Buying fishing rods from the store can be very costly for the casual fisher. To save you the extra expenditure or some help if you are ever left stranded, below is a simple method you can use to make your very own fishing rod from readily available materials.
Step 1: Preparation of the pole
Find 8-10 feet long bamboo cane with a diameter of 1-2 inches then cut it at the base. Remember, bigger is not always better with this type of material since a larger pole could end up being rather cumbersome to handle and awkward to transport from one place to another.
Trim the cane with a small sized knife to get rid of any nubs or leaves and make the body as even as you can. Pick a joint at the thicker end of the bamboo then saw it through to make sure that your fishing pole’s butt is a closed end. Nicely smoothen out the body using sandpaper.
Step 2: Drying
Let it dry; tie it with a string at the narrow end then let it suspend from the ceiling to make sure that it has a straight shape once it dries up. Place it in a warm environment but not in direct sunlight since it will dry too quickly and this will make it brittle. It may take a few weeks or even a few months depending on the temperature and level of humidity of the drying environment. It turns to a tan shade when it is ready.
After it dries well enough, give it a few swings in the air to ensure that it does not bend even break. If it does that, you just have to start again. So, you are advised to prepare three to four pieces and get the best out of them. Also, your fishing rod has to be as straight as possible, in case it has a slight curve after it dries, you can weigh it with some bricks in order to straighten it out.
Step 3: Attaching the fishing line
Take a Dracon line of 20 pounds then tie one end some inches above the fishing pole’s handle. Run the fishing line along the pole’s length to the end and after that, take a few extra fishing line pieces and use them to tie up the running line to the pole at about three different intervals including the tip of the rod. Be keen when tying the line, if it gets too tight, you will not be able to slide it up and down with ease, while a loosely tied line will droop and tangle up. If possible, us a whip-finish.
From the pole’s tip, the length of the line is supposed to be the total length of the pole plus two extra feet. Instead of the Dracon line, these extra feet can be the monofilament leader if you wish.
Step 4: Attaching the hook, Bobber and Sinker
Fix the hook of your preference to the line’s end along with a bobber, then a split shot sinker.
And your homemade fishing pole is ready for fishing!