The Custom Rod Builder that is "Nameless"

Introduction: Nameless Rods, a custom rod brand from Southern California, specializes in crafting high-quality swimbait rods with a focus on custom design and performance. We sat down with the owner and creator of the brand to learn more about its origins and the latest intriguing offering: a swimbait rod featuring CULTxVANS waffle grips built on a U.S.-made Stryker blank, making it one of the most unique swimbait rods ever.

My first Nameless rod was the Explorer Rod (Gen 1) which I copped in a drop from the brand's "Ready to Run" store

The Custom Rod Builder with No Name: I first learned about Nameless Custom Rods the way many other swimbait anglers likely did—on Instagram. It was there that I began seeing a variety of intriguing rod builds characterized by clean design and unique styling. Despite the many great swimbait rods available on the market, Nameless stood out with custom designs tailored specifically to the angler’s fishing techniques and personal style. Some of the rods I saw online even featured custom colors, logos, and matching grips.

I started following Nameless and finally had the opportunity to try one of their rods when I jumped on a drop and purchased a two-piece swimbait rod, a one-of-a-kind Adventure rod. Suffice to say, this would be the first of many Nameless rods I would eventually own.

My second Nameless rod is one that readers still often see in my hands, the fully custom "NSX Rat Rod" which was built with black and yellow highlights to match my car and with spiral grips and lengths tailored to my preferred ergonomics

My positive experience with that first rod prompted me to reach out to Nameless to commission a custom swimbait rod. This is when I officially met the owner and lead designer/builder of Nameless, Justin Wesseling from Lake Elsinore, California. We discussed various possible rod configurations and ultimately decided to build a rod specifically designed for fishing my favorite rat swimbaits. Justin and I discovered that we were both gearheads and decided to theme the rod around my personal ride, an Indy Yellow Pearl Acura NSX. The NSX Rat Rod was born, featuring customizations from grip to tip, and it has been my favorite custom rod in my arsenal for the last two seasons.

I fish a lot of rats and wakes with this custom Nameless rod

Many anglers started reaching out to me to learn more about that rod, prompting me to have a conversation with Justin to find out more about his company, his process, and a brand new "VANS" themed project he had just introduced. This is that conversation.

A look at Nameless's newest project, the NLRVG

Zander: Thanks for sitting down with us today Justin. Let’s start at the beginning. Can you tell us more about your background and how you started Nameless rods?

Justin: Since a child, I’ve always built models worked on cars, build skateboard ramps, so I’ve always been fascinated with building things. After a few years, running some custom rods from a friend I decided to try my own build. I realized I was pretty good at it when friends started requesting more and more rods. So I started Revelation Rods that I worked for a couple years building and it really gained traction until another tackle company had some issues with me for using that particular name. So I had to rebrand and change everything I had built, but it may have been a blessing in disguise because this is how Nameless was born.

Justin is an avid angler himself and is based in Lake Elsinore, CA

Zander: Tell us more about the blanks that you use in your rods, do you source blanks from just one manufacturer or a couple depending on the application and action?

Justin: After using several blanks from St. Croix, NFC to Taipan and even using other brands like Phenix, I have found Stryker to be remarkably strong, lightweight, and consistent. One thing is standing out to me most about these Striker based rods is the way they load, it’s a very smooth load something I’ve not experienced with many brands. The scratch resistance is also incredible, which gives me confidence in the rods lasting along time.

Another Nameless Custom that I ordered. I asked for a PB&J rod and Justin delivered once again

Zander: As a custom rod builder what has influenced your designs and what is unique about your offerings?

Justin: I work incredibly hard to make my brand stand out in a very saturated industry. I do so by providing three key elements. Excellent customer service, markable fit and finish, and top quality builds that are worth investing in. These are things I had a hard time finding in the custom rod world let alone with some tasteful and modern designs. I think we are developing a unique niche. Influenced by Japanese culture, southern California culture and my Dutch ancestry, I’ve combined my life in to this brand.

My custom Nameless PB&J rod also sees a lot of rat duty and is built on a Phenix blank and capable of slinging rats up to 6oz.

Zander: Let’s shift gears and talk about what is new and coming? Product-wise what is coming next from Nameless?  

Justin: I hope to continue developing unique, attractive, and high-performing fishing rods. I hope that we can even expand into something major one day. However, I do not mind keeping it small and tending one by one to each customer, which is how we have built NL up to this point. As far as future rod designs, we will continue expanding on the vans culture and continue to push out these great Stryker blanks, while experimenting with new grip materials and un-thought of designs. Nameless style.

The new Nameless NLRVG rod features black EVA and Gum CULT x VANS grips on a U.S. made Stryker blank (1 of 1 Proto rod shown)

I wanted to create a rod that would cross over all ages, genres, all cultures and speak to the masses even beyond fishing. Spreading the Nameless brand. I believe in a total package of aesthetics, performance, reliability, and service that makes the full experience great. These are crafted with the mentality that even if the most competent high end rod builder got a hand on them, that even they would approve. The fit and finish of NLRVG rods speak for themselves.

Who would of thought to put these VANS grips on a fishing rod. This absolutely insane, and I love it.

Zander: These Nameless Vans gripped rods are unique. I recognize these ODI Vans grips from motocross and obviously, the waffle pattern is instantly recognizable by those beyond fishing. How did you get the idea to build a rod series with them?

Justin: Who doesn’t like waffle soles?! I wanted to create a rod design that was so aesthetically powerful yet functional that it would put nameless custom rods in the top echelon. Not just a one off, but something so streamlined that it could potentially be mass produced. The thick oversize VANS grips provide tremendous comfort and rearward, balance, also adding control that is very difficult to describe. It is not overpowering either. It must be felt. Sensitivity is not dulled because the material of the grip still transmits some vibrations similar to that of EVA.

The VANS waffle pattern is instantly recognizable, especially in gum color