Fishing rods found in specialty stores are often very expensive. A casual fisherman may find it more convenient to build one himself. Keep reading this article if you want to know how to build your fishing rod with bamboo, with PVC pipes or even with a simple stick.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Bamboo cane
Step 1. Find a good piece of bamboo
It must be between 240 and 300 cm long, with a diameter of 2.5-5 cm. When you have found the right one, cut it at the base.
- When building a bamboo fishing rod, the saying "the bigger the better" isn't necessarily true. In fact, it could be cumbersome and uncomfortable, both to carry and to handle.
- Perhaps it is advisable to cut 3-4 pieces of bamboo at a time, to prevent the cane you have chosen from breaking after drying and to avoid having to repeat the whole process from scratch.
Step 2. Cut and smooth the barrel
Use a sharp knife to remove any leaves and knots as close to the main stem as possible.
- Find a joint in the thickest part of the bamboo and cut right there. This way you are sure that one end of the barrel is closed.
- Take a piece of sandpaper and sand the barrel body as much as possible.
Step 3. Let it dry perfectly
This is the next step. Tie a piece of string to the thinnest end of the rod and hang it from the ceiling. This way the bamboo will dry evenly while remaining straight.
- Dry your joint in a warm, dry place, but don't expose it to direct sunlight. This would in fact dry the bamboo too quickly making it brittle.
- Depending on the temperature and humidity level, it will take a few weeks to several months to complete drying. You will know your joint is ready because it will change color to brown.
- When the bamboo is dry, do some tests by mimicking the launch phase of the hook to make sure the rod does not break or bend. If this happens, try again with another pole.
- The barrel should be as straight as possible, so if it bent slightly during drying, you can straighten it by ballasting it with bricks.
Step 4. Connect the fishing line
Get tested fishing line weighing up to 10 kg and knot it about 5 cm above the "handle" of the rod.
- Extend the line the entire length of the barrel until you reach the end. Take a few pieces of fishing line and use them to tie the main line in 2-3 places along the entire length of the bamboo (including the tip).
- Be very careful during this operation, if you knot too tight you will not be able to slide the line, but if the knots are too loose the line will dangle and tangle. If possible use a tip.
- The line should be as long as the rod plus an extra 30-60cm. If you prefer, these additional 30-60cm can be a monofilament leader instead of your regular fishing line.
Step 5. Tie the hook, float and sinkers
Place your favorite hook or lure at the end of the line along with a float and broken sinkers.
Now your home bamboo fishing rod is ready to go! To shorten the line, pull the line towards you and wrap the excess around the handle of the rod
Method 2 of 3: Barrel of PVC pipes
Step 1. Cut two PVC pipes
They must have two different diameters: the first of 1, 27 cm and the second of 1, 9 cm.
- Use a hacksaw to cut the tubes to the desired length, remember that once joined together they will give you the total length of your fishing rod.
- For example, if you want to build a small rod suitable for a child, cut each tube by 10 ''.
- Use sandpaper to smooth the edges you cut and to remove any marks from the pipes.
Step 2. Secure the non-slip caps and threaded fittings
You need two caps, one 1.9cm and the other 1.27cm.
- You also need a threaded fitting (female-male) with a 1.9 cm inlet and a 1.27 cm outlet and another (female-female) 1.27 cm fitting.
- You can find these accessories in all hardware stores at an affordable price. Insert each fitting into the corresponding pipe without gluing them.
Step 3. Drill holes in the smaller tube
Use a power drill with a 2.3mm bit and drill 3-5 holes along the entire 1.27cm tube.
The number of holes depends on the length of the tube you are using. No matter how many there are, make sure they are evenly spaced
Step 4. Attach the eyelets
Get medium-sized paper clips / pliers (equal to the amount of holes you made) and remove the wire from each.
- Use pliers to bend one end of the wire around the other. At this point you should have a loop at one end of the wire while at the other you will have the two "legs" pointing towards each other. Repeat the process for all the clothespins.
- Attach all the rings you have created to the holes of the 1.2 '' barrel. The ring part is the eye through which the line will pass.
Step 5. Attach a pre-assembled reel with line to the largest tube
You can do this using the same drill bit you used earlier and then screw the reel into place
Step 6. Screw the two PVC pipes together
This is the last step, and finally your joint will be finished. Pass the line through the real eyelets, mount the float, the hook and the sinkers.
The nice thing about this type of rod is that you can take the caps off and store your gear or whatever you want inside the tube
Method 3 of 3: Baby Cane
Step 1. Find a sturdy cane
It must be straight, sturdy and about 240-300 cm long with a diameter of 2.5-5 cm. Remove the leaves and branches and smooth the surface with sandpaper to remove knots and thorns (if necessary).
Step 2. Connect the twine and fishing line
Take a piece of string, about 6 meters long and knot it at the thinnest end of the rod, about 10 cm from the tip.
- Make sure you make a secure and tight knot. Wrap the rest of the string around the end of the stick.
- Tie 60-90 cm of line to the end of the string, as it will be easier to attach the hook here.
Step 3. Attach a small hook to the end of the line
When it's time to go fishing, unwind the string from the end of the rod so that the hook reaches the desired depth.
