Custom making fishing gear

[Fat-G]

I'm a take things apart and put 'em back together kind of guy, and I really want to custom make something to use, ie a rod, supe up a reel, etc. I don't want it to break the bank though. Any ideas? I was thinking about either getting a rod-making kit from mudhole and learning how to do that, or tuning up my Citica. Any thoughts? Where do I get parts?

Thanks!

[Fat-G]

I'm leaning more towards a rod build. Can anyone give a list of EVERYTHING (tools, supplies, glue, EVERTHING) that I wolud need to do this project?

That would be a HUGE help!

[KYntucky Warmouth]

I'm not a rod builder but I don't think it's a cheap hobby.  I would suggest you take a look at some of these... http://www.jannsnetcraft.com/rod-building-books/

http://www.jannsnetcraft.com/rod-building/

[SWMIBASSER]

Either Mudhole or J/P has a bunch of videos posted. Take the time to watch them they are loaded with info.

Youtube has some rod building videos as well.

You don't need tons of stuff.

A blank, a guide kit-some companies will sell a guide kit based on the blank you select.

A handle kit, some epoxy glue, thread of your choice, finish of your choice....then watch the videos. I would buy things in kit form starting out. One of them sells a thread kit that comes with thread, burnisher, and scissors, finish with syringes and brushes, handles with arbors, butt caps etc.

Janns Netcraft

Johnny's Pond

Mudhole Tackle

Are your main places to get rod building components. If you are stepping up to build a good rod vs a practice one look to Rogue for excellent blanks. Rogue builds VERY underrated rods and were started by a member of the Loomis family.

A reel build would be easier. Update the reel to the bearings that the Curado has, orange seals for the spool bearings, carbon handle, carbon tex drag, supertune, repaint. etc, etc.

[Fat-G]

Either Mudhole or J/P has a bunch of videos posted. Take the time to watch them they are loaded with info.

Youtube has some rod building videos as well.

You don't need tons of stuff.

A blank, a guide kit-some companies will sell a guide kit based on the blank you select.

A handle kit, some epoxy glue, thread of your choice, finish of your choice....then watch the videos. I would buy things in kit form starting out. One of them sells a thread kit that comes with thread, burnisher, and scissors, finish with syringes and brushes, handles with arbors, butt caps etc.

Janns Netcraft

Johnny's Pond

Mudhole Tackle

Are your main places to get rod building components. If you are stepping up to build a good rod vs a practice one look to Rogue for excellent blanks. Rogue builds VERY underrated rods and were started by a member of the Loomis family.

A reel build would be easier. Update the reel to the bearings that the Curado has, orange seals for the spool bearings, carbon handle, carbon tex drag, supertune, repaint. etc, etc.

How much would a reel tuning cost? I really don't want to spend over $100.

How much would a rod cost?

[BIG M]

You can build a rod for under a 100 bucks.   Go to the sites listed and look for kits.   I was able to build 2 spinning rods for about 70.00 per kit.   I just followed the directions that came with the kit.   I did make a home made wrapping station out of cardboard and it worked.

My rods are plain with simple wraps but both have worked well for me over the past 4 yrs.

[wickyman]

Not much in the way for tuning for a citica...  Now, if you had anything more expensive, you could get a carbon fiber handle, MG spool, and bearings.  I think the only thing you can do on the citica is to change out the bearings?

[deadeye32.]

I have a hand wrapping set that locks on to the edge of a table I could sell for $20 plus shipping.  It has the two rod holders and a thread tensioner.

http://www.jannsnetcraft.com/rodwrappers/027471300002.aspx

[flechero]

Everything you need, including a list of tools and jigs you can make are only a search away... free and in this very section. Start with the sticky on rodbuilding and then search a few things. A simple search of "lathe" with no date restriction will reveal a few of the tool and jigs threads.

Once you do that, you will have some specific questions that we can answer for you.  It would take a book to answer your question right now.   

[SWMIBASSER]

Not much in the way for tuning for a citica... Now, if you had anything more expensive, you could get a carbon fiber handle, MG spool, and bearings. I think the only thing you can do on the citica is to change out the bearings?

I would start with replacing bushings in the reel with bearings. As I understand the curado is the same frame as the Citica and in place of bearings the citica uses bushings.

All stainless Abec 5's under the driveshaft for instance.

Side plate and spool bering Abec 7 orange seals.

Carbontex drag.

Carbon handle (bunch of different knob options.

Light spool....Not sure what will interchange here but maybe other Shimano reel spools will.

The reel can be painted also (put this is more modifying than tuning).

For mostly free you could pick up a quality low viscosity oil, take apart the reel, soak all the bearings to clean and remove grease and then add a thin oil, very sparingly.

Note ALL contact points inside the reel. For instance end of the spool shaft at the cast control knob, all cam contact areas and polish those. Polish the drag surfaces to a mirror finish.

Possibly polish the end of the pinion (this depends on reel design and I'm not familiar with shimano)

Something else I'll say. To me, if you are starting with a quality reel, it makes sense to start with an inexpensive reel, if you are planning to do upgrades.

For instance the Revo that I'm working on. It doesn't make sense to start with an STX or Premier since most of the parts separating the STX and Premier from the cheaper reels in the line, would get replaced anyhow.

For instance, handle, spool, bearings, drag etc.