Does anyone know if any rod-building outfits will be there this year? I couldn't find any on the exhibitor list. I remember being a bit disappointed last year when I visited and couldn't buy so much as a blank from any vendors. From what I remember, the show in Jersey a few years back had a bit more to offer in this department.

Anyway, just curious if anyone knows more than me...

Dave

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Gon Fishn

i guess what bill's trying to say is if you want rodbuilding vendors, go to the national show. The Fly Fishing Show is not the place. sounds like jersey got lucky. i went to the san rafael, ca version of TFFS last year and was a bit disappoineted too. having just got into rodbuilding, i was hoping... it still is a good venue but with a different target audience. lotsa lodges showing slide presentations of their destinations, featured fly tiers tying, and many manufacturers for complete rods and a few local stores selling things including good deals on flies, but it's main draw in the end for me was being able to test cast premium rods and reels on a casting pond. it was also the fateful day i cast my first bamboo rod. sigh.

eric
fresno, ca.

My opinion - The best fly fishing show in the immediate Washington DC area is held by Trout Unlimited.
[www.ncc-tu.org] around 60 vendor booths all centered on fly fishing.

Best "buy it now" (by the pound plastic worms, lures, off the shelf rods and reels) is at Timonium Fair Grounds 12-15 January.

Best "show on the rise" for attendance, products fresh & saltwater is 21/22 January at the show Place Arena in Upper
Marlboro, MD. with 150 vendor booths http:// www.chesapeakefishingoutdoorexpo.com

If you're specifically looking for rod building vendors, they're going to be few and far between at any of these type shows (with the exception of the National Rod Builders show, of course).

If you're in MD, then I'd guess you're looking at an 8 hour drive to Charlotte NC (95/85 south). But it would 8 hours well spent. I really can't impress upon you what this event is like. You have to see it to really understand. People have been building rods for many, may years, but only in the past 2 or 3 has the craft of custom rod building had an event of this size or scope. I seriously doubt you would leave disappointed. In fact, I think you'd quite impressed and make up your mind to attend every year.

..............

Sorry all. I just reread what I posted. Understand that I was responding to a post about the Fly Fishing Show in College Park. What I should have emphasized was that those shows I mentioned are those "local" to the Washington DC area. Each year for the past 6 years have participated in 3-4 shows/season which I choose by attending other shows, considering the "gate" (numbers of people) and "attendees" (what the people are looking for) and then rotating in those which have the most to offer. Tom is correct - there is NO better show for rod building than that held in Charlotte. This will be my third year going to Charlotte (the first year to observe). It is the best because of the number of "first line vendors / manufacturers / distributors" (American Tackle, Batson Enterprises and so on down the line alphabetically) it is also the best due to the other people with booths (builders, suppliers: MudHole, Schneider's etc.) finally because of the "atmosphere" very much a sharing experience in a convivial atmosphere - the comraderie and Charlotte is just a beautiful venue. Driving time for me from Baltimore environ is about 10 hours and I will gladly make the trip every year. Heck I'd make the trip just to sit and talk with the builders that I only 'converse with' through email or forums.