Professional Rod Builders Challenge Division Rules
We’re thrilled to announce the cash prize for first place continues! The winning rod will be kept and displayed in our “Rod Building Hall of Fame” for all to admire. We have increased the credit on the account to help pay for some of the costs associated with the competition to assist you in building the best you can.
Prizes will be awarded for places first, second and third, fourth and fifth. First place will receive a $1000 Cash and a $1000 rod building voucher from Fuji, second place $750, third $500, fourth $250 and fifth $250 will all get Fuji vouchers.
Fuji is proudly the major sponsor of this year’s competition! All Fuji components for your build can be purchased through Frogleys Offshore. Simply complete the registration form at the bottom of our website.
- You must use Fuji guides and tips (purchased from Australia)
- You must use Fuji reel seats (purchased from Australia)
- Build the rod as you think it should be built
- The challenge is to showcase Australian Talent, so any painting or electro painting must be done in Australia and done by you the builder
- No social media posting of your work before the competition.
Points will be awarded in a 1-10 format on the following areas.
- Appearance
- Feel
- Grips
- Guide Placement
- Guide Straightness
- Threadwork
- Finish Application
- Design
- Choice and flow of components
- Innovation
- Handle Design
Upon the top ten judging, we will also post the top 10 pictures online on socials and this is when you are able to release the photos and promote yourself and the rods online. Frogleys Offshore and Custom Built Rods will also promote and put online the top ten rods.
Once winners are announced the top 5 will all be put online and in the results archive here, as well as the winners rod will be placed in the Rod Building Challenge hall of fame at the Fuji Australia Headquarters for all visitors to admire. All other rods will be sent back to the entrant at Frogleys Offshore cost.
You must register your interest in the competition to be able to compete so we can track progression of the competition and inform you of deadlines and communications about the competition.
This year instead of getting a voucher for a credit when ordering, we will be assisting with more money upon receipt of the rod at Frogleys Offshore for the competition, you’ll receive a $250 credit to your account (if you used a Samurai Blank) or a $150 credit if you used another brand of blank. If you incur freight when you send to the rod to Frogleys Offshore, to assist in your costs, you will receive another $50 credit.
Judging Info for the Competition
The Professional Rod Building Division will require their rods to be sent back to the Frogleys Offshore office, where preliminary judging will occur on June 30, 2024, at the Fuji Australia head office (Frogleys Offshore). This judging will be done by Frogleys Offshore staff as well as one external industry expert.
From there the top ten will be determined and they will all be notified via email of their progression to the final industry judging.
The top ten rods will be displayed and judged during or just before the 2025 Australian Fishing Tackle Trade Show on the Gold Coast (end July) with a panel of top Australian tackle industry experts.