Mastering Rod Building

In this episode of the Mastering Rod Building Podcast, Bill Falconer talks with Jack Baron of Anglers Resource about his background in competitive bass fishing, his time with the University of Montevallo fishing team, and his rapid progression into custom rod building. Jack shares how his passion for swimbaits and glide baits has influenced his approach to designing high-performance fishing rods....

In this episode of the Mastering Rod Building Podcast, Bill Falconer talks with Bob Hryszko of Grumpy’s Tackle in Seaside Park, New Jersey, about his path into custom rod building, Northeast saltwater fishing, and the rod designs that have evolved around those fisheries. Bob shares how he went from fishing factory rods to learning the craft from the late Grumpy and eventually becoming part owner o...

In this episode of the Mastering Rod Building Podcast, Bill Falconer talks with longtime rod builder and RodMaker Magazine publisher Tom Kirkman about how reducing unnecessary weight can improve fishing rod performance without sacrificing strength or durability. Bill and Tom discuss some of the biggest opportunities to cut weight in a custom build, including FUJI Titanium Guides, MC Guides, Torzit...

In this episode of the Mastering Rod Building Podcast, Bill Falconer talks with longtime angler, outdoor media personality, and rod builder Jim Crowley about how decades of tournament fishing, television, writing, lure building, and product development have shaped the way he approaches custom fishing rods. Crowley shares how his fishing career evolved from competitive angling into outdoor televisi...

In this episode of the Mastering Rod Building Podcast, Bill Falconer talks with longtime rod builder and RodMaker Magazine publisher Tom Kirkman about one of the most common questions in custom rod building: how to price a custom fishing rod and build a business that is actually worth the builder’s time. Tom explains why custom rod builders should not try to compete with factory rods on price and...

In this episode of the Mastering Rod Building Podcast, Bill Falconer talks with longtime West Coast rod builder Bill “Salty Dawg” Havens about his decades in the craft, the development of rail rods, and the innovations that helped shape Southern California’s long-range fishing scene. Bill shares how he began building rods in the 1960s, eventually turning rod building into a profession and developi...

In this episode of the Mastering Rod Building Podcast, Bill Falconer talks with longtime rod builder and product developer Andy Dear about craftsmanship, creativity, and developing a personal rod-building point of view. Andy explains why his approach centers on performance, simplicity, and creating a deeper connection to fishing rather than adding decoration that does not serve a purpose. The conv...

In this episode of the Mastering Rod Building Podcast, Bill Falconer talks with legendary custom rod builder James "Doc Ski" Labanowski about his lifetime in rod building and the evolution of decorative thread work. Doc shares how he began wrapping guides at eight years old, served 23 years as a U.S. Navy corpsman, and eventually learned every part of custom rod building from the Harringto...

In this episode of the Mastering Rod Building Podcast, Bill Falconer talks with Roger Hinchcliff of Lamiglas and the Steelhead Manifesto about steelhead fishing, Lamiglas rods, and what rod builders need to know when building technique-specific steelhead rods. Roger shares how he got started fishing as a kid in Michigan, spending countless hours on the Huron River catching bait, reading water, and...

In this episode of the Mastering Rod Building Podcast, Bill Falconer talks with longtime custom rod builder Mark Crouse , also known as the Munich Rod Man, about 52 years of rod building, custom craftsmanship, 3D printing, carbon fiber grips, and building a recognizable personal style. Mark shares how he started fishing as a child and built his first rod at age 12 after his mother brought home a b...

In this episode of the Mastering Rod Building Podcast, Bill Falconer talks with legendary caster and rod designer Steve Rajeff about world-class casting, rod design, and the performance details that separate good rods from elite-level tools. Steve shares how he got started fishing as a kid in San Francisco, learned fly casting at the Golden Gate Angling and Casting Club, and was mentored by names...

In this episode of the Mastering Rod Building Podcast, Bill Falconer talks with Carlos “Carlitos” Sanchez of Carlitos 395 Custom Rods about California’s ultralight trout scene, custom trout rods, and the specialized gear anglers use to target big trout on light tackle. Carlos shares how a high school friend introduced him to fishing and how he later got into rod building through BB Custom Rods. Wh...

In this episode of the Mastering Rod Building Podcast, Bill Falconer talks with Jim Schottenham of the American Museum of Fly Fishing , along with returning guest Bernie Schultz , about vintage fishing tackle, collecting, restoration, and why fishing history still matters to modern rod builders and anglers. Jim shares how he became interested in early American reels, especially side mount reels, a...

In this episode of the Mastering Rod Building Podcast, Bill Falconer talks with Aleks Maslov of Composite Ventures, North Fork Composites , Edge Rods , and Striker Rods about one of the biggest rod building conversations in years: Air Carbon Mesh. The episode digs into what Air Carbon Mesh is, where it came from, why it has created so much interest among rod builders, and whether it represents a m...

In this episode of the Mastering Rod Building Podcast, Bill Falconer talks with Mike McFarland of McFarland Rod Company about how he got started in fly fishing and rod building, how he eventually began designing and rolling his own blanks, and why slower, more responsive fly rods still matter in a market dominated by fast-action graphite. Mike shares how growing up in central Pennsylvania and disc...

In this episode of the Mastering Rod Building Podcast, Bill Falconer talks with Bill Oyster of Oyster Bamboo about his experience taking the Oyster Bamboo Rodbuilding Class in Blue Ridge, Georgia, and what makes the week so memorable for rod builders, anglers, and first-time bamboo students alike. Bill shares how years of hearing about the class finally led him and others to commit, and how the ex...

In this episode of the Mastering Rod Building Podcast, Bill Falconer talks with Captain John Irwin of Fly Right Charters about matching rods, reels, line, and technique into a complete fishing system for inshore, nearshore, and offshore fishing. John shares how a lifetime of fishing, from freshwater and fly fishing as a kid to guiding full time in the Charleston area since 2002, shaped his approac...

In this episode of the Mastering Rod Building Podcast, Bill Falconer talks with Tommy Farmer of Carolina Cast Pro about building true long-distance surf casting setups for big red drum—rods, reels, rigs, and the casting mechanics behind them. Tommy shares how a 1996 trip to Cape Point, including landing a 45-inch drum and watching champion caster Mike Langston bomb a cast, sparked his path into co...

In this episode of the Mastering Rod Building Podcast, Bill Falconer talks with master bamboo rod builder and engraver Bill Oyster of Oyster Bamboo Fly Rods about bamboo craftsmanship, building rods at the highest level, and the weeklong class in Blue Ridge, Georgia that fulfills Bill’s 30-year dream of making a split-cane fly rod. Bill and Bill walk through how Oyster got his start—from fly fishi...

In this episode of the Mastering Rod Building Podcast, Bill Falconer talks with David Boyle of ThreadCentral about what’s new at ICRBE 2026 under new ownership and why the EXPO remains the can’t-miss event in custom rod building. Bill and David break down the expanded show footprint with more floor space, two exhibit halls, dedicated seminar areas, and two Learning Center spaces designed for hands...

In this episode of the Mastering Rod Building Podcast, Bill Falconer talks with Kevin Brotz of Get Bit Outdoors about new rod-building innovations—especially the Next Level and Halftime finishes—and why stability, clarity, and reduced yellowing matter. Bill shares his firsthand experience building a full rod in one day using Halftime, and the two cover practical application tips for smoother finis...

In this episode, Bassmaster Elite Series angler Beau Browning joins us to break down everything anglers need to know about crankbait rods, from choosing the right rod blank to customizing the perfect setup. Beau shares his pro-level insights on the best rod specifications for crankbaits, including action, power, line weight, lure weight, tip taper, and rod weight. We also dive into handle design,...

In this episode of the Mastering Rod Building Podcast, host Bill Falconer sits down with Bassmaster Classic champion Easton Fothergill to dive deep into advanced bass fishing strategies. Easton shares expert insights on drop shot rods, essential gear setups, finesse techniques, and real-world tournament experiences, including his recent run at the Skeeter Saltwater Redfish Series. Discover pro tip...

In this episode, we sit down with legendary rod builder and educator Todd Vivian, a driving force in the world of custom fishing rod building, rod-building innovation, and craft preservation. Todd shares how he got started in the industry, the early challenges that shaped his skills, and the moment he realized rod building would become his life’s work. He opens up about his creative process—from d...

Join host Bill Falconer on the Mastering Rod Building Podcast as he welcomes Nikki Paschen , renowned Gyotaku (Japanese fish printing) artist, ceramic specialist, and owner of Nautical Paschens , along with her collaborator Jen Cox. Dive into the vibrant world of Gyotaku fish printing on the Gulf Coast as Nikki and Jen share their journey from yacht detailing to creating stunning fishing art, appa...