HomeRod Building

Fly Rod Building

Fly Rod Building Class 2024 is open for registration.

Building your own rod is a good way to get the rod you want, customized as you want it. You can save on the cost and have fun doing it! It’s not hard - but it does require good eyesight and hand coordination.

This class is more than how to assemble a rod. You will learn about the uses for different types of rods. You will learn about rod action. You will learn why rods perform the way they do. We will show examples of the various types of components available. You will buy a club kit that includes the rod blank, grip, seat, and guides. The club will provide the tools and consumable supplies needed to complete your rod. You will provide the labor and fun!!

Each session is intended to be about 3 ½ hours long. You will be doing hands-on learning, wear old clothes (epoxy does not wash out!). You will be on your feet much of the class.

The first session will be an introduction to rod design and construction. It will also be a working session where you will receive your kit, learn about the components, and begin to prepare the rod. You will install the grip, and reel seat and learn how to prepare and place the guides. Homework will be preparing and placing guides on your rod blank.

The second session will be about wrapping and epoxy. You will learn how to wrap, receive club equipment for wrapping and practice in class. You will also learn about applying epoxy to the rod components. Homework will be you wrapping all the guides, applying artwork, and epoxy coating the threads. There will be a two-week interval between sessions to allow you time to wrap and epoxy the rod.

The final and third session will be to finish your rod and learn how to make any type of rod beyond a kit. You will measure your finished rod to determine its true line weight, return club equipment, and learn a process for design, documentation, and buying rod parts. We will share resource, references and vendor names so that you can walk out and start making your own rod! Homework at the end of this session is to catch a fish on your new rod.

Class Details

Dates: (you must attend ALL sessions to complete your rod)
Saturday May 4 - Session I
Saturday May 11 - Session 2
Saturday June 1 - Session 3

Cost:
About $190 total.
The actual amount will depend on number of students and the bulk discounts.

Rod Kit:
We will build a 3 wt. rod.
Details are still in flux, our intent is to offer you the option of fiberglass or graphite.

Questions:
Contact Larry Behm , Larry.Behm@Cox.net or 949-235-4466

What happens in each session? Click on the Class Outline for topics and activities of each session.

Class outline August 2022

A Brief History of the Fly Rod

200 AD
Solid Wood Poles were being used in Macedonia

1500's
The "Angle" used for fishing (not casting as we know it really just dapping or flipping

1700's
Rods are evolving, becoming shorter but still wooden

Early 1800's
Best Rods still Wooden
Cane Beginning to be used

Late 1800"s
Orvis invents the "suction joint" to join sections

Early 1900's
Multi-piece split cane rods are dominant
Orvis perfects the "suction joint"
Cork Grips become common

1940's
Split cane rods are still in wide use
Fiberglass rods appear

1950's
Fiberglass, although heavy, becomes popular due to its lower cost

1970's
Graphite Rods appear. They are light and strong

1980's
Graphite is taking over as the best material for rods

1990's
Rod manufacturers experiment with other "space age materials".
Rods of mutiple material such as graphite and boron appear.

Today
Graphite remains the popular material for fly rods.
Fiberglass has a revival with new fabrics and techniques.
Rod manufacturers are still trying a mix of materials
Split cane rods are still in use

Still wondering if you want to do this class?

A very good fly rod can be built for considerable less cost than buying a factory made rod. Building your own fly rod is fun and it's a great feeling to catch a fish on a rod you've built.

With this in mind, the purpose of these class is to teach how to build a fly rod by actually doing it. Successful rod building depends on knowing how to design a good rod, where to buy the required components and supplies, and how to build the rod. Instruction will be provided on each of these and student will complete each step using the blank and components of their classroom. Students will then complete some steps in class and will be expected to complete the remaining steps at home in the interval between classes.

Participants must be able to attend ALL class sessions.

This class involves working with small parts (guides, thread wraps etc.) and successful rod building requires good eyesight and manual dexterity.