Building a custom fishing rod is a rewarding process that combines creativity, craftsmanship, and precision. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced builder, having the proper tools is essential—not only for achieving professional results but also for making the rod-building experience more efficient, enjoyable, and consistent. Using the right tools ensures each component is installed correctly, your wraps are clean and secure, and the rod performs as expected on the water.
Why Tools Matter
At first glance, it might seem like you can get by with basic supplies, and to a degree, you can. However, the right tools drastically reduce the chances of error and frustration. From choosing components to handle assembly and wrapping guides to applying finish the right tool for the job is critical. They allow for more precise measurements, cleaner finishes, and a safer building environment. With proper tools, you can avoid common issues like crooked guides, uneven wraps, loose reel seats, or excess epoxy messes.
The good news, Mud Hole has everything you need to build a fishing rod! The question is, do you need everything to build a nice fishing rod? Probably not, but there are some things you really do need.
As you dive into this new hobby you will find rod building involves a series of precise steps—aligning components, securing guides, applying epoxy, and more. Without the proper tools, each of these steps becomes more difficult and more prone to mistakes. Good tools give you better control over the process and help you achieve consistent, repeatable results from one build to the next.
Measuring Tool
Let's start with a tool you need even before you begin building and you will continue to use it all the way to rod finish. A set of digital calipers. We sell them here at Mud Hole or you can get them from your favorite hardware store, or you might already have a pair. Far too often, builders need to take exact measurements and are left estimating, guessing and in the end left buying the wrong item. Yes, you can always call Mud Hole Customer Service or use our excellent resource page for blank measurements but that is not going to get you guide sizes, measurements for threadwork or specifications on a mystery rod blank.
To go a step further, CRB has a Tip Top and Guide Sizing Gauge in both the Original and PRO version. This tool makes quick work of finding out what guide size or tip top you need by true feedback measurements with raised pegs and through-holes to assure you are getting the right size when it is time to order.
In addition, the back side of both the CRB Pro Gauge and the original have common conversions listed on the backside including tip top 64ths to millimeter.
So, grab a digital caliper or a CRB Tip Top and Guide Size Tool to never miss the mark when it comes to measuring for your custom rod.
Handle Assembly Tool
I can not stress this enough, if you are planning on building more than one fishing rod, buy the Extreme Reamers. These are the ultimate commercial-grade reamer on the market. They are constructed of durable, solid fiberglass and are built for versatility. Builders can use them by hand for precise, delicate tasks or chuck them into a drill for more heavy-duty reaming. Each reamer comes equipped with a 50-grit abrasive as standard, and both 50- and 36-grit abrasive tapes are available in convenient 25-foot replacement rolls, so one set of reamers will last you a lifetime.
Mud Hole has the Extreme Reamers in six individual sizes as well as a Four Piece Set. The legendary original are 14" in length and range in diameter from .215" up to .900". There is also a longer version that is offered in 18" lengths and three sizes ranging from .275" up to .525". Whether you need to ream out cork, EVA or any of the advanced materials, these reamers can handle it.
Wrapping Tool
We have all seen the old school or homemade hand wrappers, and I am not discounting the efficiency of those to learn and the low cost, but Mud Hole has made it easy and affordable to get into rod building. Of the two must have tools, this is one of them. You have to have some type of tool to wrap your rod. The Advanced Handwrapper has taught more people to build their own rods than all other hand wrappers combined. There is no need for a workshop or specialized space as the AHWS is a standalone wrapper that provides an upgraded sturdy base and two securely fastened stands with handy precision knobs for quick adjustments — plus, as you grow CRB has multiple add-ons to truly enhance your hand wrapping experience.
As a secondary wrapping tool, the Blank Extension Tool, is something I use quite a lot. Not that it is really an essential tool but it is worth mentioning in this blog because I do not have a dedicated rod building room or workshop.
So, after all these years, I am still wrapping on a handwrapper, and when I build a long fly rod I am not able to wrap it all as one piece. Whether you are wrapping the ferrules or a guide near the end of a rod section, these blank extension tools help center your wrap and eliminates headaches. Although I mention this under the wrapping section, these tools are designed to fit seamlessly into any of the CRB Rod Drying Systems.
Finishing Tool
Last but certainly not least is the tool needed to turn the rod while you apply finish and allow it to cure perfectly every time. Remember in the previous section I mention there are really only two must have tools, where his is the second one. To get into rod building, you really only need to have a tool that helps you wrap the rod and a tool to turn the rod so the self leveling rod finish can cure properly. Everything else is a luxury or designed to help or make things easier. Hope that doesn't get me in trouble...
With a number of rod dyer options in the CRB family, mine pick stands head and shoulders above the rest. The Slip Clutch Rod Dryer allows builders to start and stop the spinning of the rod without turning the power on or off. I find this an invaluable tool when applying finish on any rod no matter the configuration. Being able to stop the rod to make sure finish throughly coats an underwrap or around the guide braces give the builder total control during the important finishing process.
In addition to buying the dryer with the clutch already installed you can also purchase the slip clutch and chuck separately to convert any CRB RDS or DCRDS to a slip clutch dryer.
So, there you have it, for those who might be lost in a sea of rod building tools and supplies, hopefully that slims it down for you. If you are new to the craft and looking to jump in be sure to have a look through our All-In-One Kits. We have them for Spinning, Casting, Fly and even Ice Fishing. They come with all the tools and equipment you need plus a rod kit ready for you to build and fish.
