Hooked on Rods

Hooked on Rods Fishing Rod Repairs, Restorations & Custom Builds
by Steve McLean. Drop me a message to find how I can help you.

Service include:
- Rod repairs
- Custom rod builds
- Rod reconditioning
- broken / unstable guides
and more.

Classic Restoration David bought his fathers old faithful in for a make over for Father’s Day & that’s exactly what it g...
03/09/2026

Classic Restoration
David bought his fathers old faithful in for a make over for Father’s Day & that’s exactly what it got.
The old cork grips were disintegrating, the chrome reel seat had green tarnish & when I tried to clean it well let’s say it needed a new one.
Full strip & rebuild.
I’m amazed how the blank cleaned up after 50 plus years of weather & wear.
New cork grips & chrome reel seat, The Fuji tiger thread makes it Pop.
One of the things I live about rod building is the customers reaction to the transformation.

💥 600 Followers 💥🎣🐟This rod building & repairs all started from me “ Trying “ to repair a broken guide of mine.Result - ...
18/08/2026

💥 600 Followers 💥
🎣🐟
This rod building & repairs all started from me “ Trying “ to repair a broken guide of mine.
Result - Disastrous
Thought - That wasn’t as easy as I thought.
Perseverance - Pays off ( with a lot of determination )

Never in my wildest dreams did I think Hooked on Rods would be what it is today.
Thank you to every one of you that have entrusted me with a sentimental family restoration, a repair or a custom build.
I Pride myself on perfection & the results speak for themselves.
I fell in love with rod building hence,
“ Hooked on Rods “
Grateful to be here considering everything I’ve been through.
Grateful to be doing what I do.
Thank you all that follow, comment, friends & mates I’ve made.
🙏 Stevo

Always have projects on the go.Don’t post everything I do but this deserves its recognition because of what it is.An Ori...
14/08/2026

Always have projects on the go.
Don’t post everything I do but this deserves its recognition because of what it is.
An Original Snyder 144 4 wrap.
Great for Luderick / Blackfish.
James asked a few weeks ago about a Lud rod & the Gods delivered.
Scraped the Eva & pipe reel seat for a plate seat & heat shrink grips.
New Snyder decal to keep it authenticity.
A Great result.

Making Cover Shots on the Snyder Butterworth Fb page.My recent personal build of a CR 4 126 Luderick rod.Caught my first...
21/07/2026

Making Cover Shots on the Snyder Butterworth Fb page.
My recent personal build of a
CR 4 126 Luderick rod.
Caught my first Lud on it today.
Looking forward to its next outing
🎣🎣🐟💥

Always busy in The Rod Room,I’m a shocker when it comes to social media posts. Apologies.As Promised the BSG CR 4 126 Lu...
06/07/2026

Always busy in The Rod Room,
I’m a shocker when it comes to social media posts. Apologies.
As Promised the BSG CR 4 126 Luderick rod.
Fuji Bind on plate reel seat, 9 single foot Titanium guides plus tip, heat shrink grips & hook keeper. ( that pesky little hook now has a home )
Got the chance to take it out with the new reel for some float watching after a long time off the water due to the operation & that’s about all that happened, float watching.
No bending yet. 🤔🎣
Most rod builders won’t show the dirty side as we call it ( where the joins & tag ends are in thread work )
Last photo is the dirty side.
Always striving for Perfection.
Enjoy 🙏

Finally My New Lud Weapon is Complete.Time for a photo shoot 💥BSG CR 4 126 is built, now to find time to use it. A tease...
26/06/2026

Finally My New Lud Weapon is Complete.
Time for a photo shoot 💥
BSG CR 4 126 is built, now to find time to use it.
A teaser shot attached.
Post to come soon.
Apologies to customers with your rods, I’m off to chase some Blackfish for a well deserved fishing mission.
Healed from the operation, time to fish 🐠 🎣 💥
Been far to long between 🎣🎣 Sessions

Luke brought in a sentimental rod for a rebuild, Upgrade the guides & after much deliberation over thread colours he set...
26/06/2026

Luke brought in a sentimental rod for a rebuild, Upgrade the guides & after much deliberation over thread colours he settled on one of Pro-wraps Tiger thread. Seems to be a favourite of a few customers.
Luke had stripped & cleaned the rod & did a great job at it.
The old Mitchell decal got a couple of coats to preserve it.
The rod turned out nice, giving another old rod another life.

Been busy in The Rod Room, A few rods are always on the go. Matt has an old beauty that’s going on a trip to Broughton I...
26/06/2026

Been busy in The Rod Room,
A few rods are always on the go.
Matt has an old beauty that’s going on a trip to Broughton Island this weekend chasing Snapper.
Replaced 2 wire guides 70 & 60mm.
The underbind was difficult to keep intact. Couple of coats of epoxy & was ready to wrap again.
A great result in the end.
Switched out a couple of 10mm guides & a new tip on the Saltist while I was at it.

The CR 4 126 is coming along.Finally.Under bind done.Guide train wrapped, took a few attempts, rewraps to get the look I...
07/06/2026

The CR 4 126 is coming along.
Finally.
Under bind done.
Guide train wrapped, took a few attempts, rewraps to get the look I was happy with.
Guides aligned. 🥲🙈😂
Aligning a guide train, especially on a long rod would have to be the most tedious, frustrating, time consuming part of rod building.
The eyes go wonky 👀😳
To top it off, Laid the first coat of epoxy on the guides today. 💥
Looking good.
Happy with it, can’t wait till I’m able to use it & haul in a Lud.
The body will know when I’m ready
🙏

Address

Newcastle, NSW
2304

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