Question for the rod builders. $$$

[Double__Digits]

I may or may not (depending on the cost) be in the market for a bottom contact M or MH casting rod. Any ideas what the range of cost may be?

 

I'm completely ignorant of the prices custom rods demand. I suspect it's a premium but don't know if I'd be looking at $200 or $2K 

 

Thanks in advance..

Feel free to PM me if preferred.

 

 

[diehardbassfishing]

I paid $360 for a very nice rod. Called out everything - including beautiful diamond wrap.

 

Karl

[spoonplugger1]

Material costs plus $150, will get you close depending on where you live. Anything fancy will cost you extra, and considerably more expensive because of the expertise and time involved. Fancy wraps or weaves are sold by the inch with a minimum.

[Crackintubes]

Can be however much you make it. 

Bare minimum for a basic rod would be in the $200-$250 range I'd say. 

If you decided you want lots of aesthetic parts, like a good, aluminum trim, etc, it'll really start to skyrocket.

[Steveo-1969]

My custom bottom contact casting rod was $400. Almost half of that cost was just the blank.

[MickD]

Different custom builders charge different rates for labor.  Almost all will get the components for about the same price.  I believe if you are going to go custom, find a good builder with a good reputation, maybe DVT on this forum, and discuss in detail what you want to do with the rod and what your priorities are (function/style/bling/etc). 

 

Some techniques can prosper from the best of the blanks; others, like cranking, can be done very well with blanks costing well less than $100.  A good guide set will run about $50-60, seat about $10-20 depending on how deluxe (but a seat costing about $10 will work just fine) you want to go.  Spoonplugger put it at about $150 + components, so you could get a good cranking rod for 150 + 80 blank + 55 guides +10 seat + 20 grips (can vary a lot), + thread/epoxy/keeper/etc, total about $325.  For a good finesse rod I would go with a premium blank, add another $100.  

 

Keep in mind a rough estimate.  Basic but handsome guide wraps.  Will most likely perform better than big box store rods.   Will last a lifetime or more with good care.  Won't be $2K.

 

Probably should mention the federal excise tax of another $10.

 

If I were to make that rod I would be working for minimum wage or less; I'm a half-fast builder.

[S Hovanec]

2 hours ago, MickD said:

 

If I were to make that rod I would be working for minimum wage or less; I'm a half-fast builder.

I usually put about 2x the labor that I actually charge for on my builds.  I'm too picky about stuff, so I take more time than I should.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Expect a quality build to cost as much as or a little more than a comparable over the counter rod plus extra for decorative wraps and custom turned grips. I get why people care hesitant to give a budget out of the gate, but if you trust your builder, providing a range saves them time providing an acceptable quote. 
 

[Double__Digits]

Thanks Guys.

Your insight is much appreciated.

As if you couldn't tell, I'm completely ignorant when it comes to the world of custom rods. But I'm intrigued enough to give one a shot.

 

So here goes more questions.

What blank would you guys recommend?

What guides, seats, etc? I mean, (decorations and adornments aside) if you were building the best bottom contact rod you could for T-rigs and Jigs, what would you choose for components?

 

I'm in Central Virginia. Are their any custom rod builders in my area?

 

Any recommendations for a builder to use?

 

Thanks in advance.

 

 

[DaubsNU1]

You might explore building your own.  I had a buddy back in the 90's who was obsessed with building his own fishing rods. Researching back then was much more difficult -- no YouTube or internet.  

 

Give it a try. 

 

I've been teaching myself to weld...working on this...

 

[MickD]

2 hours ago, Double__Digits said:

What blank would you guys recommend?

you need to define what you want the rod to do.  Fly, spin, cast, technique, fresh, salt, lure weight, line type and pound test?  

[Double__Digits]

13 hours ago, MickD said:

you need to define what you want the rod to do.  Fly, spin, cast, technique, fresh, salt, lure weight, line type and pound test?  

Bottom contact casting rod for T-rigs, primarily 3/8oz jigs + trailer, etc. 

[MickD]

Medium power, fast action graphite, I like 7 foot.  Make sure you pick a blank that has the lure weights you want to cast well within its recommended lure range.  Rainshadow Revelations are very nice blanks for the money, as are American Tackle Bushidos.  I wouldn't spend a fortune on a blank for the first build because you most likely will get a lot better with each early rod.  You could go lower than these and still get a good rod.  CRB's from Mudhole, and Get Bit Outdoors lower end blanks.  Don't go crazy on guides either.  Most any guide on the market today is superior to those that have caught millions of fish on big box rods.  Use a double foot size 10 for the first guide, about 19 inches out from the reel, then single foot guides (ceramic ring guides often called "fly guides")  of about size 5.5 all the way to the tip.  Locate with the stress test/guide locator found at Anglersresource.net.  A two line stress test is easier than a one line because the guides can be moved while the rod is stressed and the guides do not take the load of stressing the blank.  I like to use 9 guides + tiptop on 7 foot rods.

[Double__Digits]

8 hours ago, MickD said:

Medium power, fast action graphite, I like 7 foot.  Make sure you pick a blank that has the lure weights you want to cast well within its recommended lure range.  Rainshadow Revelations are very nice blanks for the money, as are American Tackle Bushidos.  I wouldn't spend a fortune on a blank for the first build because you most likely will get a lot better with each early rod.  You could go lower than these and still get a good rod.  CRB's from Mudhole, and Get Bit Outdoors lower end blanks.  Don't go crazy on guides either.  Most any guide on the market today is superior to those that have caught millions of fish on big box rods.  Use a double foot size 10 for the first guide, about 19 inches out from the reel, then single foot guides (ceramic ring guides often called "fly guides")  of about size 5.5 all the way to the tip.  Locate with the stress test/guide locator found at Anglersresource.net.  A two line stress test is easier than a one line because the guides can be moved while the rod is stressed and the guides do not take the load of stressing the blank.  I like to use 9 guides + tiptop on 7 foot rods.

MickD-- Like lots of others I've DIY'd my whole life, necessitated by my budget constraints. I've enjoyed and learned much on all those projects but instead of this being a project for me to learn from, I'd rather pay someone who's gone through those growing pains their self and pay them for what they've learned about the process.

 

Do you sell custom rods? If so I'm interested.

 

[MickD]

3 hours ago, Double__Digits said:

Do you sell custom rods? If so I'm interested.

No, just build for family and me.  I think DVT posted good advice earlier.  I've heard good stuff on his builds, and there are a lot of very good builders out there who sell rods.  So get in touch, let them know ALL of what you want the rod to do, including the appearance/bling (or not bling) stuff you want.  As long as you are doing it this way, I say go whole hog with the blank.  The difference between a good blank and the best blank is probably less than a hundred bucks.  I'm big on Point Blanks.  The last two builds of Point Blanks, one spin and one cast have quickly become my favorite rods.  Consider which guide design you want.  I build ALL Fuji now, would go with the RV as the first guide, then KB and KT's all the way to the end.  Size 5.5.  Talk to your builder about them; he/she will know them.

[.ghoti.]

Contact Mike at Delaware Valley Tackle. He will take care of you nicely. If, for some reason, you and he can’t come to terms, email me.

[Alex from GA]

Like everyone says, get the best blank you can afford for your worm/jig rod.  Personally I like Rainshadow Immortal blanks for that use.

[Crackintubes]

If having someone build it, make sure you know what you want comfort wise. 

One of the most important things in a rod to me, is the reel seat. Second most important behind handle length. 

 

I have numerous customs, and their are lots of good blanks out there. Just depends how much you wanna drop, if you wanna bling it out, etc etc. 

A good builder will discuss all this with you.