Hi, my name is Duke Delehanty. I’m from Jupiter, Florida, and I’m the owner and operator of Del Custom Rod & Reel.

I started building rods a few years ago simply because I couldn’t find anyone making the kind I liked—big, clean builds with long, simple wraps. What began as a personal hobby quickly grew into something more. After about a year of crafting rods for myself, I had built several high-quality pieces, though I had no intention of turning it into a business.

One day my girlfriend posted a TikTok showing off my fishing setup as part of a trending challenge. The video gained unexpected traction, and before I knew it, people started reaching out, asking if I could build custom rods for them. I took on a few requests, and from there, things just kept growing.

Today, I’m proud to say Del Custom Rod & Reel is a thriving small business. I’m also a full-time mechanical engineering student, and every day, I look forward to bringing what I learn to implement as new designs and ideas.

For those who know me, I never claim to build the best rods—but I always strive to build better rods than I did the day before.