Rod building classes in Boise Idaho area...

[BlueBack79]

so ive decided to take up a new hobby and get into rod building. ive got my first blank picked out with all the parts. it will be a 7' lami casting kokanee rod of course...with cork and all fuji accessories. i can do it fairly cheap so if i hose it up, i wont be too disgusted. if i have the "skill", then i'll get into my salmon/steelhead rods. i am really interested in attending a rod building class, but am having no luck in finding anything in my area. thought maybe someone on here could lead me in the right direction...boise idaho area.

thanks,

 

[trollmonkey]

If you can't find classes consider a book or dvd.A book I've used for years is Fiberglass Rod Building by Dale Clemens,I'm sure it is out of print but it might be possible to find a used one.Good luck with your building,it is a great way to ramp up your gear arsenal. Also you can make stuff you can't buy to fit special preferences.101chromefish101

 

[sawtooth]

Blueback,

Anglers Habitat in Caldwell used to have a class in rod building. Give Wayne a call and see if he is still offering a class. Wayne lived in Alaska for many years and would also be able to help you with the steelhead/salmon rods. Even though his shop caters mostly to flyfishermen, I buy rod blanks of all kind from him. If you have any questions, fill free to send me a PM and I can also give you a hand, or give you a few other leads in the rod building world.

 

[BlueBack79]

thanks sawtooth. i actually just stopped by there after work today and picked up the blank i ordered....7 1/2' lightweight rainshadow. i need to go back tomorrow too. the rod dryer i got today has a short or something. he seems really knowledgable and also said not to hesitate to call or stop by. have a few more things to get and i should be ready to start building. my mudhole order arrived today as well. im getting pretty excited to get going!

 

[skookum9]

I would bet there is a fair amount of information here on the internet just waiting to be read.

 

[sawtooth]

Which rainshadow blank did you get? Did you get a handle kit or are you going to build from cork rings and shape your own? Thread color? Trim wraps? Guides? Spiral wrap for the downrigger? What are your plans?

 

[3RivrFishr]

The Rainshadow RDR76L makes a top notch koke rod. The great thing about it is that it is limber and flexible with that parabolic curve we want for the downrigger but still has enough backbone to handle big macks, bows, triploids or even steelhead.
I built two of them spiral wrapped with micro guides and woven handles over the winter and absolutely love 'em.

In addition to Clemens' book pickup a copy of Tom Kirkmans book called "The Fundamentals of Rodbuilding". Also, check out Rodbuilding.org.

 

[BlueBack79]

i picked up the rdr76l. i had a few things come up, so its been a little slow going on deciding. im not building the handles. just ended up picking out the rear and foregrip and seat. thats all i have so far. i dont think i am going to do the spiral. thought about it, but i think ill do standard guides for my first. actually spined and glued up the rear grip last night. just got all my tape built up for the seat. will be gluing up the seat, foregrip and winding check today. im thinking of doing navy blue thread for the wraps with a tan band. i am going to try a tiger wrap above the foregrip when i get the rod completed. doubt it will turn out, but i want to give it a shot. i still have a few more things to get. the s.f. opens next weekend so the rod will most likely be on hold for awhile.

 

[BlueBack79]

well, just got the rear section done. i know its not much, but its a start. i wasnt sure about building up the bottom end of the blank, where the reel seat goes, but i had a really good fit with the rest of the tape. should i have just left that out? i dont think it will be an issue...or i hope not. getting ready to order some more things....this hobby is already getting spendy! ha ha ha.

 

[3RivrFishr]

I think hang gluiding might be a less expensive hobby! It doesnt take long to figure out that building a rod is almost always more costly than buying one off the rack. However, its not nearly as gratifying.

Anyway, great Start! Looks like it all went together nicely and I dont see any gobs of rodbond anywhere.

You could have mortised the front of your reargrip to fit into the gap on your reel seat but I think that arbor you made will work fine.

Your first tiger wrap will drive you nuts but they are cool. You might want to save it for a different project though . The layers of thread and epoxy required for a tiger wrap will add weight. You've got a nice light blank with a crisp feel to it. I would think twice about dampening that feel with extra weight. Thats my unsolicited advice so take it for what you paid for it! I just dont want to see you drop all that cash and time into it and then have it not be all you want it to be.

Speaking of asthetics, I did my RDR76L's with black thread and electric blue metallic 3 band trim. Your tan trim might have a hard time standing out against the blue thread and black blank. I might suggest Fishawk size A 402 Copper metallic. But, thats the fun part of building a custom rod...you can make it however YOU like it no matter the opinion of internet armchair quarterbacks! Keep at it and be patient with the next phase. Patience is what separates the good rod builders from the ones who quit and went insane trying to figure out how to start a guide wrap without it falling apart. tooexcited