Welcome to Rodcraftsman, the home and focal point for the many angling and rod building skills enjoyed by craftsman, Chris Ward, aka The Rod Doctor.

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Sea angling filled Chris's teenage years when he built his first surf rod at the age of 14 whilst competitively fishing the East coast between Folkestone and Felixstowe in the UK. Changing locations to Hampshire UK, at the start of his working life enabled Chris to further develop his freshwater angling skills. Being proficient in both disciplines Chris qualified as a licensed angling coach.

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​As a rod builder he regularly visits the U.S.A. sharing rod-building skills at National Rod Building Conventions. Attending the 2007 National Conclave of the Custom Rod Builders Guild held in Minneapolis U.S.A., Chris was nominated a Legend of Rod Builders by his peers from within the Guild.  Only 15 members from the worldwide membership were honoured with the title of Legend of Rod Building. Chris was the only International member to receive this honour.

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2017 will see Chris retire as a licensed coach having enjoyed a life-long experience where he has coached internationally, individuals and small groups and worked in an education environment developing angling awards, delivered as special educational projects, within the national curriculum.

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With his wealth of experience Chris still gets a huge buzz from working with individual clients from design to that all important ‘first cast’ of the new custom built rod, it is just one of the many rewarding facets of angling in all its guises fuelling his passion for the sport.

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Quality overrides quantity with quality requiring time. Chris looks forward to working with you.

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​Best wishes & tight lines!

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Chris Ward