“The day after retirement I had nothing to do,” he says. “I had no previous outside experience other than work or family. So I went down to our local library in Brainerd and I found two paragraphs in an old “Field & Stream” magazine that talked about building custom rods and what they were. It was enough to intrigue me, and I bought a kit from a component supplier. I built the rod. It had a one-page instruction sheet on how to put this rod together.” And how did that first rod turn out? Kristufek roars with laughter. “It was just atrocious!” he says merrily. “It was terrible. Every once in a while I go look at it and marvel. That got me started.” He kept at it, applying the same dedication to his craftsmanship as he had to his sales career. He improved, picking up and refining the skills he needed as he went. The rods he made for himself began attracting notice. The trickle of commissions grew into a steady stream. “Since then I’ve sold something pretty close to 3,000 rods,” Kristufek says with pride. “They’re being used all over the world. I’ve built rods for governors, senators, four-star generals and everyday fisherman like you and me.”
Every LakeLady rod is inscribed with the owner’s name, signed by Kristufek and numbered like the fine art that it is. Then it’s carefully placed in a custom embroidered rod sock made by Kristufek’s wife Wini to protect it during its travels. Some LakeLady Custom Fishing Rods travel around the world, just like their owners and their maker. But sometimes they don’t go far at all – just a few steps down to the boat on Pelican Lake and out onto the water. So how many rods has Kristufek made for himself? Since he considers himself to be similar to his customers in his quest for superior quality, beauty and function and travels around the world chasing the next great catch, it’s not a random question. He stops for a moment to consider the question. “I think I have somewhere in the range of 40 to 50 rods, from fly rods to boat roads,” he muses, making a quick tally. “I have a couple saltwater rods. Ice, walleye, muskie rods, little tiny ice rods…” He stops and cracks a grin so broad you can almost hear it. “My wife says way too many. So I ask her, ‘How many pairs of shoes do you have?’” He pauses, wryly triumphant. “And that ends the discussion.”
As far as Kristufek and his customers are concerned, custom rods from LakeLady Custom Fishing Rods are even better than shoes. They’re just as practical, but much more durable. And there’s no question that they’re more beautiful. A custom fishing rod is a sophisticated tool that doubles as a work of art, an investment in an angler’s sport and passion that will pay off for years to come.
OUTDOORS
A custom fishing rod is a sophisticated tool that doubles as a work of art, an investment in an angler’s sport and passion that will pay off for years to come.