Some folks have called me to inquire about the nature of the show in Charlotte, having been told that it is primarily for those who build fly rods. Not true. Not even close.

Yes, they'll be a ton of fly rod blanks and related components there and there will also be a full fledged fly fishing show taking place in the same hall, but The National Rod Builders' Show encompasses all types of rods and rod building.

You can expect to find most any offshore, stand-up or surf rod blank there. You can expect to find most any bass, walleye, steelhead, crappie, etc., blank or related components there. This is a huge show - expect to find literally thousands of rod blanks of all types in the hall, along with components running from snake guides to offshore uni-butts. Take a look at the seminar and demo list - it runs the gamut from fly rod building to surf rod building and all points in between.

While I'm not big on discounting and the like (read the upcoming article in the new issue of RodMaker), a show like this is where many dealers will be bringing their close-outs, overstocks, sale items, etc., to move out at bargain basement prices. You can save a ton of money at this show and it's impossible to find this kind or range or amount of product at any other rod building show. That's a fact.

The National Rod Builders' Show is by far the largest rod building event held anywhere in the world and it encompasses all types of rods, all types of builders and all types of vendors. There will be plenty of fly fishing related products there, but there'll be plenty of everything else, too. Count on it.

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I actually thought that the fly rod building stuff was in the minority there last year! It was there allright, but there was much more bass and saltwater stuff from what I saw.

One additional point that needs to be made, is that these shows should support and grow the rod building craft - not the other way around.

I would quickly tell any rod builder or any dealer who wanted to come to Charlotte in order to "support the show" to stay home. The show doesn't warrant your support, it's there to support you and to grow our craft.

When a vendors pays his or her fee for a booth space; when a rod builder pays an admission fee to get in the door, it is the show that is then beholden to the vendor and to the rod builder. Not the other way around.

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Very well put Tom!
That is real good statement.

John

Tom your viewpoint is exactly why Rodmaker magazine and Rodbuilding.org are at the top in their categories. More businesses should heed that lesson.

I attended Charlotte last year and even though I build mostly fly rods it was obvious that all types of rod blanks and parts could be had there. I would agree with Dennis in that fly rod blanks and parts did not make up the majority of what was there. It was a very well rounded rod building show from what I saw.

There is no question that some mis information is being spread. I think some of it is understandable as the rod show and fly fishing show are both advertised on the same webpage. There's some of the confusion about what type rods are represented there.

But there is more to it. I even got some rod show spam from another show in one of my E-mail boxes this afternoon. Some things aren't represented entirely truthfully. The thing is that the Charlotte event was so good last year and will be even better this year and other shows that see Charlotte as being competition are feeling the pinch and are fighting back by spreading some mis information about it.

I wouldn't worry about it thought. I think I know where most rod builders will turn up at showtime!

Any such confustion can only be the result of my failure to properly convey what this show is all about. I will do a much better job in the show advertising from this point forward.
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...and it's SHOWTIME!! Thanks, Tom!!