Welcome to the Instructble! This is a DIY fishing rod, that takes around 3-6 hours so isn't no lazy satuday Instructable. This was confusing for me to create too, so relax, stay hydrated, and we will get through this together.

Supplies

This takes a bit of tools and materials:

Tools:

Hammer

Saw (preferably a scroll or band saw)

Drill (preferably a drill press)

Clamp

Heat Gun

Materials:

Bamboo rod

Metal wire

Thread

wooden spool

Wood

Bearings

Bolts

Nuts

Nails

Wood Glue

Step 1: Get a Rod

Okay, your first step is to get some bamboo. You want to get a long (between 6,6 and 9 feet), strait, rod. The rod could be thick or thin depending on how big the fish you are going for. Too big of a rod and you wouldn't be able to feel a bite, and wouldn't be able to cast small baits. Too small and you rod will break or bend If it has a too heavy lure on it or if it gets a big fish on it.

After you find you rod, you want to cut of all the excess branches from the main shoot. You want to cut as close to the shoot as possible without damaging it. After that you will be on to the next step!

Step 2: Cure the Rod

To make the rod last longer, cure it. How you do that is you take a heat gun, use it very close to the rod, and move it back and fourth (on all sides) until an oily substance comes out of the rod. After that happens rub it around. Let it dry, and you will see a really nice, strong, clear substance, that makes your rod stronger.

Step 3: Make Guides

Take your wire and wrap it in anything that is a circle (will be the size of your guide). I used markers and batteries. Then take the mold out of the guide so you have a loop. After you do that, bend the two ends of the loop by 90 degrees. Male sure the loop is close to closed. Then put your finished guide on your rod using masking tape (just as a place holder). You should make between 5 and 7 guides depending on how big your rod is (my rod was 7 feet and had 5 guides).

Step 4: Wrap the Guides

After you put your guides on your rod, then wrap the with thread. You can wrap the guides with as many colors as you want or just one, it is all up to preference. You do this with all guides. After this you can start on your reel.

Step 5: Put Nuts Through Your Bearings.

This one was for me because used wheel bearings which are HUGE! I had to put these really nice plastic nuts that fits perfectly with my bearings, but If you have a bolt that fits your wooden spool and bearings, keep it.

Step 6: Put Your Bearings in Your Pieces of Wood

Drill a hole in you pieces of wood THAT IS THE SAME SIZE AS YOUR BEARING. Then sand the hole a little bit so you can just hammer your bearing and it will fit perfectly without glue. I coated it in glue though so the wood is a little bit more resilient to weather and water.

One last note; Don't use plywood. I used plywood and I can tell you from experience that, that stuff chips and breaks easily. Regular wood will work better.

Step 7: Put the Spool in the Reel.

Before this step started' I customized the shape of the wooden pieces how I like them. Be creative with this part, just don't ruin the integrity of the build, and make both pieces as similarly as possible.

This step is kind of like a sandwich, you put a bolt through one of the bearings (attached to the wood now), then you put the wooden spool through (should be tight), If you need to drill holes through the spool that is fine, that is why it is wooden. After the spool is in tight you put In the other bearing facing the same way as the first bearing.

Make sure you leave enough room on the bolt for a handle.

Step 8: Put the Reel Together

After you put the spool in, cut out a piece of wood the same size as the reel (leave room for handle), then superglue the underside of the reel and piece of wood together. If you want extra strength, nail then together, just don't hit the bearings.

Step 9: Add a Handle

Cut out yet another piece of wood, (4 inches) and drill a hole in it (either on the sides or in the center). Using that hole, attach it to the rod using the extra length you gave yourself, and superglue the handle on (you don't want the handle coming off the bolt while you are turning it).