Just received my 1st issue of Rod Maker Magazine Vol. 8 - Issue 6 yesterday and read it yesterday.
What an issue to start with.
The interview with Gene Bullard by Andy Dear was great.

I began rod building in the mid seventies myself and can remember waiting for the new Bullard Catalog anxiously. When it arrived I wouldn’t set it down until I had surveyed all the new goodies inside.

By the way, I have several of the Snagglebass butt caps in my old supplies, what a find…

Unfortunately I got away from rod building as my children grew and my attention was directed to their sport functions thru high school and college.

Now they are gone and I’m rekindling my interest and I am overwhelmed at the advancements and craftmanship being done today. I felt I was pretty good myself back when and now I feel like a novice again, and enjoying every moment.

I’ll quit rambling, I just wanted to commend Tom Kirkland on his fine publication and I can’t wait for the next issue.

You have kids - fishing buddies, also building buddies.

Check out the back issues. A lot of good info.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/18/2006 11:39AM by bill boettcher.

My very first copy arrived about a week ago. To be honest I was knocked back on my heels. I thought it would be good but it was way more than I was expecting. The quality of the entire thing bowled me over! I was very impressed by the article on building live bait rods. Very much worth saving for future reference. I've now ordered the back issues with similar articles on surf rods and stand up rods. I'm building a reference library so I can better serve my customers if they ask for a specific rod type that I may not be 100% familiar with. The full size grip plans and templates are a neat idea. I'll have to go back and get more those too.