Do You Need a Custom Rod?
November 2, 2006
I’ve got a couple fishing rods in my collection that are very near and dear to my heart. They’re custom-built sticks that I’ve had for over two decades and they’re kinda like old friends. We’ve been all over the world together and have caught some incredibly memorable fish over the years.
Ever considered having a custom rod made for yourself? It’s a pretty sweet concept when you think about it – not only will you have a stick that you’ll be able to make some cool memories with, but it will also built to your exact specifications.
If you want a tuna rod with a cork handle rather than EVA foam, no problem. If you fancy a blue blank with hot pink wraps, you can have it (hey, I’m not here to judge). Or perhaps, you’re looking for a technique-specific rod that’s not made by any of the big manufacturers (like maybe a light spinning rod fashioned from a 2-weight fly rod blank). In any case, whatever it is you want in a rod, you can get it.
“What’s cool about going the custom route is you can upgrade everything,” says rod builder Harrison Ibach of Mad River Outfitters in Arcata (707-826-7201). “You can upgrade all the components – guides, reel seats, handles, etc.) – and you can also pick the colors of the wraps and that kind of stuff too.”
Ibach says that many of his customers are surprised to find out that his custom-built rods are only a bit more expensive than the production ones.
“Yea, they’re really not much more pricy than what you’d pay in the store,” he said. “And you get everything just how you like it. Of course, you can go a little crazy, too, and things will get more expensive. I just saw a new set of roller guides for saltwater fishing that are $700 – just for the guides! But you really don’t have to go off the deep end like that.”
His specialty is saltwater rods (he’s your guy if you’re headed on a long range trip) but Ibach also does really nice work with salmon and steelhead models as well. There are many excellent factory blanks from a variety of companies to choose from and Ibach can help you pick the right one for your new rod. Expect an average turnaround of two weeks for one of his creations.
If you’re looking to take a trip down memory lane, check out the rods made by Cal Piccolo (www.piccolopole.com). He specializes in “old school” rods which have a really cool retro vibe to them. They remind me of some of my uncle’s old rods that I used as a kid to catch my first trout.
“I specialize in antique fiberglass spin, fly and casting rods from the fifties,” he says. “Most of my rod components are vintage and original to the fifties style method of building fiberglass rods and I learned my craft from two well known, old school rod builders in my area. I used to visit their shop and trade them crab in exchange for their wisdom and training. I learned to master their rod building techniques over time, while still managing to put my own personal touch on every individual creation.”
Piccolo says that factory rods typically take an hour to make, but his take hours of fine tuning and meticulous inspection – and the result is a perfectly balanced stick that would look and feel great on a local trout stream.
Take it from me, custom rods can really enhance you enjoyment while out on the water for years to come.
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