Tackle Question

[crappie66]

The time required to do such a thing, and the expense of the paint remover and rubbing compound would seem silly to do when you can buy a shiny lure for a few dollars.

Hey moose I haven't seen you over in the crappie message board, what happened?

[Slowretrieve]

Sometimes time and money aren't all that important. Guess it just depends on what gives you a sense of personal satisfaction. Sometimes it just feels good to catch a fish on a "tweeked" lure. Personally, I make many of my own rods. There really is not much point in it because really good rods are readily available at prices much lower than the cost of building them. But, there is just something wonderful about catching a fish on a rod you made yourself, using a lure you customized.

[crappie66]

I can understand the satisfaction of catching a fish on a personal customized rod and catchign a fish on a customized lure. However, in my opinioin removing the paint isn't really customizing it, its just removing one part of it, to me customizing is adding to it. Just what we need lures with paint thinner on them to be thrown in a lake.

[Slowretrieve]

Ah, Mr. Crappie, in the game of coup counting I will give you this one, although I believe your closing sentence is a bit reaching. Are you, too, a Hayakawa enthusiast?

[crappie66]

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON Oct-31-05 AT 03:02PM (EST)[/font][p]Actually I don't know much about Hayakawa, don't know where you are attempting to go with that one.

I did take the time to look up Hayakawa and he does make some interesting points. One quote that stood out:

"I'm going to speak my mind because I have nothing to loose."


But anyways, you wrote about customizing and building your own rods. It sounds like something I might be interested in doing this winter. Where is the best place to get information on how to properly do it, and where is a good source for supplies. Also, how much time and money is generally required to take on such a project.

[Slowretrieve]

And who could resist this? "You guys are saying the same thing. The only reason you're arguing is because you're using different words." -S.I. Hayakawa

I would start a rod-building journey with a trip to Cabelas.com. They have a rod building sub-section of tgheir fishing department that offers complete rod building kits. Tghey are great way to get started. Follow their directions and you will end up with a usable rod. The only thing other than the kit you will need is some sort of machine to turn the pole while you apply Epoxy and while the Epoxy dries. Without a turning mechanism, the glue tends to glob up and can throw the balance of the pole off. The machine (called a rod wrapper if I remember right)can cost as little as $20 for non-electric and go to about $650; Cabelas has an electric wrapper for $69 that works just fine. You should be able to build a fine rod for about $50, plus the cost of the rod wrapper. You can build a St Croix for $75-80. There is a wide range of rod blanks available, but like anything, you probably want to start out with one of their less expensive models to see if you even like the demands of rod building. If it suits you, you can spend hundreds on each rod. The one thing rodbuilding will do is increase your appreciation of fishing rods. After building just one, you will look at all other rods in a different light.
Good luck. If you decide to build one, let me know how it goes.

[crappie66]

Thanks for the information. I actually think I will give it a try in the coming months. Only thing I am concerned about is going to far with making them. I always wanted to make my own beer, so I bought a home brewing kit, within about a month I had about 10 cases of extra beer just sitting in the closet. But then again if the same happens with building a rod I guess it's always a good thing to have extra rods laying around, seeing as though last year I broke at least 5 rods, was fortunate this year though, didn't break any.

[Slowretrieve]

I know what you mean. I usually go through one or two a year myself. It would be hard to get too many rods, as you say. But when you build them, they take time to dry, time to rasp out the and fit the handles and the seats. I would guess if you worked on a rod every day for about two hours, you would complete one in about two weeks. At that pace, you probably would not get too many of them hanging around. But when they are done and you get to try one out, you know it's the best you could do and it sure feels good.