We caught up with Lance Kittel the same way you find a good bend in the river—by following the signs and trusting the current. Now, I’ve spent a lotta years guiding folks through riffles and runs, but every now and then, someone comes along who’s doing more than just casting lines—they’re crafting ‘em. Lance, founder of Pescavida, started building custom fly rods during a cold Gunnison winter, and what began as a broke grad student’s side project turned into something truly special. Pull up a chair by the campfire (or scroll down), and hear from the man himself—about creativity, craftsmanship, and what it really means to land a fish with something you built from scratch.

Lance, how did you first get into the art of building fly rods, and what drew you to this craft?

I made my first fly rod during a cold winter in Gunnison, Colorado. I was in my first year of grad school and needed a complementary hobby. I stumbled upon some photos of older custom rods and jumped in, learning from forums and YouTube videos.

At the time, I was pretty broke and purchased a cheap rod blank, reel seat, and cork grip from AliExpress. My first rod was a bit of a mess -- I used some fly tying thread to secure the guides on the rod and the handle was barely attached. But I was absolutely hooked on the process, and that first rod catalyzed my love for making unique custom rods.

What’s your favorite part of the fly rod-building process, and why?

I've grown to love trying new things when making fly rods. I've used Coors Light cans in themed rods, pet hair tied into flies that are encased in high-performance epoxy, and a ton of other fun projects. The challenge of pulling something off while looking and performing as a high-end rod is what keeps me going.

I also love working with new clients and sending rods all around the world. I get photos of my builds being used in Canada, Central America, all the way across the pond to Europe. Really, my favorite part of the rod building process is seeing them catch fish!

Can you walk us through your approach to selecting materials for a custom rod?

The process of building the correct rod comes down to understanding what the rod will be used for. I work with several rod blank manufacturers, from CTS to Blue Halo, and several different rod blank materials. It's important to understand which rod works best for a specific fishing application -- glass can be great for both small streams and extremely large fish, while carbon graphite is awesome at quick loading and punchy casts.

Once we choose the correct blank, we then decide on the reel seat, guide set, and custom handle components. I make all of my handles as well, and the correct shape, size, and weight all affect the final product. Marrying everything together is also a big part of the process to make a cohesive final product. Once I've made all the necessary components and dialed in the concept, I can get started on the rod.

The process usually takes 2 to 3 days for assembly, another few days for epoxy curing, and then the rod is ready! I can usually get a rod out the door in about a week once everything is ready for assembly.

What are five tips you’d give to beginners who want to start building their own fly rods?

Making rods is honestly a pretty simple process. I watched a ton of videos on the Mudhole YouTube channel to learn each step. When I made my first rod, I also made my own rod turning station out of an old pallet and microwave motors. Nowadays, there's some awesome turnkey rod building kits that don't break the bank.

I definitely recommend learning how to control thread tension when wrapping rod guides. This is a pretty crucial step, as it can either help or hinder you from re-wrapping and having to go through a ton of thread.

Finally, I think it's important to practice if you're building an expensive rod for your first try. Make sure your guides are correctly aligned, and double check your work as you go. Nothing is worse than finishing a rod and realizing you've got the wrong guide in the wrong place (speaking from experience). Otherwise, it's a great way to learn new skills. People often say, nothing beats catching a fish on a fly you tied. I'll challenge that with catching a fish on a fly you tied, on a rod you made. That's peak fishing in my book.