Angler Artist - The Bemidji Pioneer A fishing Rod as a piece of art? Believe it.
These aren’t the off-the-shelf fishing rods that are used a few times, tossed in the trunk and forgotten.
Depending on the materials used and time spent in crafting the rod, an angler could spend upwards of $2,000 for a custom fishing rod.
Intricate designs, stat-of-the- art components and the deft hand of a custom builder create a unique piece of fishing equipment, specifically constructed to the needs of the buyer.
Custom rod building has
experienced tremendous growth nationwide over the last 20 years. It’s estimated there are between 200,000 to 500,000 builders in the U.S. today.
Bemidji’s Mark Cook has seen the activity grow first hand. Owner of Bluewater Bait and Sport in Bemidji, Cook has been a custom rod builder for 21 years. Through his business, Seagull Rod and Repair, Cook said he makes 100 custom fishing rods a year, on average.
“Most aren’t show pieces,” he said. “If they aren’t fancy you can do them fairly quickly.”
Cook got into the craft like many. While in college, he said he wanted to buy a quality fishing rod at a low price. The only way to do that, he said, was to build one himself.
“When I first started, you could save 50 to 60 percent off the retail price,” he said. “Now there’s about a 20 to 30 percent savings.”
He built that first rod and it impressed his family and friends. He made a few more for acquaintances and soon a business was born.
Cook said he was immediately taken with the creativity involved in the craft. “When I make something there’s nothing less like it,” he said. “The rod is built specifically for an individual to their specifications.”
Learning about the craft was also an individual affair.
“When I started, there
weren’t any books or videotapes or national groups to get information from,” he said. “I learned through trial and error.”
Cook explained there are two main types of custom rods.
One type is intricately detailed through decorative wraps on
the guides and butt (handle)
that are normally given as
gifts. Then, there are specialized rods that are constructed to the specific needs of the buyer, the type of rods which can’t be built through mass production.
The designs detailed by the craftsmen have become breath- taking as techniques and communication among builders has evolved. Wildlife scenes, individual species of fish and awe-inspiring geometric designs in a rainbow of colors grace the rods.
“On the highly decorative rods, you’re buying a piece of art as much as a fishing pole,” said Cook. He said he spent as much as 25 hours working on a highly decorative rod.
In addition to building rods himself, Cook has been instrumental in teaching the craft to others in the Bemidji area. “After I started building rods, people would see them and want to make one themselves”, he said. “There weren’t any classes available in northern Minnesota so I set one up through community education. That first class filled immediately. Now I do two classes a year.”
“It’s a great thrill to watch his students as their work progresses,” he said.
“After they build a rod, they usually come in and show it to me,” Cook said. “People also bring in pictures of fish they’ve caught using one of my rods or one I’ve built. It’s pretty special.”
Cook has also been actively involved in the Custom Rod Builder’s Guild, a national group that has formed. A northern chapter of the guild has also been formed and will be holding an event in Brainered in August. Nationally renowned experts will present seminars to rod builders of all skill levels.
One of Cooks earliest students was Bemidji resident Kelvin Smith. Smith too began the craft because he wanted to build specialized rod at a reasonable price. Once he completed the first one, friends and relatives asked him to build more. The interest grew until Smith started a business of his own – Diamond Willow Fishing Rods.
“I went to a Woodcarver’s Festival in Blackduck one year and saw diamond willow walking sticks,” he said. “I thought they’d make a great fishing rod handle.”
The specialized rods have
been a hit.
“I enjoy designing and building something to suit a particular person’s needs,” he said. “A guy I talked with wanted a heavy duty four-piece pack rod that could handle heavy tackle,” he said. “A rod like that isn’t manufactured by any company. I was able to figure something out for him.”
“That’s very satisfying. Plus, the building part is a great stress reliever.”
Both Cook and Smith reported there isn’t a lot of money to be made in the custom rod building business.
“It’s like most crafters,” said Cook, “you do it as much for the personal satisfaction as for the money.”
It seems building custom fishing rods is something that gets into the builders blood.
“I’m going to keep doing it until I can’t see the threads to put on the guides anymore,” said Cook.
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