Mastering Rod Building

40:47

FUJI New Products: Ways to Reduce Weight Within Your...

Mastering Rod Building ·

2026/09/29

In this episode of the Mastering Rod Building Podcast, Bill Falconer talks with longtime rod builder and RodMaker Magazine publisher Tom Kirkman about how reducing unnecessary weight can improve fishing rod performance without sacrificing strength or durability.Bill and Tom discuss some of the biggest opportunities to cut weight in a custom build, including FUJI Titanium Guides, MC Guides, Torzite Guides, and Carbon Fiber Grips. They explain why weight in the upper half of the rod matters most and

en-US

66:59

Jim Crowley Outdoors: Why More Serious Anglers Are...

Mastering Rod Building ·

2026/09/17

In this episode of the Mastering Rod Building Podcast, Bill Falconer talks with longtime angler, outdoor media personality, and rod builder Jim Crowley about how decades of tournament fishing, television, writing, lure building, and product development have shaped the way he approaches custom fishing rods. Crowley shares how his fishing career evolved from competitive angling into outdoor television and radio before eventually leading him into rod building.Jim explains how his early work with St

en-US

52:29

The Business of Rodbuilding - How To Price Custom Rods

Mastering Rod Building ·

2026/09/02

In this episode of the Mastering Rod Building Podcast, Bill Falconer talks with longtime rod builder and RodMaker Magazine publisher Tom Kirkman about one of the most common questions in custom rod building: how to price a custom fishing rod and build a business that is actually worth the builder’s time.Tom explains why custom rod builders should not try to compete with factory rods on price and why a well-built custom rod should command a premium. He shares the advice that helped shape his own

en-US

65:10

What 40 Years of Building Rail Rods Teaches You About...

Mastering Rod Building ·

2026/08/20

In this episode of the Mastering Rod Building Podcast, Bill Falconer talks with longtime West Coast rod builder Bill “Salty Dawg” Havens about his decades in the craft, the development of rail rods, and the innovations that helped shape Southern California’s long-range fishing scene.Bill shares how he began building rods in the 1960s, eventually turning rod building into a profession and developing the Salty Dawg rail grip after seeing traditional foregrips get destroyed while fighting large tuna

en-US

118:41

Build It Your Way: Andy Dear on Rod Building, Ego,...

Mastering Rod Building ·

2026/08/07

In this episode of the Mastering Rod Building Podcast, Bill Falconer talks with longtime rod builder and product developer Andy Dear about craftsmanship, creativity, and developing a personal rod-building point of view.Andy explains why his approach centers on performance, simplicity, and creating a deeper connection to fishing rather than adding decoration that does not serve a purpose.The conversation covers Andy’s background in rod building, woodworking, music, carbon-fiber grips, finish

en-US

84:23

Tiger Wrap Tips And Tricks With Doc Ski

Mastering Rod Building ·

2026/07/22

In this episode of the Mastering Rod Building Podcast, Bill Falconer talks with legendary custom rod builder James "Doc Ski" Labanowski about his lifetime in rod building and the evolution of decorative thread work.Doc shares how he began wrapping guides at eight years old, served 23 years as a U.S. Navy corpsman, and eventually learned every part of custom rod building from the Harrington Rod Company.The conversation covers Doc’s role in developing color-change weaving and his approach to

en-US

64:08

Rod Recipes – Salmon/Steelhead Rods with Lamiglas

Mastering Rod Building ·

2026/07/09

In this episode of the Mastering Rod Building Podcast, Bill Falconer talks with Roger Hinchcliff of Lamiglas and the Steelhead Manifesto about steelhead fishing, Lamiglas rods, and what rod builders need to know when building technique-specific steelhead rods.Roger shares how he got started fishing as a kid in Michigan, spending countless hours on the Huron River catching bait, reading water, and learning to fish for everything from bluegill and smallmouth to walleye, pike, and eventually

en-US

70:37

Rodfathers: Mark Crouse and the Rise of 3D Printing...

Mastering Rod Building ·

2026/06/25

In this episode of the Mastering Rod Building Podcast, Bill Falconer talks with longtime custom rod builder Mark Crouse, also known as the Munich Rod Man, about 52 years of rod building, custom craftsmanship, 3D printing, carbon fiber grips, and building a recognizable personal style.Mark shares how he started fishing as a child and built his first rod at age 12 after his mother brought home a blank from a closing sporting goods store. With limited access to parts in Germany, he learned to improvise

en-US

79:09

Rodfathers: Inside the Brain of Steve Rajeff - Rod...

Mastering Rod Building ·

2026/06/10

In this episode of the Mastering Rod Building Podcast, Bill Falconer talks with legendary caster and rod designer Steve Rajeff about world-class casting, rod design, and the performance details that separate good rods from elite-level tools.Steve shares how he got started fishing as a kid in San Francisco, learned fly casting at the Golden Gate Angling and Casting Club, and was mentored by names like Mel Krieger before becoming a world champion caster as a teenager.Bill and Steve discuss Steve’s

en-US

61:58

A Consultation on Trout Rods with Carlitos 395 Custom...

Mastering Rod Building ·

2026/05/27

In this episode of the Mastering Rod Building Podcast, Bill Falconer talks with Carlos “Carlitos” Sanchez of Carlitos 395 Custom Rods about California’s ultralight trout scene, custom trout rods, and the specialized gear anglers use to target big trout on light tackle.Carlos shares how a high school friend introduced him to fishing and how he later got into rod building through BB Custom Rods. What started as helping with prep work and handles eventually turned into his own growing custom rod

en-US

96:28

Why Antique Fishing Rods (and Lures) Are Trending —...

Mastering Rod Building ·

2026/05/15

In this episode of the Mastering Rod Building Podcast, Bill Falconer talks with Jim Schottenham of the American Museum of Fly Fishing, along with returning guest Bernie Schultz, about vintage fishing tackle, collecting, restoration, and why fishing history still matters to modern rod builders and anglers.Jim shares how he became interested in early American reels, especially side mount reels, and how that passion led him to Lang’s Tackle Auction and later to his role as curator of the American

en-US

97:26

Is Air Carbon Mesh Changing Rod Building Forever?...

Mastering Rod Building ·

2026/04/24

In this episode of the Mastering Rod Building Podcast, Bill Falconer talks with Aleks Maslov of Composite Ventures, North Fork Composites, Edge Rods, and Striker Rods about one of the biggest rod building conversations in years: Air Carbon Mesh. The episode digs into what Air Carbon Mesh is, where it came from, why it has created so much interest among rod builders, and whether it represents a major shift in how custom rods may be built moving forward.Aleks explains how Air Carbon Mesh grew out of a

en-US

75:53

Rod Recipes - Fiberglass Fishing Rods with Mike...

Mastering Rod Building ·

2026/04/10

In this episode of the Mastering Rod Building Podcast, Bill Falconer talks with Mike McFarland of McFarland Rod Company about how he got started in fly fishing and rod building, how he eventually began designing and rolling his own blanks, and why slower, more responsive fly rods still matter in a market dominated by fast-action graphite.Mike shares how growing up in central Pennsylvania and discovering trout rising in a local stream pushed him toward fly fishing, rod building, and eventually blank

en-US

49:03

What We Learned at The Oyster Bamboo Rodbuilding Class

Mastering Rod Building ·

2026/03/23

In this episode of the Mastering Rod Building Podcast, Bill Falconer talks with Bill Oyster of Oyster Bamboo about his experience taking the Oyster Bamboo Rodbuilding Class in Blue Ridge, Georgia, and what makes the week so memorable for rod builders, anglers, and first-time bamboo students alike.Bill shares how years of hearing about the class finally led him and others to commit, and how the experience exceeded expectations from the moment it began. What stood out most was not just the chance to

en-US

58:47

Matching A Reel To A Rod | Shimano's Advice For...

Mastering Rod Building ·

2026/03/10

In this episode of the Mastering Rod Building Podcast, Bill Falconer talks with Captain John Irwin of Fly Right Charters about matching rods, reels, line, and technique into a complete fishing system for inshore, nearshore, and offshore fishing.John shares how a lifetime of fishing, from freshwater and fly fishing as a kid to guiding full time in the Charleston area since 2002, shaped his approach to tackle selection and made versatility a core part of his business. As a guide who splits time

en-US

80:49

Rod Recipes – Surf Casting Rods with Tommy Farmer

Mastering Rod Building ·

2026/02/24

In this episode of the Mastering Rod Building Podcast, Bill Falconer talks with Tommy Farmer of Carolina Cast Pro about building true long-distance surf casting setups for big red drum—rods, reels, rigs, and the casting mechanics behind them.Tommy shares how a 1996 trip to Cape Point, including landing a 45-inch drum and watching champion caster Mike Langston bomb a cast, sparked his path into competitive distance casting and surf fishing.They break down the real-world system: why overhead

en-US

82:14

Building Tradition: The Art Of Bamboo Rods With Bill...

Mastering Rod Building ·

2026/02/10

In this episode of the Mastering Rod Building Podcast, Bill Falconer talks with master bamboo rod builder and engraver Bill Oyster of Oyster Bamboo Fly Rods about bamboo craftsmanship, building rods at the highest level, and the weeklong class in Blue Ridge, Georgia that fulfills Bill’s 30-year dream of making a split-cane fly rod.Bill and Bill walk through how Oyster got his start—from fly fishing as an escape after bicycle racing and a life-changing accident, to teaching himself bamboo rodmaking

en-US

18:04

New Era, Same Passion: Meet David Boyle, the New...

Mastering Rod Building ·

2026/01/27

In this episode of the Mastering Rod Building Podcast, Bill Falconer talks with David Boyle of ThreadCentral about what’s new at ICRBE 2026 under new ownership and why the EXPO remains the can’t-miss event in custom rod building.Bill and David break down the expanded show footprint with more floor space, two exhibit halls, dedicated seminar areas, and two Learning Center spaces designed for hands-on demos and better learning.They also cover the weekend logistics—dates, hours, tickets (including

en-US

72:15

Level Up Your Builds - Get Bit Outdoors Shares What's...

Mastering Rod Building ·

2026/01/20

In this episode of the Mastering Rod Building Podcast, Bill Falconer talks with Kevin Brotz of Get Bit Outdoors about new rod-building innovations—especially the Next Level and Halftime finishes—and why stability, clarity, and reduced yellowing matter.Bill shares his firsthand experience building a full rod in one day using Halftime, and the two cover practical application tips for smoother finish results. Kevin also introduces Lockdown paste for tough, flexible bonds (great for demanding builds

en-US

82:45

Rod Recipes with Beau Browning – Crankbait Rods

Mastering Rod Building ·

2026/01/07

In this episode, Bassmaster Elite Series angler Beau Browning joins us to break down everything anglers need to know about crankbait rods, from choosing the right rod blank to customizing the perfect setup. Beau shares his pro-level insights on the best rod specifications for crankbaits, including action, power, line weight, lure weight, tip taper, and rod weight. We also dive into handle design, including reel seats, rear grips, fore grips, and butt caps, and explore which guide train layouts

en-US

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