I was Google-ing some custom rod building websites to get some ideas for my future site when I came upon Signature Custom Fishing Rods. The web page tells me the builder is the "2 time National Custom Rod Building Champion". I have never heard of this contest before? Can anyone tell me where it is held or where I find out more information about this national contest?
Thanks
Buzz


[www.signaturefishingrods.com]

Buzz - Have your ever spent any time in a real "ole time pool hall"? There are a lot more "fish" than there are "hustlers"! His claims caught your attention and I will bet his "stringer" stays quite full! He will probably wrap some rods while you are Googling.

Gon Fishn

Buzz,

Most likely you're talking about Jim Grandt (unless somebody new has popped up to claim the title).

At one of the tackle industry trade shows some years ago, Gudebrod staged a "competition" for a world championship rod builder. Obviously it was intended to promote their rod wrapping thread to the buyers there. Jim won the competition from among a half dozen or so entered. He did so two years running, which I think was the total duration of the contest. This is his basis for the title.

How much credence you give to his title depends on whether or not you see Gudebrod as any sort of governing body in custom rod building, and whether or not you consider the number and quality of the other contestants to be substantial enough. But Jim is not claiming anything that isn't true - according to Gudebrod he was and is their two time "National Rod Building Champion."

I'll add something else here - for anyone who wants to climb on Jim's case about this (it happens a few times each year) consider what you would do had you entered Gudebrod's contest and won. Would you not mention it in your custom rod building business advertising? Would you just let it go unnoticed? Or would you at least try to parlay it into some additional custom rod sales?

I'll grant you that Jim isn't providing a lot of details on the title, but I'm not sure he's not doing what a lot of other guys would do if they had won Gudebrod's contest. Jim isn't hurting anyone here so I really don't see any harm being done. It's up the potential buyer to look into the title, if he or she is so inclined to do so.


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



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/29/2007 01:04PM by Tom Kirkman.

Ah.........I see, .......... "I can see clearly now, the rain is gone"................ thanks for clearing that up.

Tom,
I am really impressed with the way you phrased that. I could not have put together a more appropriate response if I worked on it for several hours. You can be very articulate and a real gentleman sometimes, maybe even most of the time.

Emory;
You and I are in total aggreement on this one
Well stated Tom!

That link isn't Grandt but the same type of "pre-packaged Custom" rods

Mike (Southgate, MI)
If I don't want to, I don't have to and nobody can make me (except my wife) cuz I'm RETIRED!!

They are an "Authorized Dealer of Grandt Industries". So says the small print.

Very well said Tom, very delicate !

Did he get a six year old to write "Designed For Your Name" on that rod?

Well I guess I'm going to have to put up some excessive claim on my site so someone will question it on this forum and include the website link. How much traffic was driven to his site from this post? Tom, you should send him a bill for advertising fees.

Edit to add: Knowing of the quality builders currently building custom rods, even if I won that competition yesterday, I would be embarrassed to make such claim with less than say 100 builders involved in a nationwide event. Think about it.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/29/2007 08:13PM by robert smith.

I doubt he's going to get many people from this site to buy custom rods from him. I'd think most of us here build our own rods.

What he needs to do is explain the title a bit more and just say that he is a "Gudebrod National Rod Building Champion." I think that would take care of everything.

Mike Ballard Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I doubt he's going to get many people from this
> site to buy custom rods from him. I'd think most
> of us here build our own rods.
>
> What he needs to do is explain the title a bit
> more and just say that he is a "Gudebrod National
> Rod Building Champion." I think that would take
> care of everything.


I respectfully beg to differ. How many anglers in the market for a custom rod google "custom fishing rod" and end up at this site. This forum is usually the number one search search result on most search engines. I'm willing to bet many, many of our prospective customers view our conversations everyday.

Tempest in a teapot.

Anyone who comes to comes to this fine site looking for a custom rod will almost certainly look scrutinize the Photo Pages looking at examples of the builders represented there. Having seen the workmanship on display there I cannot imagine anyone settling for the work of Mr. Grant. I examined the photos on his site when I was just starting out in the craft. I found his work to be most unappealing aesthetically and far behind the curve in creativity so evident on the photo pages.

That said, there is still no accounting for taste in art or any area. I do not begrudge anyone their legally and morally earned successes. On the other hand I think Gudebrod crossed a line of credibility to claim the power to award a national championship based upon such a limited number of entries. Were entries sought from every state of the Union over a reasoable period of time to accomodate the process? If not they had no right to attach that title to their competition. Nothing Gude about that; Bro, D.... ave Gilberg

Robert,
I would like to respond to your post via email but it is hidden. Please send it to me at
rodmaker@dotnet.com

thanks,
Buzz

Well, I will have you folks know that my granddaughter is the New International World Champion Rod Builder. We sent out emails to possible competitors in at least 2 countries (three if you count Louisiana) and invited them to compete for the title. Also included with the title was a small plastic tiara and a hug from gramma. The competition was not diminished by the fact that only one other person decided to compete but could not wait for the judging because he had to get home before their ankle bracelet notified the authorities he was missing.
She will be advertising her great feat to all that care to buy these magnificent sticks at a later date. The winner will be taking orders as soon as she gets home from school and will be able to work on orders only if she has finished her homework and cleaned her plate each evening.
SEE HOW EASY IT IS GUYS? Anyone can do it and it means nothing!

Hey Dave that was a cheap shot at Louisiana lol J/k But thanks for the free press by mentioning Louisiana lol. I guess we are in another world down here.

Brent Keever
Building friendships through custom rods