Mastering Rod Building

On this episode Bill Falconer sits down with Tom Kirkman to discuss The 2025 International Custom Rod Building Exposition . is the premier event for rod builders, taking place February 22-23, 2025 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The event features over 30-50 exhibitors showcasing the latest rod building components, equipment, and techniques. Attendees can participate in seminars led by industry...

The episode features an interview with Pietro Moro, the owner and president of Moro Assessoria in Brazil. Pietro shares the history of how he got into rod building, starting at just 9 years old. He discusses the challenges of building a rod building community in Brazil due to a closed economy and limited access to components. Over time, Pietro helped grow the industry by introducing Fuji products...

On this episode, Bill interviews  Captain Bobby Abruscato . Capt. Bobby is a legendary fisherman and rod builder from the northern Gulf Coast region. Bobby shares his approach to building rods for different fishing applications, such as popping corks, top water fishing, and jigging. He highlights the importance of using high-quality materials and customizing rods to meet the specific needs of his...

On this episode, Bill Falconer interviews Tom Kirkman with RodMaker Magazine to discuss the topic of rod action, power, and speed, and how to objectively measure and understand these characteristics using the "Common Cents System" developed by Dr. William Hanneman. The system provides a universal, relative scale to compare rod blanks across manufacturers and categories. It involves measuri...

On this episode Bill Falconer interviews Steve Grant, the sales manager at  REC-COM Outdoors . They cover the importance of proper equipment maintenance, especially for rods and lines. Steve explains that many line issues customers report are actually caused by problems with the equipment, such as guides not rolling properly or improper knot tying. He shares examples of investigating line failures...

Bill Falconer interviews James Tannahill, a new rod builder and Marine Corps/law enforcement veteran who has dealt with PTSD. James shares his military and law enforcement background, including his roles and experiences. He discusses the impact of his law enforcement work on his mental health and the development of his PTSD. James describes his journey to seeking help at the VA and discovering rod...

On this episode, Bill sits down with Chuck and Debbie Brown from  Decal Connection . Chuck and Debbie have been long-time supporters of the rod building community, providing high-quality custom decals for rod builders. They purchased the business in 2005 and have since transitioned from water-slide to peel-and-stick decals, which offer faster application and better durability. Decal Connection can...

 In this episode, we sit down with Jim "The Dragon Master" Upton, a legendary custom rod builder with a career spanning back to the 1970s. Known for his pioneering work, Upton is the author of "A Guide to Thread Weaving for the Custom Rod Builder" and the inventor of the Wonder Weaver, a revolutionary tool for 360-degree weaving around a rod blank. Upton shares his journey into fis...

In this episode of the Mastering Rod Building Podcast, we explore the journey of Tyler Hass and his father Russell, founders of Check'n Bottom Outfitters in Texas. Since 2017, their high-quality swordfish rods have gained a global following among anglers. Tyler's passion for rod building ignited after catching a 400+ lb swordfish on a cheap rod, inspiring him to create superior rods. Today...

In this episode of the Mastering Rod Building podcast, Vic Cutter delves into the fascinating journey of Fuji, a Japanese company that transitioned from metal stamping to revolutionizing the fishing rod industry with innovative guide and reel seat designs. Founded by competitive distance casters, Fuji's products were crafted to enhance casting performance. Cutter narrates the history of Fuji&#...

In this episode of the Mastering Rod Building Podcast, we are joined by Mike Hickey, a veteran surf rod builder with over 35 years of experience. Mike takes us through the fascinating evolution of surf fishing gear, reminiscing about the days when homemade rods featured guides held on with electrical tape, and contrasting them with today's advanced setups using modern braided lines. He emphasi...

This episode features Tim Johnson with Tim Johnson Gallery and Timmy Grips. Tim’s interest in fly fishing began as a child in Arizona. He was taught the basics of casting by his neighbor Eric Shoemaker. After convincing his parents to buy him a fly rod by achieving Eagle Scout status, his passion grew. Tim pursued his passions in art and mental health while guiding and using fly fishing as a thera...

This episode of the Mastering Rod Building podcast features Leighton Harp from Renzetti discussing new rod building products from Renzetti. They discuss the new Renzetti lathe slide carriage, which allows a rod lathe to slide smoothly along a desktop for easier use. They also mention a new slip clutch pulley that can control the speed of the lathe headstock independently from the motor. Other upco...

In this episode of the Mastering Rod Building podcast, Bill takes us on a journey back to his childhood in Texas, where his passion for fishing and rod building first took root during outdoor adventures with his family. He reminisces about the days spent crafting ultralight baitcasting rods and reels, a labor of love aimed at perfecting the art of throwing tiny topwater lures for his father-in-law...

In this episode of the Mastering Rod Building Podcast, host Bill Falconer welcomes Roger Seiders, founder and president of Flexcoat, for a conversation about their shared passions for fishing and rod building. Roger, with over 55 years of experience as a custom rod builder, shares his journey into fishing, starting with a memorable encounter with a PICO perch at his granddad's pond. He reminis...

Bill Falconer interviews Bill Batson, owner of Batson Enterprises, about his 45-year career in the fishing industry. Batson shares how he got into rod building at age 12 after seeing his father build rods. They discuss Batson's extensive rod collection and the history of companies like Pacific Bay and Woodland, Washington. Batson Enterprises manufactures over 700 rod blanks annually and suppor...

This episode features legendary custom rod builder Jim Trelikes. Jim has over 49 years of experience and is known for techniques like the dragon scale wrap and JTOB designs. He discusses his early years building rods in his father's tackle shop at age 12 and how he developed various techniques over the decades to meet customer needs. Jim and the host reminisce about their fishing experiences i...

Dr. Dylan Kiene, a Ph. D. candidate at the University of South Alabama, discusses his research on southern flounder populations in Alabama. Dylan has recently gotten into rod building and he has dialed in how to make the perfect flounder rod. Dylan's rod building expertise helps target specific species like flounder and Dylan gives great insight on how and why he builds his flounder rods. He r...

In this episode of the Mastering Rod Building podcast, we sit down with Mary McIntyre Christy, a seasoned custom rod builder with 13 years of experience. As a brand ambassador for Foundation Outdoor Group and American Tackle, Mary brings a wealth of knowledge to the table. She's the founder of  decorativestudio.net , your one-stop destination for rod building tools, supplies, lessons, and more...

This podcast episode features Australian software developer David Boyle discussing his programs Visual Wrap and Visual Weave. David shares how he got into rod building and developed the software to aid in intricate thread wrapping and weaving designs. The software allows users to create custom patterns, tweak colors, and view accurate 3D renderings before starting a project. David also invented &#...

The podcast discusses whether a beginner can build a fishing rod as good as a factory rod on their first attempt. Tom Kirkman agrees it's possible if the builder has good hand skills and common sense. He emphasizes starting simply with basic equipment like cardboard or wood blocks, thread spools, and brushes. Taking a class can help reduce fear and ensure success. Kirkman advises focusing on f...

This episode features Mike Ward from Back Creek Custom Rods and Custom Colored Guides. Mike discusses how he got into fishing and rod building, and how he started experimenting with custom coloring guides in 2021. He explains the difference between anodizing titanium and powder coating stainless steel guides. Anodizing titanium provides a durable color that cannot chip or peel, but the color optio...

This episode of the Mastering Rod Building podcast features Justina "The Juice" Edwards, who has worked at St. Croix Rods for 14 years. Justina is known for her incredibly fast rod-wrapping speed and her ability to teach rod-building to kids. She discusses how she gets kids interested in the craft, starting by having them wrap a single guide. Justina shares that patience is key and that st...

On this episode, Bill Falconer talks with Don Shafar from Backbone Custom Rod Company, discussing the intricate process of custom painting rod blanks and reel seats. Don emphasizes the importance of using high-quality materials, paints and safety precautions to avoid exposure to harmful chemicals. He outlines a convenient process for customers to have their blanks shipped to him for painting, ensu...

This episode discusses the International Custom Rod Building Exposition (ICRBE), which is considered the "Super Bowl" of custom rod building. Hosted by Tom Kirkman, editor of Rod Maker magazine, the ICRBE has been held annually since 2004 in various locations, but has found its home in Winston-Salem, NC since 2013. Tom discusses the history of the expo, from its origins as a small side eve...