So far in this series we have discussed the "hardware" of a rod, the blank, guides, handles, the parts or components that make up the tool to be used for fishing a favorite species or technique. In this post we will discuss some of the aesthetic embellishments or "software" that can be added.
The guides as we discussed earlier, must be attached to the blank somehow. Traditionally, thread have been used as the attachment devise. Threads come in various sizes from nearly the size of a human hair to quite thick strands much like beading thread. Most rod builders use size A-D threads. The rod building industry requires a special thread that does not contain wax, like most sewing threads. Sewing threads must pass thru needles and be very "slick". Rod building threads on the other hand must not contain such materials as the finish epoxy will not adhere to waxy substances, and will cause grief for the builder. Fortunately for builders, we have sources from several vendors that produce wonderful and very colorful regular nylon threads. The use of a color preserver or NCP threads stays the color on the spool.
Simple to elaborate wrapping devises hold the rod blank so the threads can be wrapped around the blank to hold the guides firmly in place prior to coating them with finish epoxy encapsulating them to the blank. One of the early authors of rod building how-to books, made a comment that it takes 40 hours of practice to begin to become good at wrapping guide threads, so to keep them smooth and not overlapping each other. Tying off the loose tag ends also require special techniques to hide the cut threads and to keep them from unraveling.
Threads wraps can have metallic trim and accent bands added to make the rod more subtle or flashy as the owner wishes. Even decorative wraps of thread into diamonds or chevrons , mazes or checkerboards are possible. Advanced rod builders even weave silhouettes and pictures including the alphabet or script signatures onto rods, to add a real personalization to the prize.
Finally other materials such as decals can be added to make the rod a personalized tool and to identify the owner and the important weight and line class information.
(c) copyright LakeLady Rods - 2010 http://www.lakeladyrods.com/
Monday, February 8, 2010
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
What is a Custom Fishing Rod - Part 4 of a series
A lot more goes into building a quality rod than just assembling parts on a rod blank. There are many choices to be made that determine the functionality of the finished product that also relate to quality. In this post we will discuss the line guides that are placed on the rod blank to manage fishing line.
Guides come in many different shapes and configurations, sizes and materials. There are spinning guides, casting guides, roller guides, fly guides. These guides have toes, feet, arms, rings and inserts, they can be made of soft metals to stainless steel, may be chromed or anodized even vapor deposition coated to add brilliant color changing effects. Traditional inserts are made of aluminum oxide and newer guides are made with exotic materials of space age technology, zirconium ceramics to silicon carbide. Each have their use and benefits. Some are very inexpensive others top out at expensive in the price range.
Line guides or "eyes" as some call them, are attached to the rod blank using special rod thread and epoxy, placing them in-line with the reel seat and aligning them for strength and stability to the rod blank. They are spaced depending on the curvature of the blank so to not have sharp angles that cause friction to occur. The main function of guides is to manage fishing line from the hook or lure to the reel. When properly aligned on the blank the line will never touch the rod and will help increase the power and action built into the blank by the manufacturer.
There is an art and science to placing guides on the rod blank. It takes time and study to do all of this and each blank is different. Charts help, but do not fit every application, they only are "ball-park" estimates of where the guides should be placed. Static distribution deflection tests are necessary to make everything functions properly. Custom rod builders have a play ground to work with when it comes to line guides. There is a trend to use much lighter materials and even "micro" guides to reduce weight added to the finished product.
(c) Copyright - LakeLady Custom Fishing Rods - 2010 http://www.lakeladyrods.com/
Guides come in many different shapes and configurations, sizes and materials. There are spinning guides, casting guides, roller guides, fly guides. These guides have toes, feet, arms, rings and inserts, they can be made of soft metals to stainless steel, may be chromed or anodized even vapor deposition coated to add brilliant color changing effects. Traditional inserts are made of aluminum oxide and newer guides are made with exotic materials of space age technology, zirconium ceramics to silicon carbide. Each have their use and benefits. Some are very inexpensive others top out at expensive in the price range.
Line guides or "eyes" as some call them, are attached to the rod blank using special rod thread and epoxy, placing them in-line with the reel seat and aligning them for strength and stability to the rod blank. They are spaced depending on the curvature of the blank so to not have sharp angles that cause friction to occur. The main function of guides is to manage fishing line from the hook or lure to the reel. When properly aligned on the blank the line will never touch the rod and will help increase the power and action built into the blank by the manufacturer.
There is an art and science to placing guides on the rod blank. It takes time and study to do all of this and each blank is different. Charts help, but do not fit every application, they only are "ball-park" estimates of where the guides should be placed. Static distribution deflection tests are necessary to make everything functions properly. Custom rod builders have a play ground to work with when it comes to line guides. There is a trend to use much lighter materials and even "micro" guides to reduce weight added to the finished product.
(c) Copyright - LakeLady Custom Fishing Rods - 2010 http://www.lakeladyrods.com/
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
What is a Custom Fishing Rod - Part 3 of a series
We will discuss some of the issues with handles in this post. The handle of any fishing rod make handling the rod more comfortable for the fisher person, and consists of four basic parts; the rear grip, the reel seat, fore grip and butt cap. On some big game rods, the butt cap is composed of a gimbal that fits into a nock on a belt worn by the fisherman for stability and leverage.
Grips present a playground for rod builders in that they can exert creativeness in designing the grip. We believe that the grip must fit the fisherman ergonomically. The diameter and length must be fit to the fisherman and the technique and possibly the species being sought. After building hundreds of rods we have honed down a data base of measurements and use that data to fit the handle to the fisherman. Our web site has a diagram of how to take measurements of the hand and arm to make this system work. Take a look at http://www.lakeladyrods.com/.
Building the grip can be done in many ways and use several different materials from cork, cork tape, fiber, wood, rubber, EVA (ethyl vinyl acetate) and other materials. These can be shaped or molded and then bonded to the rod blank to form the handle. Some handles employ split grips where the butt end of the rod may show with only a small rear grip, and possibly no or even a very small fore grip. Colorful intricate designs are possible. Butt caps are generally fashioned from similar materials to match the grips and can also have shells, buttons, logos, coins and other items inserted into them.
Reel seats come in various sizes and configurations. They are epoxied to the rod blank between the grips. Reel seat inserts can like grips may be fashioned from many different materials such as stabilized wood, cork, ceramic, metal, or a combination of these materials. The reel seat must be placed on the blank so the entire rod will function properly at completion and while fishing. There are some special techniques that a custom builder will employ to ensure that the strength of the rod is utilized and the action and power of the blank are maximized.
copyright (C) LakeLady Rods - 2010
Grips present a playground for rod builders in that they can exert creativeness in designing the grip. We believe that the grip must fit the fisherman ergonomically. The diameter and length must be fit to the fisherman and the technique and possibly the species being sought. After building hundreds of rods we have honed down a data base of measurements and use that data to fit the handle to the fisherman. Our web site has a diagram of how to take measurements of the hand and arm to make this system work. Take a look at http://www.lakeladyrods.com/.
Building the grip can be done in many ways and use several different materials from cork, cork tape, fiber, wood, rubber, EVA (ethyl vinyl acetate) and other materials. These can be shaped or molded and then bonded to the rod blank to form the handle. Some handles employ split grips where the butt end of the rod may show with only a small rear grip, and possibly no or even a very small fore grip. Colorful intricate designs are possible. Butt caps are generally fashioned from similar materials to match the grips and can also have shells, buttons, logos, coins and other items inserted into them.
Reel seats come in various sizes and configurations. They are epoxied to the rod blank between the grips. Reel seat inserts can like grips may be fashioned from many different materials such as stabilized wood, cork, ceramic, metal, or a combination of these materials. The reel seat must be placed on the blank so the entire rod will function properly at completion and while fishing. There are some special techniques that a custom builder will employ to ensure that the strength of the rod is utilized and the action and power of the blank are maximized.
copyright (C) LakeLady Rods - 2010
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
What is a Custom Fishing Rod? Part 2 of a series
A custom fishing rod is made up of many component parts plus the expertise of the builder. We'll discuss these components in some detail in the next series of blogs.
Everything starts with the blank, the round tapered tube that many people call a pole or rod. The correct term at this point is "blank". It is the component part that the guides and handle are attached to. A builder will choose the correct blank from about 1,800 different blanks available, based on action and power, the taper and fiber content that best matches the technique and species being sought. The manufacturer of the blank, companies like St. Croix, Lamiglas, and others determine the specifications of these blanks then wrap carbon fibers around special tapered steel mandrels. This process is a very hands-on, labor intensive and clearly is the basis for a great rod vs. a failure. Many of the blanks are manufactured off-shore and thus give rise to some quality concerns. There is a huge range of prices among all of these blanks. Like most things, you get what you pay for in rod blanks.
The taper of the blank is where the action or bend in the blank occurs. In a fast action rod, the taper occurs in the upper 1/3 or so of the blank, in a medium action the taper make occur in the upper 2/3 of the blank and a slow action taper almost the entire blank will bend. A good way to observe the taper of a rod blank before building it out, is to hold it butt or the big end on the floor, grasp the tip top and bend the rod blank to the 90 degree bend and observe where this taper begins on the blank.
Line weight is the subjective determination of the rod design engineer as to the line test strength the blank is designed to handle.
Finally, blanks are made of fibers impregnated with resins and come in long sheets that must be stored in a refrigerated environment so that they do not prematurely begin to cure. The fibers may be graphite, fiberglass or a composite of these fibers and other materials.
Everything starts with the blank, the round tapered tube that many people call a pole or rod. The correct term at this point is "blank". It is the component part that the guides and handle are attached to. A builder will choose the correct blank from about 1,800 different blanks available, based on action and power, the taper and fiber content that best matches the technique and species being sought. The manufacturer of the blank, companies like St. Croix, Lamiglas, and others determine the specifications of these blanks then wrap carbon fibers around special tapered steel mandrels. This process is a very hands-on, labor intensive and clearly is the basis for a great rod vs. a failure. Many of the blanks are manufactured off-shore and thus give rise to some quality concerns. There is a huge range of prices among all of these blanks. Like most things, you get what you pay for in rod blanks.
The taper of the blank is where the action or bend in the blank occurs. In a fast action rod, the taper occurs in the upper 1/3 or so of the blank, in a medium action the taper make occur in the upper 2/3 of the blank and a slow action taper almost the entire blank will bend. A good way to observe the taper of a rod blank before building it out, is to hold it butt or the big end on the floor, grasp the tip top and bend the rod blank to the 90 degree bend and observe where this taper begins on the blank.
Line weight is the subjective determination of the rod design engineer as to the line test strength the blank is designed to handle.
Finally, blanks are made of fibers impregnated with resins and come in long sheets that must be stored in a refrigerated environment so that they do not prematurely begin to cure. The fibers may be graphite, fiberglass or a composite of these fibers and other materials.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
What is a Custom Fishing Rod? Part 1 of a series
As the New Year approaches in a couple of days, our thoughts will begin to look forward to spring and open water fishing. The Sport Show season is upon us as well, with all the new products available it will be a mind blowing experience. We hope to see you at one or more of the shows. Check our web site for the dates and locations of these super great shows.
What is or makes a custom rod will be the subject of the next series of posts. Custom rod building is an example of a cottage industry that adds personality to the larger fishing industry it belongs in. There are only a very few custom rod builders in the US who work full time building rods. There are many thousands of hobbyists crafting rods in their workshops at home however. Choosing a qualified custom builder knowledgeable in the craft is not an easy task for the consumer.
There is a micro economy behind the custom rod building industry supported by major manufactures across the US and around the world. Some of the names are familiar like St. Croix, Lamiglas, Pacific Bay, Fuji, among other like Aftco, Flex Coat, Gudebrod, and many other smaller but niche manufactures of products and goods. Then a combination of these manufactures, artisans and hobbyists spawns some very original and effective fishing rods. Check out the work done by these builders and you will find a wide scale in quality and professionalism.
The next time you are at a sport show, look for custom builders exhibiting their work and compare this work against a major manufacturer of fishing equipment. You will be surprised at the difference! There is certainly a trend by many fisher people to go with custom built tools, as they are unable to find the exact tool in a off the shelf model. Only custom builders can make the exact fit.
So, the question then is: How are these things made? We will attempt to briefly discuss the process in the next series of blogs… stay tuned and participate with us.
© LakeLady Custom Fishing Rods – 2010 www.lakeladyrods.com
What is or makes a custom rod will be the subject of the next series of posts. Custom rod building is an example of a cottage industry that adds personality to the larger fishing industry it belongs in. There are only a very few custom rod builders in the US who work full time building rods. There are many thousands of hobbyists crafting rods in their workshops at home however. Choosing a qualified custom builder knowledgeable in the craft is not an easy task for the consumer.
There is a micro economy behind the custom rod building industry supported by major manufactures across the US and around the world. Some of the names are familiar like St. Croix, Lamiglas, Pacific Bay, Fuji, among other like Aftco, Flex Coat, Gudebrod, and many other smaller but niche manufactures of products and goods. Then a combination of these manufactures, artisans and hobbyists spawns some very original and effective fishing rods. Check out the work done by these builders and you will find a wide scale in quality and professionalism.
The next time you are at a sport show, look for custom builders exhibiting their work and compare this work against a major manufacturer of fishing equipment. You will be surprised at the difference! There is certainly a trend by many fisher people to go with custom built tools, as they are unable to find the exact tool in a off the shelf model. Only custom builders can make the exact fit.
So, the question then is: How are these things made? We will attempt to briefly discuss the process in the next series of blogs… stay tuned and participate with us.
© LakeLady Custom Fishing Rods – 2010 www.lakeladyrods.com
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Technique Specific Rods - Part 5 of a Series
We'll switch gears on this post and talk about ice fishing rods.
As winter and solid water approaches, we turn our attention to some of the best fishing of the year, first ice! It takes a bit of nerve to walk out on a couple of inches of ice, but the reward of catching numbers of fish is really great. Now, you must be totally prepared for nearly anything. Life jackets are a absolute must, ice picks on a cord running thru the arms of your jacket, a piece of plywood to stand on to distribute your weight, and other safety items will insure a good day on the ice. "First ice" fishing lasts for maybe 10 days or 2 weeks before the ice gets thicker and much safer. But the reward of fishing in some shallow areas near shore is unbelievable. Take only what you can carry in your pockets to keep the weight down. A ice chisel to break thru the thin ice is sufficient for this time of year.
The fish are congregated around the old haunts, the shallow weed line, at this time of year. Drill holes, lots of holes and be mobile, ready to move around until you locate a school of fish, then give them what they want. A colorful jig tipped with live bait is dinner time to many species. The fish will be on the move shortly to deeper water where they will hang out for the winter. Fish very quietly, be ready at sun up or sun down, just as the sun comes up over the tree tops. Stealth is the key.
Equipment for this kind of fishing is simple. A ultra light 24"- 28" ice rod with a very small reel is all that is needed. The rod could be graphite or fiberglass. Some fisherman even tape the reel to the rod. The action of the rod needs to be very forgiving, light to medium light for this first ice time.
As the season progresses, many of us use fish houses or shelters to protect from the cold and wind. Shorter rods in these shelters is appropriate as there is not enough room for longer rods. Maybe a medium action rod 24-30" is about maximum. Don't forget about tip-up fishing where legal. Use a longer rod, up to 36" medium heavy to heavy, with heavier line to capture some larger toothy critters that might be looking for a good meal from a minnow or some other live attraction bait.
Winter time is a good time to reflect on nearly any topic, peaceful, quite time is enjoyable, looking down the ice hole is occasionally boring, so be ready to move around. Use your senses to find fish, use the equipment you have (your head) and the day will reward with a pleasant experience and maybe even dinner.
Be sure to tell someone where you are going and approximately what time you will be home... a good idea anytime of year, but especially in the winter out on the ice.
(c) copyright - LakeLady Custom Rods- 2009
As winter and solid water approaches, we turn our attention to some of the best fishing of the year, first ice! It takes a bit of nerve to walk out on a couple of inches of ice, but the reward of catching numbers of fish is really great. Now, you must be totally prepared for nearly anything. Life jackets are a absolute must, ice picks on a cord running thru the arms of your jacket, a piece of plywood to stand on to distribute your weight, and other safety items will insure a good day on the ice. "First ice" fishing lasts for maybe 10 days or 2 weeks before the ice gets thicker and much safer. But the reward of fishing in some shallow areas near shore is unbelievable. Take only what you can carry in your pockets to keep the weight down. A ice chisel to break thru the thin ice is sufficient for this time of year.
The fish are congregated around the old haunts, the shallow weed line, at this time of year. Drill holes, lots of holes and be mobile, ready to move around until you locate a school of fish, then give them what they want. A colorful jig tipped with live bait is dinner time to many species. The fish will be on the move shortly to deeper water where they will hang out for the winter. Fish very quietly, be ready at sun up or sun down, just as the sun comes up over the tree tops. Stealth is the key.
Equipment for this kind of fishing is simple. A ultra light 24"- 28" ice rod with a very small reel is all that is needed. The rod could be graphite or fiberglass. Some fisherman even tape the reel to the rod. The action of the rod needs to be very forgiving, light to medium light for this first ice time.
As the season progresses, many of us use fish houses or shelters to protect from the cold and wind. Shorter rods in these shelters is appropriate as there is not enough room for longer rods. Maybe a medium action rod 24-30" is about maximum. Don't forget about tip-up fishing where legal. Use a longer rod, up to 36" medium heavy to heavy, with heavier line to capture some larger toothy critters that might be looking for a good meal from a minnow or some other live attraction bait.
Winter time is a good time to reflect on nearly any topic, peaceful, quite time is enjoyable, looking down the ice hole is occasionally boring, so be ready to move around. Use your senses to find fish, use the equipment you have (your head) and the day will reward with a pleasant experience and maybe even dinner.
Be sure to tell someone where you are going and approximately what time you will be home... a good idea anytime of year, but especially in the winter out on the ice.
(c) copyright - LakeLady Custom Rods- 2009
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Technique Specific Rods - Part 4 of a Series
We are going to start talking about very specific tools to target different species of fish. In this blog the talk will be about Muskie Rods.
The muskie is one of if not the largest fresh water predator in waters of the United States. Some say a fish of 10,000 casts. A most humbling fish to target, you will see them, they follow lures, then swim away at the last minute only to turn on a dime and attack the bait. The strike will send chills up your spine for sure.
Due to the size and power of this fish, the strain on equipment, make muskie fishing like no other. It absolutely requires special rods, reels and lures. Generally, the rod should be between 7'6" and 8' in length, medium heavy to heavy action and power. The rod must be designed to handle mean toothy fish up to 50 pounds or more. A walleye or bass rod will not fit the bill at all. There definitely is a trend to use longer fast action heavy powered rods up to 9' - 10' long. Custom handle length is also an issue with ardent fisherman.
Muskie fishing regulations can be found in 32 states in the US and 4 provinces in Canada. Groups such as Muskies, Inc. have been instrumental in maintaining and improving the sport of muskie fishing across its range. MI originated and pioneered the catch and release concept so common in many species today. Muskies often experience difficulty reproducing successfully. Stocking efforts and programs are active in 37 of the lower 48 states. The primary range lies in the Canadian Shield lakes, Minnesota, Wisconsin and down into the Ohio basin.
Heavy duty rods are the only way to successfully land a big fish without damage to the equipment or injuring the fish. Manufacturers have developed technique specific rods for these monster fish. The custom builders have taken the blank materials and continue to build even stronger and better fish fighting tools using tried and true techniques to match the power of these beautiful creatures. The spiral wrap discussed earlier is a technique now being employed by custom builders to help make better muskie rods. Each muskie fisherman has his/her own story to tell and want/needs in a fishing rod for this species.
(c) copyright - LakeLady Custom Fishing Rods - 2009
The muskie is one of if not the largest fresh water predator in waters of the United States. Some say a fish of 10,000 casts. A most humbling fish to target, you will see them, they follow lures, then swim away at the last minute only to turn on a dime and attack the bait. The strike will send chills up your spine for sure.
Due to the size and power of this fish, the strain on equipment, make muskie fishing like no other. It absolutely requires special rods, reels and lures. Generally, the rod should be between 7'6" and 8' in length, medium heavy to heavy action and power. The rod must be designed to handle mean toothy fish up to 50 pounds or more. A walleye or bass rod will not fit the bill at all. There definitely is a trend to use longer fast action heavy powered rods up to 9' - 10' long. Custom handle length is also an issue with ardent fisherman.
Muskie fishing regulations can be found in 32 states in the US and 4 provinces in Canada. Groups such as Muskies, Inc. have been instrumental in maintaining and improving the sport of muskie fishing across its range. MI originated and pioneered the catch and release concept so common in many species today. Muskies often experience difficulty reproducing successfully. Stocking efforts and programs are active in 37 of the lower 48 states. The primary range lies in the Canadian Shield lakes, Minnesota, Wisconsin and down into the Ohio basin.
Heavy duty rods are the only way to successfully land a big fish without damage to the equipment or injuring the fish. Manufacturers have developed technique specific rods for these monster fish. The custom builders have taken the blank materials and continue to build even stronger and better fish fighting tools using tried and true techniques to match the power of these beautiful creatures. The spiral wrap discussed earlier is a technique now being employed by custom builders to help make better muskie rods. Each muskie fisherman has his/her own story to tell and want/needs in a fishing rod for this species.
(c) copyright - LakeLady Custom Fishing Rods - 2009
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