Archive for February 2012

The 2012 International Custom Rod Building Exposition was the largest in history – by far. We topped the 3,000 attendee mark. For the first time ever, I had to join the ticket sales operation for the first few hours Saturday morning.   The seminar presenters become more polished each year.  As good as our seminars…

The International Custom Rod Building Exposition tends to spread me a bit thin. Anything and everything that takes place there either starts or winds up in my lap. Thus, it’s difficult for me to be able to spend as much time as I’d like to with each subscriber, attendee or exhibitor. I’d love to be…

The amount of product at the Expo each year is simply staggering. With over 12,000 rod blanks to choose from, and many times over that in guides, grips, cork, adhesives, finishes, tools, etc., etc., etc., many builders comment that they can’t get around to seeing it all in just two days. Yes, there really is…

Is it all free?  No, it’s not all free, but you never know when an exhibitor is going to dump a box of free stuff for everybody. It has happened! Rod blanks in trash cans? Absolutely. The “Trash Can” specials were introduced by Andy Dear of Lamar at one of the earlier Expo’s. Andy was…

There is a belief among savvy travelers that if you want to find a good place to stop and eat, you look for the food joints that have the most cars parked outside. The idea being that if there’s plenty of folks eating inside, it’s because the place has good food.   Which brings me…

The educational portion of the International Custom Rod Building Exposition is often overshadowed by the absolute plethora of rod building blanks, components and tools there. But make no mistake – the craft’s most extensive and intensive demonstrations and seminars take place at the Expo each year.     Everyone, from old pro to novice, can…

Just a quick note to let folks know that for the first time, RodMaker Magazine will not be taking subscription or renewal orders at the Expo. These transactions take up far too much of my time both there and yet again once I return to the office. So, if you need to get a new…

The International Custom Rod Building Exposition is a custom rod building event, period.  Attendees shouldn’t expect to find the exhibit hall filled with general tackle items, taxidermists, guide services, etc. What they should expect, and will find, is 50,000 square feet filled with custom rod building items.   Fishing shows are a dime a dozen.…

Learning the basics of decorative cross wrapping isn’t difficult. What is often difficult, however, is creating precise decorative cross wraps. Many aspiring thread artists, even those with a firm grasp of how various wraps are made, struggle with getting everything perfect, square and precise. And make no mistake, a tight, precise cross wrap will outshine a…

Micro Guides, as they have come to be known, are guides which heretofore would have been considered outside the realm of anything being used on typical North American fishing rods, most notably bass rods.  In the last 5 years, however, they have exploded on the U.S. bass fishing scene. Over that same time period they’ve also…