Benjamin Lepien of Wales, Wisconsin turns interest to enterprise with ardour and creativity
PARK FALLS, WIS. (February 20, 2025) – Customized fishing rod builders could also be a various bunch, however no matter their variations, the group is unified by not less than two widespread traits – creativity and a ardour for fishing.
Ben Lepien grew up in a fishing household. “My grandfather owned a bait store in Merton, Wisconsin, so I’ve been fishing so long as I can keep in mind,” the 31-year-old says. “I went lots with my dad and cousin who uncovered me to bass fishing. After beginning with panfish, I keep in mind how thrilling it was to catch larger fish on quite a lot of lures. As I bought older, I branched out into walleye fishing, which is sort of the place I’m nonetheless at at the moment. I get pleasure from fishing for all species, however love concentrating on walleyes with completely different methods.”
A welder and fabricator by commerce, Lepien’s foray into customized rod constructing was sudden and accelerated.
“A pair years again I noticed a popup advert on Fb for a rod-building equipment,” he recollects. “It piqued my curiosity and I went down the rabbit gap, consuming as a lot content material about rod-building as I might. I spent about three weeks researching earlier than I constructed my first rod. I didn’t take any lessons, simply trial-by-fire watching YouTube movies and scrolling by way of rod-building boards on-line.”
Lepien constructed a number of rods that he fished himself and gave to household and pals. “We went up north on a fishing journey and everybody fished them and beloved them,” he says. “It was a check, I suppose. I bought some suggestions, made some enhancements, and constructed extra rods.”
A little bit over a yr into his new interest, phrase of Lepien’s skills unfold from family and friends to a rising variety of new prospects.
“Being positioned right here in Wisconsin, I’m constructing a variety of panfish, bass, walleye, and musky rods,” says Lepien, who began Wilson Rods LLC on the finish of 2024 and not too long ago created a Fb web page to showcase his work whereas staying linked to new and current prospects. “I get pleasure from constructing customized rods to buyer specs, however I’ve additionally developed a regular line of handmade rods I name the Carbon Sequence that I hold in inventory. I observed early on in talking with prospects that they don’t all the time know precisely what they need. My Carbon Sequence rods are all constructed for this function on premium St. Croix blanks from Rod Geeks. They’re out there in each casting and spinning in a number of lengths, powers, and actions. These are high-performance well-balanced rods that fish extraordinarily effectively, but additionally show customized, high-level craftsmanship not discovered on most manufacturing fishing rods.”
When constructing a customized rod for a buyer, Lepien says each undertaking begins with a clean chosen to maximise efficiency primarily based on what the angler needs. “I exploit BASS 3, CARBON 2, CARBON 4, and CARBON 5 blanks from Rod Geeks, as a result of I do know I’m beginning every construct with the very best efficiency and high quality,” Lepien says. “I’ve fished with St. Croix rods my total life and am very aware of their supplies, lengths, powers, and actions. I do know which blanks and supplies work greatest for any given approach or presentation. I additionally like the truth that they’re an American, family-owned firm from proper right here in Wisconsin. I additionally all the time use the smallest and lightest guides I can with a purpose to take weight off the blanks and hold the actions pure. I additionally attempt for ergonomic grips and reel seats so the rod feels good in my prospects’ arms. It has to really feel and carry out nearly as good because it appears.”
Past these primary necessities, Lepien says prospects can select their colours, deal with kinds, or supplies. “I like the design course of,” he says. “Speaking with my prospects to search out out what they like, then designing the aesthetics of the rod to make it their very own is my favourite half.”
Lepien says his commerce as a welder and fabricator interprets effectively to constructing fishing rods. “I’ve all the time been a inventive particular person, so there’s that side, however I additionally suppose the regular arms you want as a talented welder pay related dividends when performing the element work that’s essential to craft a high-level customized rod.”
Lepien says he plans to proceed constructing rods within the evenings and on weekends whereas he grows his enterprise. “I’m lucky to have a pleasant backlog of enterprise by way of word-of-mouth at this level, however I’d prefer to take issues to the following degree and see what occurs,” he says. “It’s positively one thing that I’m hoping I can develop.”
Contact Ben and Wilson Rods by way of his Fb web page, Wilson Rods LLC, or e-mail him at wilsonrodswi@gmail.com.
Come See Rod Geeks on the Expo
The 2025 Worldwide Customized Rod Constructing Exposition will happen this weekend, February 22-23, in Winston Salem, North Carolina at the MC Benton Conference Heart. Rod Geeks, the unique distributor of St. Croix rod blanks, invitations expo attendees to cease and go to in Sales space #98, the place they will meet and chat with Rod Geeks and St. Croix workforce members and study firsthand about St. Croix clean designs, supplies, and applied sciences.
About Rod Geeks
Delivered to you by the individuals, experience and expertise of St. Croix of Park Falls, Inc., Rod Geeks has delivered handcrafted, high-performance fishing rod blanks to customized rod builders since 2014. Backed by almost 75 years of expertise in designing and constructing the very best fishing rods on this planet, we personal and function fashionable, state-of-the-art fishing rod factories in Park Falls, Wisconsin and Fresnillo, Mexico the place we mix the very best uncooked supplies, gear, applied sciences, experience, and skilled craftsmanship to supply 1000’s of uncompromising fishing rods and blanks each week. No matter your subsequent journey or undertaking, belief Rod Geeks to supply a basis to your ardour and creativity that’s worthy of your skills. The St. Croix Household of Manufacturers consists of St. Croix Rod, SEVIIN Reels, St. Croix Fly, and Rod Geeks.
