Custom Crappie Rod Start to Finish

[crappie wrangler]

[crappie wrangler]

[crappie wrangler]

I realize I am showing a lot of pics but this is for the beginner. For the experienced rod builder this is all routine.

[crappie wrangler]

With the butt end finished I will now turn my attention to terminating the tip end of the rod. Tip end is a figure of speech as this is a two piece rod.

[crappie wrangler]

I am terminating the wrap at both ends without using an independent terminating band. To accomplish this on the tip end I am going to weave the Lone Strangers name as a terminating band. I can't show all of the name weave because the Lone Stranger being a super hero is always looking to protect his anonymity.

The way you can tell he is a super hero is that like all super hero's he wears his underwear on the outside of his pants.

[crappie wrangler]

Instructions for laying out a basic alphanumeric weave are abundant and they all use the same pattern. I alter my D's a little so it doesn't look quite as blocky as the standard way of weaving it. I am using the basic 7 thread weave.

[crappie wrangler]

[crappie wrangler]

[crappie wrangler]

Now the butt section of the rod is ready for the front grip to be installed.

[crappie wrangler]

I still need to glue the grip on and install the hook keeper and the two guides for this section of the rod but the hard part is done. With the reel seat glued on solidly the only thing I can do to prevent this rod from being very sensitive is to break the rod blank.