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I think the title says it all lol. I just finished a rod all totaled up I have about $180 in it . Is that about normal ? Seems high to me but I will say I learned a lot about fishing rods . I am just curious on others thoughts about diy fishing rods not just cost mind you any thoughts good or bad . I especially would like to know what your buying stratagies are for components. I would like to make some rods for my friends is why I ask . As usual thank you all for your help and opinions .
We have no idea what you wanted and what you bought, a high end rod could easily cost that much. Does that include all the infrastructure needed to build the rod also, or just the components? If so you won't need to buy that stuff again on the next rod.
Quote:
Originally Posted by kegler01
I am workin on 6 Walleye rods for MYSELF, and have about $1,200.00 Retail wrapped up into material alone. thats roughly $200 a rod.
The problem with rod building is the build parts. You can get a AWESOME blank, or a less costly blank. You can get colored Split grips, or just cork. Each choice adds up. Thats does not count any time for chevrons. I do not do chevrons, as I want practicality, for the working man, not an art pole for fishing. (Its just my mind set, nothing wrong with a chevron wrapped pole)
I went with Winn Split Grips, ($18.00 Each) and Rainshadow blank's, designed specifically for Bandits, that are the lure of my choice on Lake Erie.
I got carbon casting reel seats, etc, etc. etc. When done, its way more than anticipated, but the end results are so much more than store purchased.
I see it as good, I get SPECTACULER Rods, that I could not touch in a store, or find. What box store is going to ahve the thread colors I want? as every St Croix Avid is identical to the one right next to it.
I see no negative other than price when building your own, but if its for you, build it how YOU want it.
I get my parts from GetBit Outdoors, as I have a wholesale partner agreement with them. Only draw back, some times parts are not availble, (Could be any vendor, not just Getbit) depending on your color choice, etc. Find yourself a person/business who is reliable, and go from there, willing to work with you.
Mudhole, has the best/easiest web page to navigate, but there blank selection is limited to MHX blanks mostly. Getbit has a better selection of higher end blanks, but page seems hard to navigate at times.
OE
Ok what I quoted was just rod components . Rainshadow blank , Fuji split grip kit, and Fuji KR guides. The items I used to build the rod were all DIY kinda things . Sounds like from the post above my costs were not out of line . I may need to be patient and fish this rod I made more to fully appreciate it.
Should not be dispponted at all.
Its not machine made. Like a firearm safty, a maching is a mecahnil device that an sometimes fail
I have a St Croix Avid, that I bought, It was not until I learned to build rods, I went back , and looked @ some of my store purchased rods. Sure enough, one of the 2 that I ahve is not spined properly.
Go figure, but after building my own, its/they are hands down better than anything purchased in a store.
OE
I don’t put a price on my rods for myself. I built a 4 wt Fenwick fly rod first and in reality, could have bought one for lots less. Really enjoyed the learning curve and wouldn’t change anything about it. Cost doesn’t eleven figure into it.
A fella would be hard pressed to buy a rod off the shelf rod exactly like he would want it. Then you are left rolling your own.. The rod I built in the 90's cost $140. The blank was a closeoutand only cost $15 of that total. I ended up with a very good inshore rod that caught its fair share of redfish, flounder and some big freshwater cats
The price window is huge. I can build a crappie rod that is better than anything off the shelf for probably 100$ to a top shelf rod in the 350 plus range. My inshore rods go from about 140 to hell Ive got some that have well over 800-1000$. When you start adding JDM blanks, Titanium/torzite guides, hand crafted grips, time consuming wraps the price of the rod jumps up fast. I mean a 7'6" fuji Titanium/torzite guide set alone is around 180$ retail price plus a 12$ tip.
I truly appreciate the feedback thank you all it gives me perspective I never had before.
Kegler, don’t feel alone. I’m toying with the idea of a 7’6”inshore spinning rod. Salt water eliminates some of the less expensive components, don’t want to do it twice. Haven’t even gone blank shopping yet but I know I’ll build one one day soon. Just finished a weeks vacation and fished nothing but salt and did pretty well. LOVE me some salty topwater!
Skeetbum,
Check out the Pac Bay titanium Minimas, all the bennies with out the costs. Don't know what else wouldn't hold up in the salt.