What got me into rod wrapping
Fishing has always been a big part of my family. My dad got into it through trips with my grandma, and as far back as I can remember, it’s just something we did. Eventually, I started tagging along on longer tuna and pelagic trips, and that’s when things changed for me. Fishing went from catching stationary rockfish to battling powerful fish that really fought back. I’ll never forget the moment I caught my first big tuna—over 50 pounds. From that day on, I was hooked.
We got into rod wrapping thanks to my dad. It started as something fun we picked up at those yearly fishing conventions. Sam from Island Tackle sold my dad a couple of blanks, and from there, we were off. Our first few rods were wrapped outside on a plank of wood. They didn’t look great—actually, we re-wrapped probably the first 20 rods because we weren’t happy with them. But those early mistakes taught us a lot. We put in the time, asked around, did the research, and learned by trial and error on our own gear.
Eventually, I started making rods for friends. What began as a fun hobby slowly turned into something more. Today, it’s grown into a small but real business
Handmade to Order rods
Whenever I receive a rod order, the first thing I ask the buyer is: What's the primary use for the rod? I also want to know what they like in similar rods, and what kind of action and power they’re looking for. I always take the time to ask plenty of questions before I start building, because there are so many materials, components, layouts, and options that make a custom rod truly unique.
A custom rod isn’t just something that’s been glued and assembled—it’s built to match the angler and the specific fishery it’s meant for. Anyone can put a rod together, but it takes a custom rod builder to craft one that truly fishes.
