Anyone know of a shop within reasonable driving distance of DC?

I'm in Bethesda/Rockville and willing to drive to Frederick/Baltimore if necessary.

I'm starting on a few projects and would like to have access to supplies without having to wait three or four days for the mail to get here...

Gonna be tough. Other than a few really large dealers scattered about the Country, places that sell rod building supplies are few and far between. If you do find one around they don't usually have very much. Good luck but I think you're going to do better just ordering your stuff like most of us do. About anybody that carries any kind of decent selection is listed in the column to the left.

Do not overlook the Directory listing at the top of the board. You will probably find a builder within a few miles of you house that you can visit and get parts from him. Make a call, arrange a visit and make a friend for life. The learning curve will go up like a rocket!!

Gon Fishn

Scott , We are Fishsticks4u located near Richmond Va. We are on the sponsor list on the left .We will be glad to try to provide what you need in a timely manner.Please note our discounts and specials on our web site . If you have any questions please call us at 804-746-9711 or 804-966-7577 . Robert

Robert (and others)-- thanks for the replies

sounds like Fishsticks4u is the best option right now for local parts. in Oregon, seemed like there was a rodbuilding shop everywhere i looked. in minnesota even (lived there last five years), there were two within an hour's drive. i'd think in an area like DC/Baltimore, there would be one to serve 2million+ people :).

anyway, coming from Richmond, I can't imagine taking more than a day or two. better than three (or more!) for cross country. i'll probably try you guys out in a few weeks.

Robert-- do you have a store or are you exclusively mail-order?

Scott, We do have a store and rod builders are welcome . Please call for directions .If we can help please let us know .Robert

Thanks Robert
If I make it down that way in the next few weeks, I'll be sure to stop in!

scott,
Try the fisherman's Edge, Located on Edmondson Ave In Baltimore County, MD Joe Bruce has a good supply of rod building materials. I sorry I don't know the address but it is in the Baltimore Area phone book. Hope this helps---Phil

Phil,
Sorry to say Fisherman's Edge has closed it's doors forever. Joe has taken up photography - his second love. The only place left that has anything like a reasonable supply is Tochterman's on Eastern Avenue in Baltimore (just past Little Italy).

Yeah, and Tochterman's is a fantastic tackle shop but pretty limited on rodbuilding supplies: finish and thread basically. But, they would probably order St. Croix blanks and handle kits for you if you asked since they are a St. Croix dealer. Super nice people. I used to live 1/2 mile from there for 9 years and loved that store.

Thanks you guys for the tips!
I would also like to mention that I received several friendly emails as a result of this post-- this site is great as it's not only an information source but a source of connections as well!

-Scott

Steve -
I think I pretty much cleared Joe's supply of guides and other supplies before he closed up shop - I left him a striper fly rod that I built for him to play with.. I expect I'll see him at the 'spring fling' Trout Unlimted show in Beltsville -- still giving his excellent talks on fly fishing... Of course you're right about Tony and Tochterman's --- I'm also glad I never lived that close to that store as I barely have enough room for the gear I already own!

Yep, living that close to Tochterman's was both a blessing and a curse - I miss it. Westminster used to have 2 great tackle shops when I was a kid (Armacost's and Heagy's) but they are both long gone and I have returned to a town where WalMart is the only place to buy tackle. Sad to say, those type family owned tackle shops are not easy to find anymore. I remember going into those places as a kid looking to burn through my allowance or yard mowing money. Lots of pictures on the walls and guys sitting around drinking coffee and lying about their latest fishing and hunting trips. It was great.

I'm sounding like an old fart now - time to mailorder some stuff off the internet, LOL. Maybe I'll see you in Beltsville this spring.

Mmmm.

Appomattox Canoe, GreenTop, now a rod building store.

Yet another reason to go to Richmond.

Thanx!

George , fishsticks4u a sponsor of rodbuilding.org supplies Green Top with custom rods, we have hopes that one day they will let us supply their component section.I can't blame you looking for a reason to go to Green Top, it is such a neat place. Robert