don’t build, if you are that undecided about doing anything…don’t do it.
Plain old Jim, I’m Plain…and I’m old.
right now Hook & Hackle has some kits on sale for amazingly low prices.
For me it is a hoot to catch a fish on a fly I tied on a rod that I made.
Rick
Couldn’t agree more. Like before I built my first canoe, I collected information and bought books, drooled at the MN State Fair as the builders demonstrated technique, went to the canoe building shows, the whole nine yards. Took me several months to build my first one. Ten or so later I can do one in a week by myself. I went through the same tripedation with rod building. Same process. I can’t build a rod without a being in a course. A St. Cloud Fly Tying club spent a winter going through the steps, I was told, but were already in the process. Round trip there and back was 2 1/2 hours without even considering the time for the class. There just wasn’t time. By then I’d found FAOL and I read Al Campbell’s instructions time and time again. Someone dropped Dan Craft’s name one too many times and I finally bit the bullet. Six rods later . . . I made mistakes, just like I did with my first cedar strip. I still make mistakes, although now I have enough experience to correct them. Only advise is that when you’re working a hobby and you reach a point where your so frustrated it isn’t fun, get up and go fishing. I’ve tied flies for years and years, and the other morning I kept breaking my thread. Out of nowhere my temper raged. Always a scary moment. I walked away only to come back a half hour later and have things work out. This is fun stuff. It isn’t rocket science. Work your way through the processes. I always feared laying strips on the forms, then realized it was the actual laying of the fiberglass cloth that was the scary part. With rods it’s making sure the epoxy is smooth without any telltale nubbins sticking out. Little things, really. The rest of it, really, is actually pretty simple. JGW
Why build?
Just wait until you catch a fish with a rod that you built with a fly that you tied. What a feeling! Plus it is a lot of fun to do.
Paul
JC,
This is exactly what is going through my mind - thanks for the article.
pa
I think building rods is valuable experience. I personally like building my rods, and I’d like it just fine if I never bought another factory rod. But, building isn’t for everyone, and that’s fine and dandy too. I still say the experience is valuable. What if you buy a rod without a lifetime warranty. Maybe a five year warranty? In year six you have a boo-boo and bust a stripping guide, oops! If you know your rod building stuff, the rod’s not junk and you can fix it in an evening granted you have a spare stripping guide on hand. The point is that even if your preference isn’t to do something yourself, it’s still handy to know how just in case you have to.
I think Kengore is on target.
It is a way of expanding a hobby we all enjoy.
Many blanks carry a warranty just like commercial rods. Of course it is only on the blank and not components, but if you built it you can fix it with a replacement blank.
Do you tye flys? Why Bother? You can buy very good flies at all outfitters for less money than it will take to outfit yourself to tie a new fly. YOU DO IT BECAUSE IT’S FUN.
I think it’s the same with rods. I have my expensive commercially built rods. And now I have my MUCH LESS expensive home made custom rods. They lood as good or better than the commercial rods, and they cast beautifully. AND I HAD FUN BUILDING THEM.
If your competent enough to tye flies that catch fish and don’t fall apart, and if you do some research, before you buy components, ask for help when problems arise (usually few) and take things slowly, you’ll end up with a very fine, choice fishing implement that you’ll be proud of.
As far as resale. When I buy, or build a rod that is the last thing I think of. Fishing rods are just not investment items. But who knows, I have heard of stories where guys fishing with their custom rods were talked into selling them to someone they met who just loved it. Then I guess you can go home and build another.
JMHO
Be the heron!
Mike
[This message has been edited by mmarkey (edited 14 May 2005).]
Great article JC, and as much as many would hate to admit it, tons of truth. I build rods, but certainly not for a living. some can do that and do it well but the bottom line is if I take my Winston 9’5 wt that I built, and not a bad job at all I might add being somewhat of a perfectionists, and put it beside the Winston built rod, you could see some differences of course, but it would mostly be in the text found on the rods. I used Winston reel seat, guides etc…but it just “ain’t the same”. When it comes resale time, no one every heasrd of me as far as building rods goes but they sure do know who Winston is and the factory built rod will usually fetch higher $$$$$…
Now haveing said all of that, I would bet my Winnie agaist their Winnie that they didn’t have any more fun building it, nor do they have any more pride in it than what I havein mine and to me that is all that counts. To some of the other builders, that do build for a living, my hat is off to you, David was always a favorite and when he took out Goliath…
Good article JC. How true it is. I custom build for many reasons, but most of all because I like to…like tying flies. My part time business keeps me much busier doing rod repairs than it does selling custom rods. The all mighty $ is the key factor, for most folks in my part of the country won’t spend the $ for a custom rod unless they are looking for something personal. That is where I come in. All of my own rods are custom built by me, more so to promote my business and workmanship and each one is something of a one of a kind nature. The promotion sells a few for me each year. I beleave that building is a personal choice and we each have our own reasons for doing so. Like your article notes, selling them is another matter.
There is the old saying if you have to ask how much you can’t afford it and if you have to ask why build… Dont.
Building your own anything is an inherited genetic trait. My dad his brothers and sisters my grand and great grand dad all made it through life as custom builders of one thing or another. Myself and my cousins and now our kids are all into making a buck custom building stuff, we can’t help it its inherited. When I was 10 I built and sold custom built model airplanes and still do, when I was 15 I built astronomical telescopes, by 18 I was custom building electric guitars. If and when I retire I hope to make a buck building cedar strip canoes…If you inherited the buildit gene you can understand where Im comming from…FB.
Took me a long time to reply to this one…LOL but, here goes.
Why build a rod: A.personal satisfaction
B.catching a fish on something you built yourself
C. you can get as fancy as you like (something you wont find on a factory rod. D. spend as much or as little as you like.(wife may get upset)
Now with that out of the way, I’ll address JC’s article: I think all points are valid. It does not address why build, what it addresses is why buy or sell. I can understand why some builders resented it. It told the truth, and that hurts sometimes. I do believe a custom rod can be built as good as a factory rod. I also believe a custom rod can be something a factory rod can never be, and that is personalized. But: anyone entering rod building should be aware , that if they plan on giving up their present bread winning job to strike out and make a living at rod building they may be in for a rude awakening. I build damn nice rods…I sell a few here and there…Thank GOD, I dont have to support the family with that money. So there’s my 2 cents for what it’s worth
Happy Building!!!
I build because I can. My 100 buck blank (or Less) catches just as many fish as a $500 factory model does. If it breaks I will build another.
I am with you Smernsky! I agree with all of that and I would add that most of the “professional” customer builders whose work I have seen generate some rods that put most of the factory rods in their place. I would also add that I don’t consider myself a pro, but I am none-the-less proud of the rods that I have built, or restored. I guess it is pretty obvious from all of the posts in response to the original question have one thing in common…we all do love to build rods.
I don’t build to sell. I don’t tie flies not to sell. When I buy a factory rod selling it is the last thing on my mind. I do it because I like the rod or enjoy the activity of building something special that nobody has it is mine alone unique. I do it cause it’s fun.
Buying factory made fishing equipment is not an investment so fi that’s on your mind maybe you should not. That stuff is going to drop in value imediately. At least when you build you’re spending about half plus your time. So the way I see it is your initial loss in value is very low. Granted you may never be able to sell it for what the retail of the factory built, but you would most likely get what you spent on parts. Your time is written of to entertainment.
But as I said I don’t build to sell If I accumulate too many rods I may donate some to boy scouts or pass them on to my family. JMHO
Be the heron!
Mike
Reasons to build your own Rod:
#1 Large Manufactors do not Spine the rods when building Thousands
#2 Custom Thread Colors
#3 Manufactors cut cost on the Guides, always buy the best guides you can afford
#4 The feel of catching a fish on a rod you built, just like Fly Tying…GRADIFACATION
of doing something well done