A Custer man likes it when ice covers lakes and rivers because it means people will want to buy his product.
Terry Firkus, who manufactures custom-made ice fishing rods out of a shop at his home, began TJ’s Pin Point Plastix 20 years ago when he took over his friend’s ice fishing rod business.
“I was a very good customer of his, so he offered it to me before putting it up for sale on the market,” said Firkus.
Ice fishing is a long-standing tradition in the Firkus family. “My dad started me out as a youngster,” he said. “I’ve always had an interest in it. Then I got my son into it. Now we’ve got grandkids that are going to start ice fishing.”
An avid ice fisherman, Firkus taught himself how to make the rods. “I would also ask friends what they thought was a good rod to build and just go from there,” he said.
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