Brad Job
I was lucky enough to grow up on the Gold Coast in South-East Queensland and spent most weekends and school holidays fishing the local waterways with my parents on their boat. My 5th birthday present was a rod and reel. From this time I was hooked on fishing!
In the early 1980s like most rod builders, I started building a few rods for myself and fishing mates in my garage. Through a lot of trial and error and only a couple of books to read, my rod building knowledge and skills progressed until I registered my custom rod building business in 1988. I then started doing rod repairs and custom rods for some of the local tackle shops.
During this time, I have been lucky enough to see many improvements in the rod building industry. Fuji products have been an integral part of these advances and continue to excel with the components they produce.
Today, 33 years on and my rod building workshop is now purpose built and climate controlled to produce rods of the highest quality.
Aaron McKell
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.
ACM Custom Rods takes pride in offering a diverse range of fishing rod builds, catering to anglers of all preferences and fishing styles. Whether you are seeking an ultralight spin rod for delicate presentations or a robust 130lb heavy tackle rod for battling the mightiest gamefish, ACM Custom Rods has you covered. Each rod is meticulously handcrafted with precision and attention to detail, ensuring that it meets the highest standards of quality and functionality.
Ben Kjorsvik
Ben Kjorsvik founded BK Custom Rods in Australia’s beautiful southern city of Hobart, Tasmania. As owner and operator, Ben, a keen fresh and saltwater angler with lure and fly, has 13 years of experience designing and building custom fishing rods.
After joining the local tournament fishing scene in the mid-2000s, Ben realised that the rods on the market weren’t up to the job; they lacked performance, ergonomics, and aesthetics. What began as a hobby in 2008 soon developed into a passion shared by friends and family. With such a diverse range of fishing styles in Tasmania, people wanted tackle to suit their style. Ben has developed an Australia-wide customer base since he started trading as BK Custom Tackle in 2013. Today, ‘BK Custom’ builds anything and everything a fish-fanatic might desire. From ultra-light spin and fly rods for chasing elusive bream and trout to the heaviest game rods developed for Tasmania’s recreational tuna and emerging swordfish fishery, Ben’s rods are a staple for many of Australia’s anglers.
Ben particularly enjoys making unique, personalised rods for his customers. He specialises in custom handle configurations, colour work, and thread art. Whether the request is as simple as adding a name or a complete personalised build — if you can dream it, Ben can build it.
