Custom rod maker reels them in

  Neil Faulkner was angling around for something to do following his retirement from IBM in 1993. Pursuing his life-long interest in fishing Faulkner, 61, turned to the rod and the reel. The former computer service representative and licensed boat captain began building and restoring custom fishing rods.
  “I was playing around with it for 10 years and it became a serious business a year ago in May,” said Faulkner. “I first started repairing and restoring my own rods and building friends’ rods. When you sit down wrapping a rod, in a sense it’s very relaxing.”
  Custom fishing rods by Captain Neil, as Faulkner bills his business creates his custom rods from scratch using high quality blanks of fiberglass, graphite and composites.
  “The blank itself has a different type of action depending on what type of fishing you are doing and where,” said Faulkner.
  The native Long Islander, who grew up in Wantagh and has resided in Sayville for the past 36 years, furnishes a personal, individual touch to every rod he creates.
  “I’ll sit down with the person and we will discuss how, what, why and where,” said Faulkner. “Blanks for what type of fishing you are doing, different sizes weight lures used, butt to tip, every part taken into consideration. Even what gauge line people use.”
  After collecting the necessary information, Faulkner selects a blank and using a spine finder determines where the rod’s back bone or spine is located.
 “Every tube has a back bone, the position it goes when it has a load on,” said Faulkner. “I’ll find the spine and use it to our advantage.”
  The advantage, according to Faulkner, is it uses the natural ability of the rod to ensure accuracy and the best possible use of the blank.
  A variety of grips can be chosen from synthetic, cork, flocked, slick butt and unibutts. The flocked grip is a soft material electrostatically bonded to a cork grip. It is a firm, easy handling surface with a comfortable grip. Faulkner uses graphite and unibutts and storabutts reel sets with a wide array of choices for fly rods.
  Many people who use a Capt. Neil custom made fishing rod swear by them, including Capt. John Capuano, the captain of the Shinnecock Star, a party fishing boat that Faulkner helps helm.
  “Capt. Neil is a great captain and makes a wonderful rod, my boat is outfitted with 30 of them,” said Capuano. “I own seven custom rods he’s made, myself.”
  Once a fisherman uses a custom made rod they are most likely to purchase one, according to Dot Capuano, business manager for the Shinnecock Star.
  “A good percentage of customers once they use them and catch fish with them order one,” said Ms. Capuano.
  Faulkner’s background and experience makes him what Capt. Capuano called “... a man of the sea.”
  “I have been fishing since I was five years old,” said Faulkner. “From Wantagh in the bay or surf casting at Jones Beach, in the 60s, that was good.”
  As a Navy man Faulkner spent four years on two destroyers, the USS Rhodes and USS Farragut, in the North Atlantic.
  “Those were the days when the Russians were coming,” said Faulkner, “we were out looking for the submarines, most times it was whales. You look back it was important.”
  A licensed U.S. Coast Guard Captain, Faulkner has fished off Long Island’s waters for 56 years, been a party boat mate out of Mattituck, Port Jefferson and Shinnecock, captained the Port Jeff Prowler in addition to the Shinnecock Star.
  “He’s a mentor, what can you say, he’s a leader...he’s captained my boat and he makes a wonderful custom rod,” said Capuano.
  Faulkner’s knowledge of fishing is evident as he speaks about piecing together a rod.
 “Most purchased rods have fewer guides leaving the rod uneven. A custom rod has the right amount of guides in the right position so the line is parallel to the rod,” said Faulkner.
  According to Faulkner the rod’s length determines the number of guides and a rule of thumb is: For every foot of reel there is one guide. Guides are available in carbide, hardloy and silicon carbide.
  Intricate thread work is another component of this hand-made craft. Using colors and thread chosen by the customer, Faulkner does the elaborate or simple designs that lends a distinct signature to the custom rod.
  “I can build a rod in one day if I really wanted to,” said Faulkner. “It takes 8-10 hours without fancy butt wrapping. I could build it quicker by cheating, not doing everything, but there is only one way to build it and that is the right way.”
  The right way has garnered customers from all over Long Island and admiration from other custom builders.
  “I get a lot of business from recommendations and word of mouth,” said Faulkner. “I do shows, speaking engagements and demonstrations, showing new people how to put rods together.”
  As a member of Rodcrafters, Faulkner attends annual seminars and industry shows, trading the newest techniques with other custom rod makers.
  “The biggest by-product of it is meeting all the people, the fisherman, they are extremely nice people.”
  To commemorate his inaugural fishing experience at age five, Capt. Neil builds a custom rod for his grandchildren for their fifth birthday and takes them fishing. So far he has to make four rods with at least two more to go.
  “I can build these for awhile and hopefully I can use my hands until I am 80 or 90 years old,” said Faulkner. “I’ll build you a rod you’ll have a blast with and you’ll catch more fish.”
  Prices range from $325 to tuna sticks for $700 and vary depending on materials and components. For more information you can call Capt. Neil at 631-567-8049 and check out his Web site at
www.captneilf.com
  ..........Jeffrey Bessen