[Steelie Trav]

I want to get into spey fishing and wanted some info as to if I should build my own or simply just buy one? Keep in mind I don't have any building experience but I do pick up on things really fast. What are the cost differences between buying and building??

 

[fishey]

buiding, if you do it on your own will turn out to be equal or more money than buying a factory one. when you buy a factory one you also get the rod tube and sock...also if you break a tip or something the factory will send you a complete new one and if you were to build your own and broke something you would only get the blank. i personally would rather have a rod that i have built myself even if that means paying equal or more $

 

[HOOK]

if you buy an Echo the spey rods are only $300 bucks. I picked up a 9/10wt 14 foot and its frigging sweet dude.

I think when it comes to building your first rod or god forbid 2 might not turn out as great as you want. I would also like to get into rod building but just dont have the time or room :cheers:

 

[Sandhead]

Well i just built my first rod. A spey rod on a amundson blank. Cost? within $40 if i had bought it retail. But i choose my own components and it's totally a labour of love.

The rod didnt turn out nearly as nice as a factory made rod, but I learned lots about rod building and am more knowledgable about what i want in a rod for the next time.

I have three spey rods now, and one echo for sale in this site's classified if your looking for a inexpensive echo rod.. Upgraded to a brownie Sage

 

[professori]

You can save money building your own rods, but the key is you will have to build quite a few before the costs of dryiong motors, winding frame/lathe, brushes,etc. is defrayed. That said, the joy of building the rod you want, finished the way would like far outweighs the costs, in my mind. Building a rod to save money is like tying flies to save money-in theory it works, in practice you'll go nuts if that is your sole motivation. I would recommend getting a good, inexpensive rod kit and use that as your first (or even second and third) rod to build before jumping intop the higher end products. Rainshadow makes very reasonably priced kits using blanks that many say compare very favourably to Sage. Check here:
http://www.shofftackle.com/rainshadow-index.html

A couple of good sites to look at are:

http://www.rodbuildingforum.com/index.php?act=idx

http://www.rodbuildingforum.com/index.php?act=idx

http://www.rodbuildersupplies.com/

Drop me a PM if you need any more help.

 

[Steelie Trav]

Thanks for the advice there guys, I still haven't decided what I am going to do yet. Maybe I will go with building my own 5wt then buying my new spey.

 

[finaddict]

I've built about 15 rods and concur with Professori and everyone else. You won't save any money building it yourself. Having said that, there is nothing quite like hooking a fish on a fly you tied yourself, with a rod you built yourself on a boat you rebuilt yourself. If only I was a machinist and had a lathe, I coudl start making my own reels ;D

There is also nothing quite like the look on an angler's face when you present them with a custom hand built rod as a gift. They cherish much more than if you just went out and bought one. :thumbup:

 

[stsfisher]

There is also nothing quite like the look on an angler's face when you present them with a custom hand built rod as a gift. They cherish much more than if you just went out and bought one. :thumbup:
[/quote] Hey finaddict, my birthday is in march. ;D

 

[professori]

There is also nothing quite like the look on an angler's face when you present them with a custom hand built rod as a gift. They cherish much more than if you just went out and bought one. :thumbup:

Hey finaddict, my birthday is in march. ;D
[/quote]

Good, leaves time to get one done for my birthday end of April!!

 

[HOOK]

and then mine in August :thumbup: LOL I'll take a 2wt fly rod :happy: :happy: :happy:

 

[Nuggy]

.

 

[Steelie Trav]

Well after careful consideration I have decided to buy my first spey, maybe I'll tie my 5wt that I plan on getting insatead!

 

[fishortho]

Does that mean your nice gear rods will be for sale soon??? ;D
If you thought you spent some $$$ getting into the gear fishery, wait 'til you start FFishing for all species....OUCH!!......(those other fly boys got to you, didn't they? ).......Ortho 8)

 

[nates]

Oh great, another fatliner beating the water to a froth, just what we need. LOL just joking bud, good luck out there, your gonna need it with a spey rod fishing for Steel. :

Nates

 

[Rib]

Whadda ya mean buddy...? You use a spey rod fishing for steel too...

 

[Steelie Trav]

Well we'l have to see how long its gonna take me to get the funds together for a spey. Things area a little tight and when I do get some extra cash I usually spend it on the boat. Hopefully by the spring I'll have a new spey and a new 5wt

 

[Steel_Dreamin]

If you subtract all the "must haves" rod building is alot cheaper than buying a rod - this means you can upgrade your blank and still spend the same $$$

For example - lathe requirement; your knees and some sanpaper work just fine to shape your handle. Granted, it might not be as fast but when your building a rod precision and a level of attention is required.

Motor to turn rod while drying - two small pieces of wood nailed together to form a v and your finger is all you need; periodically turn the rod to avoid the epozy 'droop' on the one side. Recommendation would be to complete in the morning and turn throughout the day.

rod wraping mechanism - books placed ontop of your thread works well. you can remove/add accordingly to adjust the tension required. The holder is your hands.

Just my 0.02 cents but if your are going to take the time you may as well put some effort into it.

Over time you can build up the neccessary components but they are certainly not required to start building your first rod.

Cheers.

 

[retreive]

Hello Finnaddict,

If you want to practice building a spey rod during winter I have a 4 piece blank that is 11'6 for 6/7 wt.
Would you build measpey rod?
Let me know