Allen Winchel

Allen Winchel is the founder of Blackfin Rods and a professional fisherman who builds rods because he loves to fish with them. A south Florida native with more than thirty years on the water worldwide, he built Blackfin in Stuart into one of the finest American deep sea rod makers, fabricating blanks from scratch in house. In his In The Spread videos, Winchel teaches custom rod building from blank to final wrap, why construction decisions affect performance, and the maintenance that makes quality tackle last.

Instructor's videos

Allen Winchel builds fishing rods the way he does for one simple reason: he loves to fish with them. A south Florida native who has fished his home waters and destinations around the world for more than thirty years, Winchel is the founder of Blackfin Rods, and he turned a warehouse full of dormant equipment in Stuart into one of the most respected American rod makers in the sport.

What sets Winchel apart is that he understands a rod from the inside out, because he builds it that way. At Blackfin, the entire process happens in house, from fabricating the blank to the final diamond wrap. That is rare. Most custom builders start with a blank someone else made. Winchel makes the blank, and that total control over the build is what let him produce deep sea rods that many consider among the finest made in the USA.

That perspective is exactly what makes him such a valuable teacher. Winchel does not just tell you a rod is good, he shows you why. He can explain how blank material and taper set a rod's action and power, why spline orientation determines whether a rod tracks true or fights you under load, and how guide, reel seat, and grip choices change weight, sensitivity, and durability. These are the decisions that separate a rod built for performance from one built for a price point, and most anglers never learn them.

He is just as sharp on keeping a rod alive. Winchel breaks down the tackle care that tournament fishermen live by, the cleaning and conditioning routine that stops the corrosion and guide damage that quietly destroy expensive rods long before the blank ever wears out.

In his In The Spread videos, Winchel walks through custom rod building from blank to finish and the maintenance habits that make good tackle last. Whether you want to build your own rods or simply understand the tool in your hands, learning from the man who makes them from scratch will change how you look at a fishing rod.