[lure buddy]

I am thinking about starting to build my own rods. I was looking at mudholes house blanks and want to know if anyone has used them. If so how is the quality?

Any info on getting started on building your own rods would be great.

Thanks
Bobby

[MTfishingrods]

I use them, abuse them, sell them, cant say enough good about them. Only bad thing about them is the shipping about kills me so I order about 30 at a time. You wont be disappointed. But dont tell anyone OK. Lets just keep it our little secret.I would tell you who makes them but I am afraid of what they would do to me.Lets just say its a major rod company.

[Mattman]

Excellent product for the dollar. Great way to get started building.

I use the sanded ones for extension material and for Laker/Pike ice fishing rods.

[HookUp]

I bought 1/2 dozen when I first started building to practice on.

Gave all, but one, away as gifts and they were all well received. The one I didn't give away my son 'procured'.

[rodtrader]

I use them also. I use the 5 1/2 footer to make a small stream trout rod. I wouldn't put one in the hands of a customer who commissions a premium build however, most of the time they know exactly what brand blank they want anyways. BUT for low cost rods they can't be beat.

matt

[cidgrad]

I believe they are made by American Tackle.

Great blanks to practice on and yes, many custom builders use them as house blanks and to build low priced custom rods.

What you aren't going to find is a whole array of blank specs to make a series of technique specific bass rods. I wish they would come out with more variety.

I've built two or three for customers and they were very happy with them.

[uncle al]

I'd like to build ice rods in the 30-36in range anyone know where this size blank can be found, or do I need to get longer ones, and cut them down. Thanks

[Mattman]

Originally Posted by uncle al

I'd like to build ice rods in the 30-36in range anyone know where this size blank can be found, or do I need to get longer ones, and cut them down. Thanks

Depends on the power you're looking for.

Thorne Brothers is a good source.

If you want solid carbon you could use St. Croix sticks or the ones from Midwest and extend them with scrap blank sections. Midwest Rod & Reel, Inc.

[ejtaylor822]

I have built a couple on the mudhole blanks and they are very good. However, for comperable price and better quality check out the clearance rods and Swamplandtackle.com. The have several blanks left in the $12 - $15 range that are fantastic.

[rhahn427]

Swampland tackle all the way. Their closouts are Castaway blanks that are last years models. I fish the Chesapeake Bay and light tackle jig. I use the 844 and 845's and I have never seen a better blank yet. They were all in perfect shape and perfectly straight. Shipping is around $20 in a PVC tube. If what you want is sold out call them and ask. Lance pulls all the ones he sees that have any scratches on them and may have some that would fit your needs. I bought 10 that had scratches up to 18" from the bottom. Since I would have scuffed that area anyway because it is covered by the handle it didn't matter to me. Point is they were listed as sold out and Lance sold them to me only because I asked.

I asked him why he didn't list them and he said didn't feel right selling a less tham perfect blank ..........

Anyway ........ good luck but be careful ....... rodbuilding is addictive .......