Your Steelhead Rod. Built From Scratch.

Salmon and steelhead rods built for the way you fish.

Your Steelhead Rod. Built From Scratch.

Designed for the run you fish, rigged for the technique you trust, built by hand in Olympia, WA.

Built in Olympia, WA · 5,000+ Custom Rods · Est. 2017

You Know the Feeling.

The line tightening against current. The rod loading into a chrome fish that has not stopped running since it left the lake. Reading a seam at first light and knowing exactly where the fish are holding.

You have spent years learning these rivers. The rod is where all of that comes together.

One Rod. Built for One Angler.

What 5,000+ custom builds have taught us.

01

Built Around the Way You Fish

Your rod is matched to your technique — float, drift, swing, or nymph — and the water you actually fish. Not a factory compromise rated medium-fast for everyone. Your action, your power, your length.

02

Confidence in Every Drift

When your float rod loads into a king and you feel every headshake through the cork, you know. The right rod does not just perform better — it makes every hour on the river count.

03

A Builder Who Fishes Your Water

What is your drift weight? What line are you running? How do you set the hook? Your Prolite builder asks the questions a tackle shop never would — because your builder fishes these rivers too.

or talk to a builder

Built for Your Run

Every species fights different. Every river reads different. Your rod should know the difference.

Built for Kings

30-pound chinook in heavy current do not give you a second chance. We build king salmon rods with the backbone to turn a fish before the tailout, the tip sensitivity to feel the take on a bead drift, and the durability to fish 60 days of run without showing wear.
Popular build: 9'0" MH Fast, Rainshadow RX7, ALPS titanium guides, full cork grip

Built for Steel

Whether you are running a float and jig through a Lake Ontario trib or side-drifting eggs on the Salmon River, your rod needs to load on the set and protect light tippet in current. We build steelhead rods that balance tip sensitivity with mid-section power — the rod does the work so you do not horse the fish.
Popular build: 10'6" ML Moderate-Fast, Rainshadow Eternity, ALPS LT titanium guides, full cork grip

Built for Silvers

Coho hit like a freight train and jump like they are angry about it. We build lighter, faster rods for silvers — enough backbone for the initial run but responsive enough to keep a green fish pinned through aerial acrobatics.
Popular build: 8'6" M Fast, Rainshadow RX7, ALPS polished SS guides, split EVA grip
5,000+ Custom rods built
10 Years in business
20+ Years of experience
PNW Built in Pacific Northwest
50 States 3 countries and growing

How It Works

01

Tell Us How You Fish

Answer a few questions about your water, technique, and target species.

02

We Design Your Build

Your builder specs every detail — blank, guides, grip, action — around how you fish.

03

4–6 Week Handcraft

Built by hand in Olympia, WA. Photos and updates throughout.

What Prolite Anglers Say

★★★★★ 5.0 on Google · 28 Reviews
★★★★★

“Chris and the talented team behind ProLite Rods are exactly what we want and have missed in this industry for a while now. Their knowledge and guidance in the rod building process matches the highest quality components they use.”

★★★★★

“The builder went above and beyond and was super informative. He sent pics and communicated with me through the whole process. I could not be happier with my custom rod.”

★★★★★

“I've had experiences with Chris and ProLite for about ten years now. He is very approachable, accessible, and open minded when it comes to designing custom rods.”

Custom Salmon & Steelhead Rods Start at $375

Final price depends on blank selection, guide package, and grip configuration. Most salmon and steelhead builds land between $375–$650.

We send you an itemized quote for approval before any payment is required.

or talk to a builder

Your River. Your Technique. Your Rod.

Pick the path that matches where you are.

Custom Rod Estimator

Build Your Custom Rod

Tell us how you fish. We will show you what your rod will cost and how to start the build.