On this episode, Bill interviews Captain Bobby Abruscato. Capt. Bobby is a legendary fisherman and rod builder from the northern Gulf Coast region. Bobby shares his approach to building rods for different fishing applications, such as popping corks, top water fishing, and jigging. He highlights the importance of using high-quality materials and customizing rods to meet the specific needs of his charter clients and his own tournament fishing. Bobby also discusses the benefits of custom-built rods, including the ability to tailor the rod's action and length to specific fishing techniques. He shares his background, including growing up on Dauphin Island and transitioning from college to becoming a full-time fishing guide. Bobby is an accomplished tournament angler, with 19 pro redfish tournament wins and four Alabama inshore trail championships. He discusses his long-term involvement in rod building and his mentorship by the late Jim Ising. Bobby recounts how he developed his passion for fishing as a child and how he eventually became a professional guide, much to his father's initial disapproval. He explains how he met Jim Ising, who became a close friend and mentor, and how this relationship led to Bobby's interest in rod building. Bobby emphasizes his focus on building rods for function rather than form, ensuring they are effective fishing tools. Throughout the conversation, Bobby shares memorable fishing experiences, including a trip with Jim Ising where they caught a 26-pound blackfish, and a charter trip where a client, Butch Theory, outfished the experienced anglers. Bobby emphasizes the value of learning from every fishing experience and the importance of custom-built rods in enhancing fishing performance and overall enjoyment of the sport.

On this episode, Bill Falconer interviews Tom Kirkman with RodMaker Magazine to discuss the topic of rod action, power, and speed, and how to objectively measure and understand these characteristics using the "Common Cents System" developed by Dr. William Hanneman. The system provides a universal, relative scale to compare rod blanks across manufacturers and categories. It involves measuring the weight required to deflect the rod tip a specific distance, which gives the "Effective Rod Number" for power and the "Action Angle" for initial flex. This allows anglers and rod builders to match rods to their preferences and needs, rather than relying on subjective marketing terms. The podcast also discusses how trimming rod blanks affects action and power, and the importance of understanding rod speed and efficiency.

On this episode Bill Falconer interviews Steve Grant, the sales manager at REC-COM Outdoors. They cover the importance of proper equipment maintenance, especially for rods and lines. Steve explains that many line issues customers report are actually caused by problems with the equipment, such as guides not rolling properly or improper knot tying. He shares examples of investigating line failures and tracing them back to user error. They discuss best practices for maintaining rods, including cleaning with Dawn soap, checking guides, and using the right lubricants. Steve recommends changing monofilament line annually and braided line every other year, depending on usage. He also advises proper storage to protect against UV exposure and temperature changes. Overall, the discussion emphasizes the critical role of diligent equipment care in ensuring fishing success, especially for high-stakes tournament fishing.

Bill Falconer interviews James Tannahill, a new rod builder and Marine Corps/law enforcement veteran who has dealt with PTSD. James shares his military and law enforcement background, including his roles and experiences. He discusses the impact of his law enforcement work on his mental health and the development of his PTSD. James describes his journey to seeking help at the VA and discovering rod building as a therapeutic hobby. He explores the resources and support he has found in the rod building community, emphasizing the importance of asking questions and not being intimidated as a new builder. Bill and James both encourage listeners to reach out for support if struggling with PTSD or interested in rod building. James plans to continue building rods and sharing his journey to inspire others.

On this episode, Bill sits down with Chuck and Debbie Brown from Decal Connection. Chuck and Debbie have been long-time supporters of the rod building community, providing high-quality custom decals for rod builders. They purchased the business in 2005 and have since transitioned from water-slide to peel-and-stick decals, which offer faster application and better durability.

Decal Connection can produce custom decals in a variety of sizes, colors, and designs to fit rod builders' needs. They emphasize the importance of proper surface preparation, such as applying a coat of finish, to ensure the decals adhere properly. They also provide guidance on sizing logos and artwork to work well on the small surface area of a rod.

The Browns are happy to work with customers, even those trying to print their own decals, to help them achieve the best results. They caution against using copyrighted artwork without permission. Overall, Decal Connection is praised for their expertise, customer service, and commitment to supporting the rod building community.

 In this episode, we sit down with Jim "The Dragon Master" Upton, a legendary custom rod builder with a career spanning back to the 1970s. Known for his pioneering work, Upton is the author of "A Guide to Thread Weaving for the Custom Rod Builder" and the inventor of the Wonder Weaver, a revolutionary tool for 360-degree weaving around a rod blank.

Upton shares his journey into fishing and rod building, including his innovative contributions to light line marlin fishing and his creation of intricate dragon-themed weaves, such as the iconic "Baby Dragon." He also reflects on his gradual shift away from active rod building and fishing, and discusses his plans for his book and the Wonder Weaver.

Throughout the episode, Upton's deep knowledge, technical expertise, and humble approach shine through, solidifying his reputation as a true master of the craft. Don't miss this insightful conversation with a living legend in the rod building community!

In this episode of the Mastering Rod Building Podcast, we explore the journey of Tyler Hass and his father Russell, founders of Check'n Bottom Outfitters in Texas. Since 2017, their high-quality swordfish rods have gained a global following among anglers.

Tyler's passion for rod building ignited after catching a 400+ lb swordfish on a cheap rod, inspiring him to create superior rods. Today, Check'n Bottom Rods are renowned for their durability, quality components, and unique custom designs. Tyler emphasizes the use of top-notch materials and excellent customer service.

The podcast delves into the specialized techniques and equipment for deep drop swordfish fishing, such as drop rods, float rods, and electric reels. Tyler shares insights on rod design, guide selection, and line/leader setup.

A key discussion point is the use of E-glass blanks for swordfish rods, highlighting the importance of balancing backbone and sensitivity. This episode showcases the passion and expertise of Tyler and Check'n Bottom Outfitters, emphasizing their contributions to the swordfish fishing community.

Mastering Rod Building is brought to you by Anglers Resource — your source for genuine Fuji Tackle components.

In this episode of the Mastering Rod Building podcast, Vic Cutter delves into the fascinating journey of Fuji, a Japanese company that transitioned from metal stamping to revolutionizing the fishing rod industry with innovative guide and reel seat designs. Founded by competitive distance casters, Fuji's products were crafted to enhance casting performance. Cutter narrates the history of Fuji's introduction to the U.S. market through companies like Lew Childre and Anglers Resource, which eventually led to the emergence of competitors like Pacific Bay. The discussion also explores the impact of cutting-edge technologies, such as forward-facing sonar, on tournament fishing, and examines the evolution of rod-building techniques and materials, including the use of 3D printing

Mastering Rod Building is brought to you by Anglers Resource — your source for genuine Fuji Tackle components.

In this episode of the Mastering Rod Building Podcast, we are joined by Mike Hickey, a veteran surf rod builder with over 35 years of experience. Mike takes us through the fascinating evolution of surf fishing gear, reminiscing about the days when homemade rods featured guides held on with electrical tape, and contrasting them with today's advanced setups using modern braided lines. He emphasizes the importance of considering the type of rod and reel a customer intends to use when setting up surf rods. A critical piece of advice Mike offers is the need for builders to experiment with different guide placements. This testing helps to minimize line slapping and control oscillation, ultimately enhancing casting performance.

Mike also shares his insights on setting up spinning rods compared to conventional rods, offering techniques to achieve long-distance casting. For beginner rod builders, he suggests starting with simple setups and gradually optimizing them through rigorous field testing. Throughout the discussion, Bill highlights the significant impact braided lines have had on the sport, allowing anglers to catch large fish with modern, lightweight gear. Both hosts take a moment to commend Mike’s bakery for its delicious treats, underscoring Mike’s practical and straightforward approach to rod building that prioritizes simplicity and extensive testing in real-world conditions.

Enjoy the show!

Mastering Rod Building is brought to you by Anglers Resource — your source for genuine Fuji Tackle components.

This episode features Tim Johnson with Tim Johnson Gallery and Timmy Grips. Tim’s interest in fly fishing began as a child in Arizona. He was taught the basics of casting by his neighbor Eric Shoemaker. After convincing his parents to buy him a fly rod by achieving Eagle Scout status, his passion grew. Tim pursued his passions in art and mental health while guiding and using fly fishing as a therapeutic modality. He helped adolescents on the autism spectrum and veterans with PTSD.

As his artwork grew more successful, Tim transitioned to working as a full-time artist in Arizona. He began customizing grips for fishing rods using pyrography, or burning designs into cork, after creating a personalized grip as a gift. His intricate, colorful designs featuring fish and insects became highly sought after. Tim discusses techniques, tools, and honing his skills over thousands of hours of practice.

Tim enjoys collaborating with other artists and companies like Orvis. He creates commissioned pieces memorializing specific fish catches, in addition to conservation projects.

Mastering Rod Building is brought to you by Anglers Resource — your source for genuine Fuji Tackle components.