HeyJaredMastering Rod Building
Discover the art and craft of rod building with host Bill Falconer. Get insider tips from experienced rod builders, industry insiders, and experienced anglers on building custom fishing rods with the latest trends.
- Indexed episodes, last 90 days
- 6
- Latest publication
- Sep 17, 2026
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- Earliest in this view
- Jul 9, 2026
Latest episodes
Jim Crowley Outdoors: Why More Serious Anglers Are Building Their Own Fishing Rods (opens the original)
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In this episode of the Mastering Rod Building Podcast, Bill Falconer talks with longtime angler, outdoor media personality, and rod builder Jim Crowley about how decades of tournament fishing, television, writing, lure building, and product development have shaped the way he approaches custom fishing rods. Crowley shares how his fishing career evolved from competitive angling into outdoor television and radio before eventually leading him into rod building. Jim explains how his early work with S
The Business of Rodbuilding - How To Price Custom Rods (opens the original)
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In this episode of the Mastering Rod Building Podcast, Bill Falconer talks with longtime rod builder and RodMaker Magazine publisher Tom Kirkman about one of the most common questions in custom rod building: how to price a custom fishing rod and build a business that is actually worth the builder’s time. Tom explains why custom rod builders should not try to compete with factory rods on price and why a well-built custom rod should command a premium. He shares the advice that helped shape his own
What 40 Years of Building Rail Rods Teaches You About Fishing with Bill Havens AKA Salty Dawg (opens the original)
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In this episode of the Mastering Rod Building Podcast, Bill Falconer talks with longtime West Coast rod builder Bill “Salty Dawg” Havens about his decades in the craft, the development of rail rods, and the innovations that helped shape Southern California’s long-range fishing scene. Bill shares how he began building rods in the 1960s, eventually turning rod building into a profession and developing the Salty Dawg rail grip after seeing traditional foregrips get destroyed while fighting large tu
Build It Your Way: Andy Dear on Rod Building, Ego, and Experience (opens the original)
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In this episode of the Mastering Rod Building Podcast, Bill Falconer talks with longtime rod builder and product developer Andy Dear about craftsmanship, creativity, and developing a personal rod-building point of view. Andy explains why his approach centers on performance, simplicity, and creating a deeper connection to fishing rather than adding decoration that does not serve a purpose. The conversation covers Andy’s background in rod building, woodworking, music, carbon-fiber grips, finish de
Tiger Wrap Tips And Tricks With Doc Ski (opens the original)
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In this episode of the Mastering Rod Building Podcast, Bill Falconer talks with legendary custom rod builder James "Doc Ski" Labanowski about his lifetime in rod building and the evolution of decorative thread work. Doc shares how he began wrapping guides at eight years old, served 23 years as a U.S. Navy corpsman, and eventually learned every part of custom rod building from the Harrington Rod Company. The conversation covers Doc’s role in developing color-change weaving and his approach to the
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