I want to learn some basics from replacing eyelets to eventually making my own bass fishing rod.

Any suggestions on how to get started? I think there used to be some folks on here that would teach you.

Go to mudhole.com. They seem to be the biggest supplier of rod building components and sell rod building books and videos. I just ordered my first components for a bass rod and one of their technical guys helped guide me.

Four excellent videos I have are these:

This first one will teach you how to repair your guides.

1. "Complete Rod Repair Video" by Artie Hebert. Good stuff to know: adding ferrules to busted rods, splicing broken rods, repairing cork grips, replacing guides

These next three will teach you how to build an excellent spinning or baitcasting rod.

2. "How To Build Custom Rods" by Artie Hebert. Step by step video instruction on how to do it all, including guide wrapping techniques, finish tips, proper use of different epoxies, setting grips and reel seats, etc.

3. "Advanced Rod Building Techniques" by Artie Hebert. Fancier wrapping techniques, custom butt caps and winding checks.

4. "How We Do It" by Roger and Ryan Seiders. Roger Seiders owns the FlexCoat Company, who makes the various epoxy products ALL rod manufacturers use, including the big boys. Roger's been in the rod bidness a long time and has developed industrial-size rod wrapping and finishing machines. They sell all the equipment necessary to make excellent rods, you supplying the blanks, of course. Some of their products, including the video, are available at Cabela's, Bass Pro, Jann's Netcraft, etc.

Ryan Seiders lives near me and used to repair my rods but he retired from that and so I decided to learn to repair my own guides. Then I got a couple kits from Cabela's which had instructions and all the materials necessary to build spinning rods. After doing those I was hooked, and spent a bunch o' money on some good blanks, materials, better guides, threads, wrapping machine, drying motors, etc. I've made about 18 rods and have another 10 All Star and Loomis blanks yet to assemble.

The hobby has cooled lately, but I fish with some of the rods I've made and it's great to catch a nice LMB on one of your own creations.

You don't need all that stuff to make a couple rods, though. And the basic guide replacement stuff is available at Academy. The Artie Hebert videos I got at Cabela's. They're distributed by the Breakaway Tackle Co. in Corpus Christi.

Thanks gatoreyes and Fishin' Steeler. I knew there would be someone on here with excellent information. Not setting my goals too high so maybe I can reach them. HA!

Thanks again,
KB

KB
Here's a link to obtain the Artie Hebert videos I mentioned above: http://www.nickaway.com/index.html

I'd also highly recommend C. Boyd Pfeiffer's book The Complete Book of Tackle Making, published by Lyons Press and WELL WORTH the 20 bucks it costs.

Rod Building Guide by Tom Kirkman is a really good starting point. It's only about $10 and will get you going. If you have any specific questions as you go, feel free to contact me. Here's the link for that book:

http://www.amazon.com/Rod-Building-Guide-Spinning-Trolling/dp/1571882162