My question is about the national rod show in North Carolina. Is this good for a beginner? I have only built about 4 rods in the last two years but would like to learn more. Is this the type of event where a person can learn and hone their skills? Or is it just a place to see new products? Thanks in advance.

Chuck,

There is no place on earth where you could see, in one weekend, as much rod building related product as you can see in Charlotte on February 26th and 27th. So it certainly is a place to see all sorts of rod building products and tools. But it's also much, much more than that.

If you'll look at the top of this board for the announcement labeled, "The National Rod Builders' Show" you can find a list of some 25 seminars and demonstrations that will be presented at this year's event. You simply cannot find this amount, breadth, scope or quality of rod building information at any other rod building seminar, show, event, etc. In fact, you won't likely be able to take it all in, but then you shouldn't try to. A beginner such as yourself should pick and choose those seminars and demonstrations that you feel will aid you the most at your current level of rod building. In addition to two basic seminars on general rod building, there are a ton of other topics being presented. At least several of these are almost certain to be "up your alley."

Along with this truly outstanding educational rod building opportunity, is another more subtle one - the ability to meet and talk with other rod builders. Because so many rod builders converge on Charlotte, you'll be able to discuss rod building ideas and topics with builders from around the world. No where else will you be able to meet and talk with so many other builders with all manner of experience and talent.

Use your time wisely and I think you'll find that the National Rod Builders' Show can put you farther down the road in one weekend than the next 10 years working on your own will.


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Chuck, I have to agree with Tom on this. I've been building for a long time and up until a year ago when I stumbled across this place, I honestly thought that I was among a small handfull of people who did this.

I'm very good at what I do. But a lot of what I know was gained through trial and error. I didn't know there were books out there on the subject. They simply aren't advertised very widely. I've always seen a couple here and there in my catalogs but never paid them no mind. What were they gonna do, teach me something I already knew?? However just from this board, the friends I've met here, Rodmaker magazine, and the photo board, I learned things... a lot of things... things I didn't consider.. that helped me a lot. I've been building for over 20 years and I can honestly admit that I'm on the bottom end of the learning scale.

There are still a lot of things that I want to learn, or at least learn a better way to do what I do, or just see things done to help me visualize. I'm very annoyed that I can't make this show. With the folks doing demonstrations and just all the brain picking you can do mingling with other folks, it's gonna be a treasure trove of education. If you can make the show, I'd urge you to go. There are gonna be a lot of people there that I would LOVE to chat with for just 5 minutes.