Tom Schenk, the co-owner of Chippewa River Custom Rod Company, first learned how to make custom fishing rods when he was twelve. He fished (A LOT), so
it was a suiting and practical endeavor. He custom built fishing rods and fished until joining the Army Rangers, 3rd Battalion from 1989 to 1993. No surprise,
when he got back to St. Paul, MN, Tom got right back to building rods and fishing.
In 2002, realizing the city life wasn't for him, he headed off to Northern Wisconsin, stopping at the junction of the Chippewa and Flambeau
rivers--the heart of musky country. He found himself owning a small tavern and working part-time for St. Croix. This is where he also found his
fiance and business partner Sara Ackerson. Three years ago they decided to start selling custom fishing rods through e-bay. After looking at other
custom built fishing rod web sites, they thought most lacked a little something. Tom thought some sites really didn't let you really create a true custom rod.
Sara, being newer to custom rod building, thought some of the sites Tom thought were good, might be too confusing for some people to use.
Those thoughts were the beginning of their vision for a web site. One that a fishing nut would find to be comprehensive enough to meet their
needs and easy enough to use for a novice or person shopping for a gift. They feel their web site can give each and every customer a
shopping experience they will find satisfying.
Their true joy and craft is making beautiful custom fishing rods. Especially custom fishing rods exactly how people ask them to be made. Should you ever hold
a Chippewa River Custom Rod in your hand and cast away, you'll understand the difference between 'manufactured' and 'crafted'.
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