About Us

“If people concentrated on the really important things in life,
there'd be a shortage of fishing poles.”  
~ Doug Larson ~

Welcome to Whitecap Custom Rods, where we build unique, crafted with care,  premium fishing rods.  Growing up in New York Mills, Minnesota, an area of many lakes and home to Lund boats, I started fishing at an early age and reportedly caught my first five pound walleye by the age of four, although, I wonder if that wasn't a fish story concocted by my parents.  I spent summers on the lake and fished more that any one else in our family wanted me to.  Since then, I have fished many waters:  Lakes Superior and Michigan, Canadian, Alaskan, the Atlantic, Pacific, and Caribbean.  Now, some years later after using, losing, and breaking numerous commercially made rods I build my own.

It began by taking a rod building class and quickly turned into an obsession.  This addictive hobby played out as I began to make rods for all the fishing members of our family, their spouses and children.  Whitecap Rods is now a custom crafted rod business in Deerwood, MN where we offer premium rods for those desiring the best performing rods available.

We specialize in walleye, bass, panfish, northern and musky rods, but can build any type you want from spinning to deep sea fishing and more importantly they are built for you, according to your specifications.  Our enthusiasm for excellence makes your Whitecap Custom Rod unique and personal, and the best rod in your collection.

The Components We Use

Whitecap Custom Rods uses only the finest components from reputable manufacturers. This guarantees you are getting the best available parts.

• Rod blanks from St. Croix, G. Loomis, Batson, Lamiglas, Pacific Bay, Sage and others that meet our standards.
• Guides and tips from world renowned Fuji as well as American Tackle, Pacific Bay and other reputable manufacturers
• Reel seats, handles, and grips in a variety of materials, styles and colors from the leading manufacturers

All guides and tips are are attached with high quality nylon thread in a color of your choice and guide wraps may be accented with a metallic or contrasting thread trim band. To add that something special to your custom rod you may want a decorative thread wrap or feather inlay. This will greatly personalize your rod and add another degree of uniqueness. Our enthusiasm for excellence will meet your and our high standards in constructing another Whitecap Custom Rod.

For warranty information see our warranty page and be sure to look at the rod and fish photos in our gallery.

Why a Custom Rod

There are many reasons to choose a Whitecap Custom Rod. After discussions with you about the type of rod wanted, it will be built to your requirements. We will design it with you, for you, build it to perfection, and you will most likely catch more fish. Your custom rod will perform better than any other because of the attention to detail and the way it is crafted for your style of fishing, providing increased sensitivity and performance.

Your rod will be constructed for the species of fish you intend to catch, whether it be walleye, salmon, panfish, bass, musky or others. The components will be ideally suited for the type of fishing: live bait, spinning, casting, trolling, jigging. Proper placement of the guides on the spine will distribute and reduce stress to the rod and friction on the line. Placement of the handle, reel seat and foregrip, determined by your hand and arm measurements, will ensure that it fits you. Balancing the rod with the reel you intend to use will give it the comfortable feel needed to let you fish all day.

To personalize your custom rod, a decorative thread wrap or feather inlay may be added. Your rod now becomes not only the best rod in your arsenal, but a unique work of art.

Warranty

Whitecap Custom Rods guarantees you will be completely satisfied with your new custom crafted rod.  If not, please contact us and we will correct any problems.  All Whitecap Rods come with a one year warranty on workmanship.   Blanks and all components are covered by the manufacturer's warranty of which most have a lifetime warranty.  If a rod blank were to fail, we will reuse all components if possible.  In most cases all can be reused except the handle.  This warranty applies to the original owner only.