Today we’d like to introduce you to Eddie Liebel.
Hi Eddie, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Around 2013 I became interested in making custom fishing rods; I was inspired by an online fishing forum that showcased some of the local rod builders here in San Diego. At that time, I was not really aware of what went into custom fishing rods or how far the boundaries of this craft were able to be pushed. I reached out to the most talented builder on that forum and started asking questions. I was directed to a class being held in Mira Mesa every Tuesday evening, where rod building was taught. At the time I started attending the class there were several instructors who had years of experience building rods. Every Tuesday, roughly 6-12 people would show up to learn or contribute something to the class. It was an unbelievable opportunity for me, and I still attend the class every time it is held to this day. I had no idea when how the class would shape my future at that time. A huge part of what the class taught me was a solid foundation on the mechanics involved in making a custom fishing rod that would outperform anything store-bought.
I have been creating art in one way or another my entire life (I dropped out of art school in 2001), but it was a struggle figuring out how to make an income and survive on what I was creating… Fast forward to 2013, when I started making custom fishing rods, I knew I wanted to do something different, and I had some ideas from the beginning. I have always been fascinated with functional pieces of art, and hand-crafted tools just hold a deeper special meaning to them. Most of the custom rods I saw being made were using very similar techniques, and so many were just copies of what someone else had done. Some of these techniques have been used for the last. 50 years or more, without much change. I didn’t see a lot of progression or diversity in this sense when it came to the decorative techniques people were using. The first unique rods I created used a layering technique for the decorative parts of the rods- pens, paint, marker, epoxy, grease pencil, etc… I later called this technique my ‘Mixed Media Method,’ which was not anything new at all in the art world, but I had not seen it being done on fishing rods. Basically, each one of these rods has its own individual painting. These can be challenging because the “canvas” is cylindrical instead of flat. I have customers who call and place orders for these rods and basically give me free rein to paint them how I want. As an artist, I love the trust people put in me when ordering these and tell me -“just do your thing.” Occasionally, someone will want one of these mixed media style rods and give me color schemes they want me to work with, which is also fine. I find it pushes my creativity in different ways, and I enjoy that as well.
A really exciting new technique I have been developing for roughly the last year is a method to decorate my custom rods that uses Bull Kelp. I was inspired to work with kelp from time spent in the Pacific Northwest and reading about tribes in the Pacific Northwest -specifically the Makah and their uses for material dating back thousands of years. My technique involves collecting Bull Kelp that has been washed up on the coastline of the Pacific Northwest; it then goes through a process of washing, drying, and rehydrating before drying again then epoxied in place… This technique has been really fun to develop; I love being able to use collected material from nature, especially the ocean as a means of making my custom rods more unique and interesting. I feel the natural beauty of the Kelp and the amount of diversity in color and texture of each piece really make it a great material to work with. A challenge this technique presents is the need for the Bull Kelp, which we don’t see on the beaches here in San Diego, and it’s not something available to order online. I have a decent-sized stash to work from, but since it’s a natural material, you cannot always count on having the size you need for a particular project. So, trips north to collect kelp are going to have to be in my future, but I think this adds to value of these rods.
My love of the ocean and creating art drive me to push the boundaries in making custom fishing rods.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has not always been a smooth road; there have been significant challenges. When I first started, I had my rod-building station set up in the kitchen of a tiny place my wife and I were renting. I look back and think holy shit! I have come a long way from building rods in the kitchen!
One big challenge for me has been ego; there have been other rod builders who have taken what I have done and try to outright copy my artistic technique or style without any mention of where they saw or stole it from. At the end of the day, there is nothing in place to stop someone from trying to recreate what I have spent time developing; but it pisses me off because I thrive on creativity and bringing something unique and new to the table.
I want my work to be viewed as art. I think because these are actual fishing rods that will most likely be getting used, it’s more of a challenge for people to consider the artistic value they hold.
Finances are always a challenge, no matter how busy I am. Not finances as far as for supplies and materials, but things like traveling to shows across country to compete in, or be a part of, visiting workshops, seminars, etc those things take money and time away from what I am trying to build here. There just isn’t loads of money in building custom fishing rods.
I am an introvert, putting myself out there has been a challenge, honestly. I don’t want to push anything I do on anybody. I don’t want to feel that I have to convince you that you need what I am selling – it’s just not me. Some people are really good at promoting themselves. I’m not that great at it, but it is necessary. So, it’s a constant challenge. I need to stay busy, but I don’t want to feel like I’m betraying any part of my process.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I specialize in creating performance-based custom fishing rods that are – highly creative, one-offs, never duplicated, and tailored to the customer’s demands.
I want my work to be viewed as gallery-worthy art.
My builds are built one at a time; attention to detail is second to none. I source high-end components and materials based on a customer’s wants and needs.
I am credited with developing the Bull Kelp Technique, as well as the Mixed Media Method.
I have written articles for industry publications describing my techniques.
I can be found at some of the local events helping teach rod building and rod building techniques.
A more comprehensive selection of my work can be found on my Instagram @Blacksmith_Customs_Fishing
Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
My favorite childhood memory is a trip to Catalina Island; I really think this trip shaped my life in some ways. I still remember snorkeling and free diving there and loving the feeling of being in a different world underwater; at that point in my life, I don’t know that anything compared. Spending time underwater in that setting was a new kind of freedom and beauty that I instantly fell in love with.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @Blacksmith_Customs_Fishing
- Facebook: @Eddie Liebel
- Email address: blacksmithcustomrods@gmail.com
