Inletting Custom Grips
Rod Handles

Inletting Custom Grips

One of the most rewarding custom aspects of building rods is making a custom grip. Whether you are building an offshore rod for billfish or a small fly rod for bluegill, every fishing rod needs a g...

Rod HandlesProper Reel Seat Placement

Proper Reel Seat Placement

A reel seat is one of the most important parts of any rod build. Whether it is a factory-built rod you purchased at your favorite tackle shop or a custom rod build, the reel seat is your connection...

Rod HandlesUp-Locking vs. Down-Locking Reel Seats

Up-Locking vs. Down-Locking Reel Seats

Get to the bottom of the classic rod building debate between up-locking and down-locking reel seats. The Rod Building Debate Over Reel Seats Like many trending topics in rod building, the debate o...

Rod HandlesHow to Make Custom Eva Fishing Grips

How to Make Custom Eva Fishing Grips

Learn how to design your own custom EVA fishing grips with exciting colors and then bring your design to life with the 10 steps in this blog on shaping EVA grips! 10 Steps to Shape DIY Color EVA Gr...

Rod Handles4 Steps to Shape Custom Cork Grips

4 Steps to Shape Custom Cork Grips

Learn what it takes to shape cork into custom grips that improve performance, comfort, and style. Plus, check out the step-by-step video tutorial at the bottom for custom checkerboard cork inlays! ...

Rod Handles4 Steps to Build Fuji VSS Spinning Rod Handle

4 Steps to Build Fuji VSS Spinning Rod Handle

Follow these step-by-step instructions and watch our video tutorial to build your own Fuji VSS fishing rod handle. Components to Build Hidden Thread Reel Seat In rod building, it’s all about custom...

Rod HandlesBuilding Custom Cork Fishing Grips

Building Custom Cork Fishing Grips

Getting Creative with Cork Cork grips come in all sorts of shades and shapes, so it is up to the rod builder to customize their cork grips accordingly. For example, a checkerboard cork handle upgra...

Rod HandlesProtect Your Cork Grips with U-40 Cork Seal

Protect Your Cork Grips with U-40 Cork Seal

When it comes to handle assemblies, cork has long been a popular grip material known to bring a traditional look and feel to any fishing rod. The biggest knock on cork is its tendency to erode, slo...

Rod HandlesHow to Fill Voids in Cork Fishing Grips

How to Fill Voids in Cork Fishing Grips

There are times when even the highest-grade cork fishing grips can have problematic voids, but the good news is… it’s an easy fix and this blog will show you how. 5 Easy Steps to Fix Custom Cork Ha...

Rod HandlesTips & Tricks for Building Ultralight Fishing Rods

Tips & Tricks for Building Ultralight Fishing Rods

Panfish & Trout beware… Although light in power they are quite heavy in fun to fish. Let’s recap a Mud Hole Live favorite, the tips and tricks for building ultra-light rods! Recap Mud Hole Live...