As with any custom product, custom fishing rods are built around very specific objectives and those objectives need to be defined to ensure the best and most applicable product can be built. Although the below questions and considerations may be overwhelming for those with little to no fishing experience, don’t worry, Fugu Customs is here to help and will walk you through all of your options and possibilities.

1. Picking the Blank:

The first step in building a custom fishing rod is identifying and selecting the correct blank. The blank is what “fights” the fish when it is under “load” or bent. The main variables to consider while selecting a blank would be; intended species (Trout, bass, tuna), location (Lake, stream, ocean), and reel (Spinning, bait casting, or conventional).

2. Picking Components:

Following blank selection, you now must consider components/hardware. This is where customization starts and options are virtually limitless. Many manufacturers make components and they offer them in many forms, fits, and functions.

Being able to pair components from different brands enables custom rods to be built with the best components available to the angler. For example, United Composites produces great blanks for offshore fishing, American Tackle manufacturers great Titanium Turbo casting guides, and Alps makes some of the best metal locking reel seats, so being able to pair these on a single build Fugu can create the most effective and state of the art custom fishing rods on the market. Below are a few examples of component options which come in many styles and colors:

  • Handle Material: Cork, cork tape, foam, hypalon, cord, rubber (Wynn)..
  • Reel Seat: Plastic, metal, locking…
  • Handle close out: Winding check, turks head decorative knot, hook keeper.
  • Guides: spinning, casting, (materials: stainless steel, silicon carbide, titanium)

3. Thread work and personalization (Decorative Wraps):

The patterns, themes, and designs seen on custom fishing rods are created by embroidery thread. As the individual pieces of embroidery thread are wound up and down the blank and cross over each other, patterns begin to form. In some cases patterns take a few hours while some take north of 15. Your imagination is your limit when it comes to color combinations and decorative wrap patterns.

The culmination of the three steps above results in a truly custom, personalized, and functional fishing rod designed around the customers taste and intended use.