Amateur Kit

Are you a keen rod builder, or just want to give it a go? Buy a rod building kit and enter it in the Amateur Rod Building Challenge. With the kit there is documents on what it is all about, links to videos on how to build and specs on guide placement etc. Everything you need to get you started. Just register for the comp, you can register under your name and get the code for the discounted kit.

Kit Contents

There are 2 kit colour options as below:

Grey Kit

Samurai CG3 6 – 12lb Blank, Speed Duralon grey grips, Fuji reel seat, Speed Aluminium purple trim parts and butt plate, Fuji K ‘O’ ring guides and tip, Speed thread grey and metallic purple, Erskine Epoxy, info sheet with link to videos on how to build

Black Kit

Samurai CG3 6 – 12lb Blank, Speed Duralon black grips, Fuji reel seat, Speed Aluminium gold trim parts and butt plate, Fuji K ‘O’ ring guides and tip, Speed thread black and metallic silver, Erskine Epoxy, info sheet with link to videos on how to build

Amateur Rod Building Competition 2025

The amateur division was initially run in 2023 with the aim to introduce rod building to more people and give amateur rod builders a chance to have some fun and compete against their peers and provide a stepping stone if you wish to continue this path and move into professional rod repairs and or custom rod builds, thus monetarising your hobby.

From there this division has had some feedback and we have now tried to make it more available for everyone to enter and have a go, there is little costs and now with the new rules you don’t have to send your rod in for judging, so this reduces the costs and you can still compete but just sending some photos in. We will then select the top rods and organise shipping and then judge the winning rods.

Upon registration, you’ll receive a link to purchase an estuary kit from the Fuji distributors, Frogleys Offshore. For around $100 it comes complete with a Samurai CG3 blank, Fuji O-ring guides and tip, Fuji reel seat, Speed Duralon grips front and rear, Speed aluminium parts, Speed thread inc trim colour, and Erskine 3337 epoxy. Also included in the box is expert advise via videos on how to setup the rod and build that first one, making it even easier for someone who have never built rods before. We give you a discount on the kit you choose and free shipping. That’s over 50% off! So why not have a go!

Amateur Rod Building Challenge Rules

To enter this amateur division, you must not have sold a custom-built rod, or repaired rods commercially (being paid for service) in the past 7 years to anyone, including friends and family. If you’ve previously sold a custom rod, you won’t be eligible for this category. You must enter as a Professional.

Amateur prizes are for first, second and third. First place $500 RRP voucher to build your ultimate rod, second place $300 voucher and third $200 voucher.

You are limited to one kit per person for the competition and must use all the components supplied on the build, judging will be based on placement and looks of the rods for this category. To keep the division fair, the competition is more about the build then the custom shaping and desiging, so that is why we have supplied kits and colours to keep the rods fairly uniform and make the actual build quality stick out.

Specific rules are:

• • You must use all components in the kit supplied except thread.
  • You can add additional/different Fuji thread colours beyond what is supplied in the kit to make decorative guide and or butt wraps.
  • You can shape grips as you see fit, but must use the colours supplied
  • You can only use the aluminium trim parts supplied in the colour chosen
  • Guides, tips and reel seats must be used as supplied and unpainted
  • Build the rod as you think it should be built, there are supplied spacings for reference if needed but you can adjust
  • We encourage you to put images and information on social media as your build progresses. Use hashtag #25FujiRodChallenge

Judging Info for the Amateur Competition

Amateur Division

By May 15th each entrant will upload images of their build as per the following examples.

From there the top five rods will be selected to progress to the final round of judging. Amateurs will be notified if they progress to the next round and their rods will have to be sent to the office for judging.

Points will be awarded in a 1-10 format on the following areas.

• Appearance
• Grips
• Guide Placement
• Guide Straightness
• Threadwork
• Finish Application

Frogleys will provide assistance with Amateur rod builders to send their rods to be received by June 30th, 2025, and Frogleys Offshore will cover return shipping. Please contact the office.

The final Amateur Division judging take place in Ballina on July 5th, conducted by Fuji and Frogleys staff.

General

All winners will be announced on the Custom Built Fishing Rods website and the Custom Rod Builders Facebook page, and showcased on Fuji’s website and social media.

If you have any questions please contact Frogleys Offshore 02 6681 3988.

* Rods are to be received at Frogleys Offshore head office by June 30th 2025.

When you enter, you will receive a document, with division info, where to send the rod and a link to the submission form for professionals and the upload form for Amateurs.

Building Guides 

1. Finding the backbone of the blank
2. Shaping grips
3. Grip Assembly
4. Basic binding