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Here are the basic rod components for building a custom fishing rod.

These rod options will give you an idea of what's available when designing your custom rod.

 

 

We will start at the bottom or "butt" of the rod.

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Butt caps or gimbles

 

Butt caps and gimbles are the very bottom part of the rod. Here are some examples below. 

 

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Metal gimbles #1 and #2 are used mostly for offshore style rods. Any heavy rod that needs to be locked in place from moving will use a metal gimble. Metal gimbles will lock rods in to rod holders, fighting chairs and other fight belts.

 

Rubber butt caps #3 and #4 are primarily used on middle weight rods. These butt caps are more comfortable in cases where the rod is placed up against the body while fighting fish.

 

Light weight inshore butt caps #5 #6 and #7 are some styles you will see on light weight and inshore applications.

 

 

Grip Options

 

Grips are the first thing that you will most likely feel when picking up your fishing rod. We want them to be to your liking and durable enough for your fishing application. Here are some Examples of grip options.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                     

 

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Grip #1 is your standard eva foam, most common on rods. Eva foam can be used for both bottom and top grips.

It's available in different colors, shapes and styles.

 

Grip Option #2 is called x-flock shrink tube. It's a shrinkable rubber material that has excellent gripping qualities.

X-flock can be used over the top of eva foam, cork or placed directly on the blank to add extra grip under wet or harsh conditions.

 

Grip #3 and #4 is standard cork in full and split grip configurations. Cork is light in weight and can be shaped and contoured to your style of needs.

 

 

 

Reel Seat

 

The reel seat is the main connection for putting your fishing reel on to the rod.  We want to be sure your getting the correct reel seat to fit the reel you will be using. All of these reel seats are available in different colors options.

Here are some basic styles of reel seats.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Reel seat #1 is a aluminum anodized big game reel seat.  This reel seat will be used on most big game rods, shark rods, and other heavy-duty rods.

 

Reel seat #2 is a conventional trigger style reel seat. This seat is used on high speeds jigging rods and heavy-duty conventional style rods.

 

Reel seat #3 and #4 are your standard spinning rod reel seats. #3 is an aluminum seat while #4 is a graphite reel seat.

The graphite reel seat is lighter in weight then the aluminum and will keep the rod as light as possible.

 

The last of the reel seats #5 and #6 are graphite inshore style reel seats. #5 is a spinning and #6 is a bait casting style. Both are used on light weight inshore and bass fishing applications.

 

 

Guides

 

The guides are a very important feature to your rod. The way to determine what guides will be used, depends on what line size & type. If a guide is too small, some heavy lines and knots will have a hard time passing through and may cause problems. It's important to know what size and type of line you plan on using before picking guides.

Guides come a variety of colors and materials. Ring type and frame material can be changed to help the performance of the rod. Here are some examples of different types of guides.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Guides #1 and #2 are your heavy-duty big game style guides. You will see these guides used on offshore rods, shark rods, trolling rods and heavy-duty conventional style rods. These guides can also be used in conjunction with roller guides.

 

Guide #3 can be used either as a spinning guide or a light conventional rod guide. These guides are very common with medium duty style rods.

 

The #4 guide is a lowrider surf style guide. They are low frame heavy duty guides used a lot in surf fishing applications. You will see these guides used on our high-performance surf rods.

 

Guides #5 and #6 are tangle free style that are used on light weight inshore rods. They have an angle built into them to reduce tangles. #5 guide is a double foot guide opposed to #6 which is a single foot. A single foot guide is used on smaller rods where the extra strength is not needed.

 

Roller guides

 

Roller guides are manly used in offshore and big game fishing rods. Roller guides come in 4 common sizes: 30lb, 50lb,  80lb and 130lb class sizes. Sizes will be based on the line size and reel size used. 

 

 

 

 

 

                                     

 

 

 

 

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Roller guides are very strong and reduce friction on the line as it passes through the guides.

This is a major benefit when using large line and heavy drag pressures. Roller guides #1 are a steel framed heavy duty roller guide while #2 roller guides are an aluminum framed guide. Some roller guides are available in roller bearing or bushing style. In some applications, roller guides can be used together with ring guides. Some of our rods will use a roller tip top guide and a roller bottom guide called the stripper guide with standard ring guides in between the two rollers. This makes for a lightweight package that is very strong.

 

 

 

 

 

Blanks

 

The blank of the rod is the main structure or foundation to how your rod will act or perform. Rod blank materials can vary from fiberglass, e-glass, s-glass carbon fiber, graphite and even carbon kevlar. The materials used for the rod blank will determine the strength, sensitivity and stiffness of the rods action.

 

 

 

 

 

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The above chart is designed to show you how and what rod bending actions mean. Extra fast, fast, moderate and slow are all terms used to describe the action of blanks. An extra fast rod blank will have a very soft and flexible tip. This will help the angler feel and see the bite as it's happening. On the total opposite end of the scale is the slow rod action, this action is used in most big game heavy duty rods and trolling rods. Slow action is used when sensitivity is not needed as much as strength is.

 

Don't worry we can help you decide what action is correct for your fishing application.

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