Mastering Rod Building

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 h

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

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 ann

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 fishi

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 flou

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, les

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

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 advise

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

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