Some Custom Rod Builds

[Basstaic]

This whole fishing thing is a sickness.  It started out with just catching fish.  Then I had to catch a fish on a rod I built.  Of course that led to the need to start pouring my own baits.  I hope I never feel the need to build a reel, but here are the first three rods that I built.  I have caught a lot of fish on all three of them.

VENOM
St. Croix SC3 blank and real rattlesnake skin inlay in the handle.


STORM
St. Croix SC5 blank / alconite guides - I made this to be the best drop shot rod I could make.  I spared no expense on this one.


ECLIPSE
TFO Rod Blank - I won a TFO rod in a tournament, but didn't like it, so I stripped it down to the blank and rebuilt it from the ground up with a better handle, better cork, and better guides.  I like the way it fishes now.

[pjmcla]

Very nice work.  Beautiful rods. 

[WALLEYE WACKER]

Great web site and video's awesome looking rods. mike

[sim]

If I didnt already have a rack full of GLXs, I think I would be talking to you about that Venom - that's a sweet looking rod right there -

Who am I kidding - I might be calling anyway.

Hi, my name is Sim - and I'm a tackleholic.

[Denny Welch]

I've got a good friend who builds most of my rods for me. His name is Larry Lee and he owns L3 Rods. In fact, he buys some of his rod building materials from Do-It. His most recent rods were some finesse rods that are not only beautiful, but true works of art.  He substituted the cork with turned hardwoods.  Those rods are fantastic.

[MO QWACK]

Those aren't rods, those are totem poles of fishing art!!!!! Beautiful pieces just beautiful 

[Muskygary]

Those are fantastic!! If I had a rod like that; I'd be afraid to fish with it because I might break it and it's not nice to watch a grown man cry!!

[Igor]

Never worked with snakeskin. Is it difficult?

[Basstaic]

Snakeskin is very easy because it stretches a little if you make a slight mistake on the cut.  I watched a Youtube video on the process and it explained it very well.  I can't remember what video it was but I am sure it would be easy to find on Youtube.  I got the snakeskin from Mudhole and plan to make a trout rod with it sometime this month. 

I quit making these rods to sell because they take so long to build.  I am focussing on baits for now, because there is always something new to pour and experiment with on the lake.

[captian chaos]

Can you use fish skin ?
I have seen shark skin leather thought you might be able to tan fish skin and use it.
Just s thought

[Basstaic]

I'm not sure about that.  Seems like it would be too soft.  If you make it work, let us know