About US

 
Kissel Krafts custom built fishing rods are some of the finest custom rods available on the market today.  These rods are designed and built to stand up to the rigors of various conditions and fishing techniques including bass fishing, in-shore fishing, saltwater fishing, fly fishing, and more.
Jack Kissel began building rods in Ocracoke, NC in 1963.  His tradition was passed down to his son, the founder of Kissel Krafts Custom Rods, John.  The attention to detail is evident in each Kissel Krafts custom built fishing rod because all Kissel Krafts rods are proudly hand-made, one at a time, in the U.S.A. 
Through John’s passion of quality and customer satisfaction, Kissel Krafts grew to the nationally recognized brand that it is today, claiming responsibility for many major tournament wins across the country including the very first Back-to-Back win on the FLW Tour (2014 and 2015 Beaver Lake, Arkansas). 
When John passed away in January 2016, Shawn and Sunni Hendrix purchased the company from the Kissel family to continue John’s legacy.  Fishing several tournament trails across the Southeast, Shawn was sponsored by John and Kissel Krafts.  Together, John and Shawn created a cherished friendship that allowed them to depend on one another to be successful fishermen and in growing a business.  Shawn and Sunni continue the company on the core values that John built his company upon……quality, reliability, and customer satisfaction.
 Most anglers think they have to become a professional angler before they can have their own custom fishing rods, but that’s simply not true.  Kissel Krafts Custom Rods will work with you to find that perfect fit for your fishing needs so you can have a custom fishing rod now.
For more than five decades the Kissel family has built fishing rods.  Today, we are continuing the dream of the legend, our founder, John Kissel by using the latest components that modern technology can provide.
Don’t wait!  View our custom fishing rods and options, design your custom rod online, or contact us for more information.  We look forward to building your custom fishing rod today.