How to Build Surf Rods

Build your own surf rod for years of enjoyment.

Surf fishing is a great way to get away from it all and building your own surf rod can be a very rewarding accomplishment. Building your own surf rod allows you to create the rod to your specifications and application, allowing you to build for performance as well as looks. Choosing all your own components as well as the colors for the thread wraps will make your new surf rod all your own. You can enjoy years of use with your new surf rod and it can also be passed on for generations to come.

Things You'll Need

• Rod blank
• Grease pen
• Epoxy
• Sandpaper
• Tapered reamer
• Handle
• Paper towels
• Masking tape
• Reel seat
• Guides
• Thread
• Small artist brush
• Cigarette lighter
• Paint pen

Instructions

1. Select a surf rod blank considering line size and type of fish you will be pursuing with your new surf rod. Locate the spine of the blank by bending the blank with the tip on the carpet or on a towel to prevent it from slipping. Rotate the blank loosely in your hand until the blank finds its natural curvature. Mark the top of the blank with the grease pen. This is the spine.

2. Choose a reel seat and handle for the type of reel you use. Lay the handle and reel seat next to the rod blank and mark the blank just short of its overall length. Scuff this area with the sandpaper to help the epoxy adhere. Slide the handle down the blank to see if you need to ream the handle with the tapered reamer so that it fits snugly to the blank, stopping at the end of the blank. The handle should not be able to slide all the way off the blank. Apply masking tape to the reel seat area so that the reel seat fits snug but with a little space to allow for epoxy. Apply epoxy to the blank in the handle area and slide the handle and reel seat into place cleaning up any excess epoxy now with a paper towel.

3. Mark where the guides will go with the grease pen. Place the guides in size order at these marks making sure they are in straight alignment. Hold the guides temporarily in place using small strips of masking tape.

4. Apply thread to the blank. Start the wrap at least a quarter of an inch from the guide foot. Wrap the thread up the guide foot to the masking tape holding it. Remove the tape as the thread will now hold the guide in place. Apply epoxy to the tip of the rod blank and install tip top making sure it is aligned with the other guides.

5. Mix epoxy slowly so bubbles do not form. Apply epoxy to thread wraps using the small artist brush slowly rotating the rod as you go. Use a cardboard box with notches cut on two ends to sit the rod into while it is rotated. Rotate the rod after the epoxy is applied watching closely for bubbles. Remove bubbles by holding cigarette lighter just beneath the epoxy covered thread wrap warming the epoxy just enough to allow escapement of the bubbles. Turn the rod slowly until the epoxy hardens enough that it does not sag when left still.

6. Inscribe a personal inscription using the paint pen such as your name or the name of whoever the lucky recipient of this great surf rod may be. Coat this area with epoxy as well to seal in the inscription for years to come.

Tips & Warnings

• Read all warning labels on epoxies before mixing.

References

• New England On The Fly: How Hard Is It To Build A Fishing Rod

Resources

• Custom Rod Builders Guild