Mastering Rod Building

In this episode of the Mastering Rod Building Podcast , host Bill Falconer sits down with Steve Long, Assistant Director of the Outdoor Scholars Program at the University of Montevallo. They explore how the program has rapidly grown into a national model for developing the next generation of outdoor professionals, thanks in part to its top-tier bass fishing team and commitment to career readiness....

In this episode of the Mastering Rod Building Podcast , host Bill Falconer sits down with Bill Batson of Batson Enterprises for a wide-ranging discussion on the evolving landscape of custom rod building. The focus is on Batson’s recent launch of 25 new rod blank models, with standout additions like multi-piece travel rods and extended-length jigging blanks that cater to the growing demands of mode...

In this episode of the Mastering Rod Building Podcast , host Bill Falconer is joined by veteran custom rod builder and retired mechanical engineer Mick Danek. With 69 years of rod building experience and six patents from his automotive career, Danek brings a unique perspective to the science of blank performance. The conversation focuses on True Natural Frequency (TNF)—a dynamic measurement of a r...

In this episode of Mastering Rod Building , host Bill Falconer sits down with Casey Portier, owner of Voodoo Custom Rods, to trace his journey from frustrated angler to custom rod builder and successful retailer. Casey shares how a disappointing rod purchase sparked his interest in building his own, eventually leading to the creation of Voodoo Rods—a business now known not just for its custom buil...

In this heartfelt episode of Mastering Rod Building , host Bill Falconer welcomes longtime rod building veterans Bob McKamy, Buzz Butters, and Todd Vivian to celebrate the life and legacy of Curt Baker, a beloved figure in the rod building community. The conversation is filled with personal stories and memories that highlight Curt’s deep commitment to education, his patient and generous spirit, an...

In this episode of Mastering Rod Building , host Bill Falconer sits down with Carl Schmidt from Fisherman's Landing in San Diego to explore the rich sport fishing culture of Southern California. Carl shares the history of Fisherman’s Landing and its reputation for pioneering long-range trips, including an upcoming four-day adventure aboard the Pacific Queen , sponsored by Angler’s Resource. Th...

In this episode of Mastering Rod Building , host Bill Falconer sits down with Mike Lum, the director of fundraising for Friends of Rollo and Captain Rollo's Kids at Sea, a non-profit organization dedicated to giving underprivileged children their first ocean fishing experience. Mike discusses the origins of the charity, which was founded in 1999, and its remarkable success in taking over 150,0...

In this episode of Mastering Rod Building, host Bill Falconer previews an exciting upcoming rod-building event in Alabama, highlighting the key presenters, vendors, and the amenities that attendees can look forward to. The conversation then shifts to an insightful interview with Dylan Weir and Blaine Kinney of Coastal Worldwide, expert land-based shark fishing guides on the northern Gulf Coast. Dy...

In this episode of Mastering Rod Building , host Bill Falconer welcomes Tom and Caroline Lewis, founders of the Kids Can Fish foundation. Caroline, with her father Tom’s support, created the foundation to introduce children and young women to the joys of fishing and the outdoors. They discuss their mission to break down barriers to fishing by offering free, fully equipped camps and share inspiring...

Host Bill Falconer is joined by  Bill DePriest  and  Mike Bohn  to discuss the upcoming Pacific Coast Sportfishing Show in Costa Mesa, CA. Taking place  March 6-9, 2025 , at the  Orange County Fair & Event Center , this massive event spans eight buildings and features over  600 exhibitors , including top tackle brands, custom bait makers, boat manufacturers, and more. Beyond the general sportf...

In this episode of Mastering Rod Building, host Bill Falconer welcomes one of the hottest names in professional angling, 2025 Elite Series angler Easton Fothergill. Easton’s rapid rise in the fishing world—from high school tournaments in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, to dominating the Opens with two wins and an Angler of the Year title—has positioned him as a top contender on the Elite Series. They div...

Join host Bill Falconer on the Mastering Rod Building Podcast for a deep dive into precision trolling—a technique designed to target fish at exact depths. Inspired by listener interest, Bill invites expert Tom Kirkman, founder of TK Rods and editor of RodMaker Magazine , to break down the essentials of precision trolling. Learn how anglers in the Great Lakes region use specialized rods, crankbaits...

On this episode, Bill Falconer interviews guest Randy "Buzz" Butters, an experienced rod builder and instructor. Buzz covers the topic of ice rod building. Buzz explains how to select the right blank, guides, and components for different ice fishing techniques and target species. Building ice rods requires special techniques to stabilize the blank during wrapping to prevent bending. Buzz h...

This episode features an interview with Tim Frost, who runs the  Line Laboratory website  and  Youtube channel  that provides extensive, objective testing data on fishing lines. Tim started the project during the COVID-19 lockdowns in Australia when he had time to research and test different fishing lines. He was frustrated by the discrepancies between advertised and actual line specifications, so...

This episode introduces Dan O'Kane, the founder of Uncle D's Custom Rods and the non-profit organization Josie's Gift. Dan shares his journey into rod building, starting with buying custom rods as anniversary gifts for his wife. He then met Josie Perea, a young girl battling cancer, and built her a special "Tiny Dancer" custom rod. This inspired Dan to form Josie's Gift , w...

In this episode of the Mastering Rod Building podcast, Bill Falconer continues his conversation with Amir Azzabi, the founder of Bait Finesse Empire. They discuss the effectiveness of bait finesse systems (BFS) for fishing, including Bill's recent experience using BFS setups on the White River in Arkansas. The duo shares insights on BFS rods and reels, their applications in trout and bass fish...

In this episode of the Mastering Rod Building Podcast, Bill Falconer interviews Amir Azzabi, founder of Bait Finesse Empire , a tackle shop dedicated to Bait Finesse System (BFS) fishing. They discuss the history and evolution of BFS fishing, which focuses on ultra-light baitcasting with specialized rods and reels. Amir explains how BFS originated in Japan and its growth in the U.S. and Southeast...

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...