Rod Building Exhibition

Venue: Twin Towns, Tweed Heads
Date: Saturday September 19th 2026
 Time: 10:00am start

Accommodation: Mantra Twin Towns.

Event Overview:
The event aims to grow rod building in Australia & provide demonstrations and training for both professional and hobbyist. It will include presentations, hands-on demonstrations, and opportunities for networking and socializing.

Schedule

  • 10:00am Pre Lunch
    • Welcome & Intro
    • Product Expo
  • 12:00pm Lunch
    • Rod Building Challenge Awards
  • 1:00pm After Lunch
    • Demonstrations 3 hours
  • 4 pm Networking & Drinks

Demonstrations and Presentations:

TBC

Fuji Ambassadors

Brad Job – Job Custom Rods

I grew up fishing the Gold Coast waterways with my parents, receiving my first rod and reel for my 5th birthday. In the early 1980s, I began building rods for myself and mates in my garage. With limited resources, I taught myself through trial and error, eventually launching my custom rod business in 1988. Since then, I’ve built and repaired rods for local tackle shops, watching the craft evolve. Fuji components have played a major role in that journey. Today, 33 years later, I run a purpose-built, climate-controlled workshop focused on producing top-quality custom rods.

Ben Kjorsvik – BK Custom Rods

Ben Kjorsvik founded BK Custom Rods in Hobart, Tasmania, driven by a passion for lure and fly fishing. Frustrated by off-the-shelf options, he began building rods in 2008, turning a hobby into a business by 2013. BK Custom now serves anglers across Australia, crafting everything from ultra-light trout and bream rods to heavy game rods for tuna and swordfish. Ben is known for personalising each build with custom handles, colour work, and thread art. Whether it’s a name or a fully bespoke design, if you can dream it, Ben can build it.

Aaron McKell – ACM Custom Rods

In 2009, a passionate and experienced rod builder, Aaron McKell embarked on a journey to create fishing rods that would revolutionize the industry. With over 25 years of experience in the tackle industry, Aaron’s vision was to provide anglers with custom-built rods of unparalleled quality and performance. Thus, ACM Custom Rods was born, based in the vibrant region of North Queensland.

 

There is a massive display of new and existing product from some of rod buildings leading brands including….

The world’s finest rod building components. Guides and tip for beginners to professional builders, reel seats, thread, titanium parts and the all NEW TCH reel seats. The lightest and most sensitive reel seats ever built.

A huge display of high-end quality blanks covering all your building needs from finesse to long beach fishing blanks.

Duralon rod grips, aluminium parts and rod building accessories for all types of fishing rods.