The Rod That Started It All - Our First Rod Building Class

When my wife and I were living down in Kill Devil Hills over the winter in 2023, we decided to take on a challenge that combined creativity, craftsmanship, and a good dose of pressure: a rod building class where I wanted to build a fly rod from scratch in just eight hours. Even better, I got to do it alongside some of my family at a place called OBX on the Fly, right here in the Outer Banks. If you’re not familiar, OBX on the Fly is was a local gem—a shop dedicated to everything fly fishing, with a great community vibe and an owner who would make everyone feel welcome and always talk fishing.

The idea of building a rod had been floating around in my head for a while, and when I found out OBX on the Fly offered a one-day rod building class, I jumped at the opportunity. Doing the class with family and everyone building a specific rod to them made it that much more special.

We showed up early, coffees in hand, and got right to it. We were going to build a custom rod from start to finish—all in one day. I chose to make a 9-foot 7-weight rod, ideal for some of the smaller inshore species we like to chase around the OBX, as well as, bass or throwing heavy streamers. It’s the kind of rod that’s versatile enough for speckled trout, and can handle a good sized red drum.

Let me tell you—building a fly rod is not for the faint of heart. There are a lot more steps than you might think: aligning and wrapping guides, the number of wraps, mixing and applying epoxy, and making sure everything lines up just right. Every detail matters. It’s a mix of precision and patience, and when you’re racing the clock, it can get stressful fast.

There were definitely moments of frustration—thread wraps that didn’t stay put, epoxy that wanted to go anywhere but where we needed it—but there was also a lot of laughter, trash talking, and that satisfying moment when things finally started coming together.

The crew at OBX on the Fly was amazing. They walked us through each step, gave helpful tips when we hit a snag, and kept the energy fun and supportive all day long. It’s clear they had a passion for teaching and the fishing community, and that enthusiasm rubbed off on all of us.

By the end of the day, we were tired but proud. Each of us walked out with a fully built rod—something we’ll use on the water for years to come, and a reminder of a really memorable day. I personally left with a spark of inspiration for building fishing rods which has now blossomed into starting the business Fin & Seek.

If you’ve ever been curious about rod building or just want a unique hands-on experience, I highly recommend checking out a rod building class or buy a rod building kit so you can do it at your own pace and learn from the manual that comes with it or YouTube.