Am I the only one who gets a Bob Ross vibe off of these build videos? Matt: And here today...I don't know...maybe we'll build a fluffy little rod. And in your world, that rod can live anywhere you want it to. It's decision time, do we want it to be a spinning rod or a baitcasting rod? Remember, there are no mistakes, only happy accidents!

Man you make that look so easy

I like TN handles on my spinning rod. Simplify’s the build some and definitely custom

I was stroking a swim jig under a bridge on the river I always fish and hooked a smallie well over 5 lb probably closer to 6 yesterday a little off topic but I feel compelled to share , nice one Matt.

Post Spine finding, I sighting check to see if the rod is straight in relation to the spine location. Usually the blank tip will droop farther in one orientation, spine up or down. I like the blank tip to droop less, this is also how you make an inherent production curve/tweek in a rod appear straight when fishing, have the blank curve ark upwards. Masking tape isn't a great arbor, it's a bit more messy but I use fiberglass drywall tape in epoxy sanded to final O.D., a shade heavier, but it transfers vibration better. I'm a two low-build thin coat thread epoxy guy, (after thread burnishing, no burnishing? No wonder it's a fast build) after the 1st coat you can knock down any thread nubs with an exacto knife before a 2nd thin coat. I also wait till the 2nd coat to apply the epoxy uniformly down off the treads sealing things down onto the blank for a neat thin epoxy edge, with a needle or bodkin. Lable epoxy: apply liberally then brush-tip stroke down it's long length all the way round several times. The flaming/bubble bursting: You can put the flame under the rod and work it down the label's length, heat rises up and around both sides of the blank, there is no need for direct flame contact.

I’d like to give this a go. I think my nephew would to. He makes fly’s all the time. Rods would be cool.

something you did there made it click for me. I always had trouble starting my threads and the way you showed it made it make sense finally. just started another rod and now starting threads is a breeze, really feel like I leveled up haha. thanks a ton for the videos!

Timing for this video is perfect....literally just got my NSJ871 blank delivered yesterday! Thanks Matt!

I've been multi tasking, watching you and listening to the weather. Trying to see if that storm is going to mess me up for tomorrow. Looks like it's going to work for me. That's different !

This is the 1st time I’ve watched anything on rod building and then I went down the rabbit hole and checked out the mud hole supplier. Man that was a mistake, now I want to build my own line of rods just for me! This is going to get expensive.😅

Hi Matt, I have an idea for a possible video, not sure if it makes sense: on many videos of yours and eventually others, people say “I’m going to throw this bait so that it crushes as many wood as possible” or “this jig can penetrate a cover very well” and so on. The point of the video would be to show what exactly that means. I mean I am pretty positive that i normally pitch close to a wood, but not close enough. It would be helpful to have a video that explains where the bait should be casted in different circumstances… actually we see that a bit as the video plays but it’s very quick…so how close to a cover do we need to pitch / cast? How close to a wooden tree do you land your crankbait…and so on. I know this is a really complicated topic, please consider this a suggestion for when you lack ideas and not a request. I love what you do, and I’m learning a lot from your video, thank you 🙏

Nice job Matt ,rod-building has been a huge enjoyment a gift they will use.weaving a flaming scull on a restored rod for a friend 40 hours for a five color weave now I’m working on 2 largemouth on a flipping stick remind them to mix the final thin coat very accurate or it my not set for days if ever 😊

That’s a good one , got to be a smallie the way it’s fighting , love watching you fish

Great tutorial. Perfect start to dive from in to the rabbit hole..👍

Very smooth and easy to follow presentation Matt 👍

👍 Matt, I appreciate all your videos my friend. I'm just getting into this hobby and in process of knowledge gathering. Subscribed.

Haven't made a rod since the early 1970s when it was impossible to buy spinning rods built to cast bass plugs. By the end of the decade rod suppliers wised up. Warn your viewers building their first rod is filled with danger. They're gonna screw up. Reel seat on backwards, spine on wrong side, crooked guides, spilled glue. Takes at least three rods until you get it about right. Thanks for reviving up those memories.

Have been a fan of 7 foot med light spinning rods since the 80 s. Used the old Berkley Lightning Rod for many years. Still a fan of Tennessee style grips ! Like using rod balancers on some of my rods. Great video and rod building skills. When Berkley Fire fire line came out, sometime in the mid 90 s, it made med light action fishing rods a must have for tossing finesse lures for smallmouth and walleye. Bill

Yeessss! Been waiting for this one!! Thanks Matt!! 👍

Great job on that rod Matt, thanks for sharing all your measurements for this rod, I sure will use them when I build this rod!!!

Great video, I've waiting for a spinning rod build. Thanks for the excellent instructional video.

Thanks, this is what i was lookng for

I like the feel of the baitcasters with the thumb on top. I'ved turned my spinning rods to get that feel by welding metals together and putting it on the handle. People think I'm crazy. It has great feel.

Love your videos Matt! I live how you don't "reach" for views like old intuitive randy lol thanks for all the info!

Awesome!!!! Hopefully one day I can do it just as good as you!!! lol Stay Safe and God Bless!!!

Plus all other videos too

Thanks for your awesome videos, keep them coming on your rod build. My question is what size of thread do you use?

Nice video! I thought it was funny you had all those fancy rod building tools, but no $10 heat gun 😂

If you decide not to fish tournaments you can build custom rods. Nice work.

The difficult part of rod building seems to me wrapping, threading and everything concerning guide alignment and attachment. I really need a new spinning rod but I’m not at all confident I could do a competent job of building one. Your finished product is gorgeous.

Hey Matt the guys at 603Bass are trying to get some Pro Northern Anglers on their Podcast, Reel Northern Bass Talk. You should hit em up! You’d be great

Thanks for the build video. Giving the 871 a look for a build this winter. Leaning toward a Tennessee handle or a FUJI IPSM or VSS reel seat (may have to build both :) . You've been using the LZR guides for some time. Do you have an estimated weight savings over the standard base FUJI alconite rings?

I’m trying to build my first rod for my son. He wants a red white and blue themed rod this Christmas. The 10yo loves America and I’m happy to oblige. Any ideas on how this might look?

this is so awesome. Thank you Matt for doing it this way. Absolutly love how you listed parts etc. Im about to complete my first build for a casting rod from mudhole and was gonna build a spinning rod next!!!! One question if you remember. The fuji reel seat. There are a couple of hood options. which did you use.

Question: I plan to build myself a really nice baitcast rod, as well as a really nice spinning rod. Assuming that I have found the ideal blank for my desired application, if I wanted to use the same blank for both rods, would I just put the guides on the opposite side of the spine for spinning or bait casting?

Can you take a look at the Orochi whipsnake specs and tell me whether that would be a good all around rod for finesse stuff?

Thanks for doing this video. Any recommendations for a similar blank under 7 foot?

Reason for using 2 different color thread.

Also if you want you could put a small amount of denatured alcohol in the epoxy that will thin it a little and allows to to even up inside!

Dear Sir I live in Florida near the st John's river,in Palatka. We had a hurricane go thou us here. How long do you think how long wait to go fishing ?

Why is the bait caster reel seat tight, and the spinner needs to be arbored???

I want to build a bfs rod. Should I use a spinning blank and throw baitcaster components on it. As far as handle anyway

Is the quality of the rod better if you build it verses buy it all ready done ?

Matt what do you think about a 7’6 medium Or medium light? I have the NRX902 as well as the Steez version that is 7’6 in mind.

Great video. How much for a Matt Stefan hand-built rod!? 🤣

Which spinning rod blank do you use for jerk baits?

Just checked, sold out.

super novice question. Does the spine lay on the top or the bottom of the rod?

You may have said and I missed it, or then again this may be a really dumb question, but the spine is on top or bottom of the rod?

Matt. Have you thought of making these custom rods and selling them?

👍👍👍

Enjoyed the video, but I don't think I could afford to do that, I can see problems with trial & error & $$, which I don't have much of, but that might be your nitch on making some $$ for yourself, I'm sure that you would have no problem selling them🎣

Totally off topic but you look a little different, did you get a haircut? Or shave? Something’s different!!!

How many inches do you put the guides on?

good lord tighten your drag a lil 😂😭