Custom rods built to suit the profile of individual anglers
By DENNIS APRILL, Outdoors Columnist
In the basement of his home on the Clark Road in Peru, Paul Stearns makes some of the nicest custom fishing rods you can find.
From a blank of graphite or fiberglass (or even bamboo), Stearns builds a rod to fit each angler. "I ask them what kind of fishing they will be doing and their fishing experience," Stearns says. "I even look at their hand size to estimate the rod’s grip."
From all this, Stearns can tell how sensitive the rod should be and if the angler wants it more as a "toy" — with colorful guy wires and frills to reflect his or her personality — or as a functional rod.
"I start with the length of the rod and test the blank’s spine for its stiff and soft side. All blanks have these; it comes with the manufacture. The spine’s stiffness and what the angler wants affect the placement of the guides and grip."
Usually Stearns stands the blank upright on the basement floor and then applies pressure to the top. "You can then see which way the bend goes," he says.
After the length and flex are set, Stearns looks to the grip. "Custom rods differ from commercial rods in that the grip is so sensitive you can feel the fish nibbling on the lure. Because commercial rods are mass manufactured, it isn’t possible to get that kind of sensitivity."
Other factors that go into the handle, depending on the rod type, might be the material used and the direction of screws for the reel holder.
Finally, Stearns attaches the guides with thread, and then coats them with a special epoxy. Rods can be two-piece, three-piece or pack rods.
"I got started making rods four years ago," Stearns says, "when my outboard motor broke. I decided to learn to fly fish and naturally wanted to tie my own flies. The rod-building grew out of that. I found it very relaxing to do while my family watched TV or did something else."
Stearns, a retired state trooper and locksmith, and his wife Paulette still have two of their four children living at home. Jodi is a senior at Peru High School, Justin a 9th-grader.
Finally I asked Paul the bottom line question: How much do your rods cost? His reply was, "My fly-rod prices are comparable with Orvis. Prices start at $125 and go up from there. Bamboo rods are obviously a lot more — in the $800-$1000 range."
For more information on Paul Stearns custom rods, call 643-6517.