Now that I'm able to attend the big rod show, I wonder what to expect in terms of crowds in the aisles and dealer booths. Will I be able to get in and out booths easily and get the things I want, or is it going to be the type of thing where you really need to get there early each day and beat the rush if possible? I'm sure it will be well attended and I guess I'm just wondering if it's going to be hard to get around and see what I want to see and talk to those I want to talk to. Just trying to get an idea of what to expect.

The floor will be quite crowded but will not be unmanageable. Hopefully you can stay both days which will allow you all the time you need to do everything that you plan. The floor will thin out a little during the seminars and on the afternoon of the second day. I bought some stuff last year and all the vendor booth were staffed to permit purchases of just about anything and still they had time to be courteous to all. The refreshment area, coffe and snack, is a good place to just walk up to some stranger and introduce yourself - never know who you will end up talking to and what you will learn. This is where I ran into Jesse last year and he has given me much free information on practical things that have imporved my work product. If you go there with the intent of looking, learning, finding, evaluating, purchasing, demonstrating or just having a good time you will certainly be rewarded.

Say Hi to me if I don't run into you first!!

Bill Stevens
Gon Fishn

The fact is that yes, it will be very crowded. Hundreds and hundreds of rod builders will be attending and there very well may be times when you can't just walk up and into a booth and pick up what you want or talk to whoever you want. However, there will be seminars taking place throughout the day which will tend to spread the builders out somewhat between the upstairs seminar/presentation rooms and the vendor displays in the main exhibit hall. And remember, we're not talking about a half dozen vendors - we're talking about more like 20 to 25 dealers and manufacturers spread out over 40 to 50 booth spaces. This will also tend to spread out the builders, at least a little bit.

If you're going to be around for a full day, or even two days, then you should have plenty of time to see everything you want to see and talk to those you want to talk to. There will be literally thousands of rod blanks, guides, grips, cork rings, tools, etc., etc., to see and between the seminars, presentations and Saturday evening social gathering, I think you'll end up talking to more rod builders than you can imagine.

So yes, it will be crowded. But in all likelyhood you'll still be able to do all the things you wish to do there.


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Yes the show is super crowded and that's a good thing! Only because of the huge turn out of rod builders do so many manufacturers and suppliers attend and bring so much product for you to view. Only because of all the rod builders present do they have so many rod building seminars and demos. One thing feeds off of another.

So yes it's crowded but you'll find everybody is very friendly and willing to help with anything you need. Just come on out and jam the hall with the rest of us!

I sure hope it's crowded for the reasons Danny suggests. Remember when visiting with the guys in the booths that there may be 3 or 4 others behind us that want to talk to him/them, also. If we conduct our business, move on, and maybe come back later with more questions, everyone will be able to get a turn with these guys in the know...

Putter

I will try to meet / speak with as many people as possible over the course of the two days. There will be nothing for sale at my station. I will have a few saltwater fly rods and likley some surf casting rods. They will be there for people to see, handle and play with (fly rods anyway) at the indoor casting pond. Everything else will be set ups of "how a rod is made" - for the non-builders & wanna become builders. I'll likely also bring a TV/VCR combo for folks to watch if I'm busy with someone else or I want to catch a seminar.