Origins…
Back in the early to mid 1980’s I met three rod builders who would later become directly responsible for the creation of RodMaker Magazine.
Buddy Owens was one of the first custom builders I ever met. By anyone’s standards he would have to be considered a very talented and top flight rod builder. The first time I visited him in his shop and viewed his work I recognized his creativity and careful attention to detail.
A few years later while doing most of the custom rod and repair work for P&M Bait and Tackle in Winston-Salem, I met Mike Bolt. Mike was just starting to build rods. I built the handles on his first few rods while he did the guide wrapping. Within a few years he and his dad, JC Bolt, were operating a vibrant and profitable custom rod and repair business of their own.
Another builder I met at P&M was Jim Reid, a long time builder who spent a few afternoons a week at the shop shaking blanks and talking rod building. I believe he was in the insurance business by trade.
Although looking forward to an early retirement in the late 1990’s, I thought it might be nice to have something to occupy my time when I wasn’t fishing or skiing. These three aforementioned builders all pushed me to launch a rod building publication. Buddy and Mike offered to write articles and Jim was long on business advice. It was their encouragement, and somewhat insistence, that finally convinced me to move forward with the idea. In fact, if not for those three guys, I don’t think RodMaker would have ever gotten started.
The first RodMaker issue available to the public. Spring 1998.
It was foolish of me to think that RodMaker would only require a few hours a few evenings per week. It quickly became a 50 to 60 hour a week endeavor. If I had only known…
I still see Buddy quite a bit. He attends the Expo each year although his rod building endeavors have slowed recently. I haven’t seen Mike or Jim in several years although a mutual friend tells me that they are both alive and well and still fishing when they get the chance.
Tom Kirkman
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