Want to build a crappie rod or two

Ok , I know just enough to get into trouble on the subject of rod building . A little history on my experience , about 30 years ago I built 2 catfish rods they came out good IMHO. I did it by checking a book out of the library and used it as a guide . Fast forward to today and I have been spending my time bank fishing lake Shelbyville for crappie . I like to use a jig and sometimes a bobber to catch the fish with . Lots of time where I want to fish is a long cast from shore . I prefer to use 1/16 oz jigs some times a little lighter and going no heavier than 1/8 oz jigs . I like using a 9 ft or 10 ft rod for making these long casts . My goals are to make a rod at a reasonable cost that can cast a light jig a long distance and that same rod be as sensitive to light bites as possible . Whats a reasonable cost ? To me no more than 100 bucks preferably less . So in this day and age theres a lot of resources available online especially . My question to this forum of rod builders with experience is whats the simplest way for me to build a crappie rod ? I will need a resource to help me choose rod componets and then the instruction on assembly . I am not sure if this can be done without many many hours of research hence I am asking you guys here .

Thank you

I’m sure there are many suppliers that can get you the components you need. I live close to and use Mudhole and I’m pretty pleased with them so far. They have some videos also and a catalog of components you can look through and build it on paper and then bounce your ideas off of some of the more experienced builders and you’ll be on your way. I’ve done a few and I’m no authority. I’ve heard of fly rod blanks being used but never did one of those for crappie fishing yet. Good luck and have fun with it.

Thanks for the reply skeetbum I have decided to order a book on the subject . I have yet to determine if the handmade rods are any better than the boughten rods . I hope that doesnt sound offensive to this group . Maybe I simply need to understand fishing rods better . For example I have not figured out why a St Croix rod costs 3x what a B&M rod costs . Thats not being critical of either companies products its simply an example of where my mind is on the subject of fishing rods.

In saying this I am in no way slamming B&M, but they use the cheapest components (blank guides reel seat cork) they can buy to build a rod. They out source the labor ( China) and the story Rights in self on how you can buy them for so cheap. they make their money on mass sells of the product. St Croix uses name brand components and designs and produces Most if not all of their own blanks. Depending on witch rod you are looking at buying, some are made in Park Falls, Wisconsin ( USA made so your paying more and getting a better product) and to get the price down the lower end rods are made in Mexico if I remember right. You would be amazed looking at production say bass rods in a shore that are 300$ to 500$ that are sold with FUJI this and this and that to make you think its the high end. And when you know what your looking at it is the entry level cheapest fuji guide they make and that 450$ rod has a 30$ guide set on it. This is why I got into Custom rod building Because I can build with the best components and set the rod up the way I want it built.

I build custom rods as a side business, so for example the guide set I put on my crappie rods cost more then the built out the door taxed product from B&M and are middle of the road but still better then about any guide you will ever see on a production rod. The blank cost more more as well. I haven't even got the handle set up or started the labor part of this and I'm already at 2x the price. Most custom rod builder's fee is about 114$ to 130$ per rod for a normal build. Could I get the cheaper blanks and guides with EVA handle and some no name reel seat and build a rod for what it cost to buy a B&M sure but why waist 2 to 4 plus hours on doing it as cheaply as you can. This is why I only take crappie rod orders when I have the time to build them since I don't charge as much to build them, to keep the price down at 200$. My inshore and bass rods are 400+ $ and have the top end components to match what the price is.

If you were gonna build a fella a 12’ jigging/livescoping rod, about how light could you make it and what kinda cost would a fella be looking at? Feel free to pm if ya prefer

Thank you Slabmaster for the detailed reply I will definately study up on the USA Made components . I have a little bit to learn here I definately want to build my own fishing rod . Getting an appreciation for options and what you can make on your own is a bit overwhelmingvat this point .

The hardest part is picking a blank after that it’s window dressing. I would call mudhole and getbitoutdoors and ask what blank they think would be best in your price range. Then pick your guides and handle set up. Get a nocp thread so you don’t have to put a color preserver on the thread so it doesn’t change color when you put the epoxy on it. The epoxy on a regular thread will have a wet shirt affect. Practice your wrapping until you feel comfortable or you will start and and by the end of the rod you will get better and will end up re doing the first half. Other then that take your time and have fun.

Gbcorley has built way more rods than I ever will probably. As far as why do we build, it’s for the personal preference he spoke of. Cost isn’t a factor for me but for some rods I’m just not spending the tuition money for an inexpensive work rod that’s going to see rough usage. That doesn’t mean that you don’t put your heart and best efforts into it. I have rebuilt a few rods and done some repairs for friends and learn something on every one. I’m reworking an older lightning rod now and while it will be great for my purposes, a customer would be disappointed. It was primed and painted when first made and it’s difficult to get all the primer out of the pores of the blank. Buying tools for this is like anything else, buy good tools first and you won’t have to upgrade later. I would love to have a power winder machine and have used one that a friend loaned me, but space is an issue so it’s on the back burner for now. I make a nice rod without it, but it would be nice. Wants and needs. Try to keep it in the perspective of your experience. Some folks tie a few and don’t do any more. Can’t understand that but it happens. I hope you’ll have fun with this and stay after it. I pour paint and tie my own jigs, and now use a rod I built also. Just ups the fun factor. Looking forward to seeing you get started.

I truly appreciate the advice and the venders to contact . I do have reading material on the way . This seems to be like a lot of things in life you gotta read up on it to appreciate whats going on . I am not looking for a magic wand to make me a the best fisherman ,but I do think the proper equipment might help . Thanks again for sharing hard earned knowledge.

Skeetbum I am going to make a couple of rods for sure . If they turn out well , functional lol, then I plan on making a couple of friends rods . What little I have read so far it amazes me how little I know about pickingvthe right fishing rod . My goal is to get something that casts a 1/16 oz jig well AND has sensitivity . I have yet to determine if this is feasable or not . As far as purdy goes i hope theres some simple things I can do but as I said function is my priority . Whatever happens I plan on making a good effort at it lol. Hell who knows maybe I can impress my buddies , nah that aint gonna happen lol.

Please yourself with your work first as we are our own worst critics. If your friends like it, and they probably will, then that’s great. If not, it’s their loss. I built a rod from a $15 blank from mudhole, a house brand blank, and it’s an ultralight with a pretty parabolic action. Softer in The lower portions than I really care for but it does a fine job. All in at about $75. They have other blanks similarly priced that have different actions and may better suit your needs. Do your homework, it pays off later.

The mudhole hmx light freshwater blanks aren't bad and are lower in price. They are a thin walled blank so not the strongest but for the price point not to bad, just don't high stick them. Blanks in the 2-6 line class blanks cast a 1/16oz well. A 4-10 line class will work well also if you like a stiffer rod. Most of the rods I build are 4-6 or 4-10 pound line class but I personally like the 1-5 or 2-6 line class blanks.