Retired US Marine and law-enforcement particular investigator completes his first customized fishing rod
PARK FALLS, WIS. (January 10, 2025) – James Tannahill was not in a superb place when he retired from a army and law-enforcement profession spanning greater than 30 years.
“Folks don’t understand how far-reaching PTSD is,” the Mont Belvieu, Texas resident says. “The army and law-enforcement communities have the very best suicide charges of all occupations, however PTSD can influence virtually anybody and have a wide range of causes.”
Certainly, Tannahill skilled some trauma throughout his service as a US Marine, however it was the final 5 years of his skilled profession working as Particular Investigator for the Texas Division of Household and Protecting Companies that did essentially the most harm. “It took a toll on me,” the previous faculty athlete says. “Apart from saving kids, the job was not nice. The trauma piled up closely from the issues I noticed and was pressured to cope with.”
Tannahill sought and acquired care and therapy from the VA a short while after his retirement. “Due to my staff on the VA, I’ve executed a fairly good job enhancing my religious, psychological, and bodily well being,“ he says, including that his docs have gone “above and past” of their dedication to Tannahill’s therapy. “The standard of care I’ve acquired on the Houston VA has been wonderful.”
Tannahill’s docs beneficial he begin a brand new pastime – one thing he cared about that will assist maintain his consideration and focus . “I already had fishing,” Tannahill studies, “however I noticed a video on customized rod-building and it captivated me.”
Tannahill reached out to Rod Geeks – St. Croix’s rod clean enterprise – and requested in the event that they provided a army low cost. “To my shock, they needed to listen to extra about my story and thought it might be attention-grabbing for different people who find themselves occupied with entering into rod constructing to observe my journey as a starting rod builder,” he says. “So, they requested what sorts of rods I needed to construct and graciously despatched me a pair blanks whereas placing me in touch with Invoice Falconer at Anglers Useful resource. Invoice not solely helped me out with the opposite supplies and elements I wanted, but in addition provided friendship and assist in my journey.”
After taking a rod-building class the place he discovered some abilities and made some further buddies, Tannahill went to work on his first rod, a 7’3” medium energy inshore saltwater spinning mannequin designed for in style popping-cork strategies employed alongside the Texas Gulf Coast. “The Rod Geeks XC33 clean that St. Croix despatched me was lovely,” he says. “Their hybrid carbon and glass X-Comp Sequence blanks are designed to be sturdy and light-weight with tons of energy for inshore fishing. And because it comes from St. Croix, you’re beginning your construct with one of the best.”
Each pastime takes various levels of capital, and whereas he acquired assist from St. Croix and Anglers Useful resource with the clean and elements, Tannahill ended up buying a Flex Coat Energy Rod Wrapper / Finisher & Information Alignment Device. “It was undoubtedly an funding, however it’s an amazingly well-designed and constructed software that I’d extremely advocate to anybody who desires to get into the pastime.”
“Throughout my rod-building class, I discovered that each rod clean has a backbone – one facet that’s really stiffer,” Tannahill says. “Discovering the backbone on the clean is necessary since you need the backbone on high so the rod performs one of the best. It appears sophisticated, however it was simple. I discovered methods to do it at my rod-building class and it seems I’m fairly good at it! I used to be in a position to assist just a few different folks within the class learn to do it. One you mark the backbone you’re prepared to start out constructing.”
Tannahill attacked the deal with and reel seat first. “I opted for a conventional full-cork deal with,” he says. “The cork is available in rings that it’s worthwhile to ream out within the heart to put on the clean… foregrip first, then the reel seat, then the primary deal with, then the butt. The rings can get a little bit off heart as you place them on, however it’s no huge deal. I simply rotated every one 1 / 4 flip so the cork materials stayed pretty centered alongside the clean. Then you definately glue all the things collectively, clamp it, let all of it dry after which sand all of it down till you’re pleased with the form.”
Then got here the guides.
“I feel determining the information spacing and placement can be one of many extra vital challenges for a starting rod builder,” Tannahill says. “However I used to be fortunate and had loads of assist and steering from Aaron and Invoice at Angler’s Useful resource. I went with black stainless-steel guides with SiC (silicon carbide) inserts. As soon as the spacing, you place them and wrap them on the clean with thread. I marked all their places, then positioned and wrapped two at a time. That you must ensure they observe the backbone – on the backbone facet for casting rods and on the gentle facet reverse the backbone for a spinning rod like I used to be constructing.”
Tannahill says the thread wrapping was undoubtedly his favourite a part of your entire course of. “Studying methods to begin and end the wraps is the arduous half, however my rod-building class gave me the knowledge and confidence I wanted. The remainder of the method is straightforward. I’ve some OCD, so I actually took my time with them. I feel that’s why I prefer it a lot,” he says. “I begin my wraps precisely 1/16 of an inch from the foot of every information so all of them look uniform. I’m actually pleased with how they got here out with the black thread – they give the impression of being nice with the black guides on the white clean – however I’m trying ahead to training and performing some fancier wraps on future builds.”
After thread-wrapping the guides, it’s time to coat the wraps with epoxy. “I used Flex Coat and it was simpler than I assumed,” Tannahill studies. “Ensure that to make use of a 50/50 ratio of the epoxy and the hardener. Once more, with my OCD, I made positive I used the identical quantity of epoxy on every information. I do know it was the identical as a result of I weighed it! It got here out nice, and I used to be very pleased with that half.”
After just a few hours of drying, Tannahill acquired the reward of taking a look at his first accomplished fishing rod. He displays on the expertise and the preliminary hope that this new pastime would not directly assist along with his psychological and emotional therapeutic.
“I initially thought that the rod-building course of itself can be good for me, and at this level I can affirm that it has been,” he says. “When I’m constructing – regardless of which a part of the method it’s – I discover myself fully targeted and immersed within the course of. This has been unimaginable remedy for my PTSD. Each step is de facto an artwork kind, and I can see the way it permits folks’s creativity to run wild. It has given me tangible confidence and likewise one thing to speak about and stay up for. It additionally teaches you to adapt and overcome.”
What Tannahill was not anticipating had been all of the ancillary advantages – therapeutic features of the pastime outdoors of the bodily rod-building course of.
“I’d advocate rod constructing to anybody with PTSD who additionally has an curiosity in fishing,” he says. I used to be fairly positive it was going to be good for me, however I’m about 150% higher than my wildest expectation. I’ve discovered that rod-building is greater than a course of – it’s a complete group filled with attention-grabbing and inventive folks, a lot of whom are Veterans like me. I’ve made some actual and significant connections and am grateful for that. I really feel so good that I’m presently exploring getting again into the workforce within the law-enforcement subject – a huge step for me. And I’m severely taking a look at making customized rod constructing and rod restore a facet enterprise. I’ve additionally talked to another vets and we’re occupied with beginning a rod-building membership. I’m again within the recreation.”
Rod constructing has taught James Tannahill that he can proceed to assist and encourage others. “That’s why I’m doing this,” he says. “If an entire layman like me can do that and revel in this a lot… and have success at it… I do know others can too. I wish to present what I study but in addition share how constructing customized fishing rods could be a optimistic and therapeutic expertise. If it helps me, then it might additionally assist different folks affected by PTSD.”
About Rod Geeks
Delivered to you by the folks, 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 one of the best fishing rods on this planet, we personal and function trendy, state-of-the-art fishing rod factories in Park Falls, Wisconsin and Fresnillo, Mexico the place we mix one of the best uncooked supplies, tools, applied sciences, experience, and skilled craftsmanship to provide 1000’s of uncompromising fishing rods and blanks each week. No matter your subsequent journey or venture, belief Rod Geeks to supply a basis on your ardour and creativity that’s worthy of your skills.
About St. Croix Rod
Headquartered in Park Falls, Wisconsin, St. Croix has been proudly crafting the “Greatest Rods on Earth” for 75 years. Combining state-of-the-art manufacturing processes with expert craftsmanship, St. Croix is the one main producer to nonetheless construct rods solely from design by way of manufacturing. The corporate stays family-owned and operates duplicate manufacturing amenities in Park Falls and Fresnillo, Mexico. With in style trademarked sequence similar to Legend®, Legend Xtreme®, Avid®, Premier®, Imperial®, Triumph® and Mojo, St. Croix is revered by all varieties of anglers from world wide. The St. Croix Household of Manufacturers contains St. Croix Rod, St. Croix Fly, SEVIIN Reels, and Rod Geeks.
