Everything for the 2008 ICRBE is pretty much set as of this afternoon. The exhibitors, seminars and demos, etc., etc. Here is the final list, which is also available on the event website.

I would recommend that anyone wishing to stay directly across the street from the event facility make that call to the Radisson in the next week or so. They will be sold out in the next few weeks. Radisson Hotel - 336-889-8888


Exhibitors/Vendors


Batson Enterprises (Rainshadow/Forecast)

Renzetti, Inc.

Scott's Custom Rods

Fish Sticks 4U

RodMaker Magazine

Pacific Bay International

Sticks & Bones

MIckel's Custom Rods

Donart

Lamar Fishing

Angler's Resources (Fuji)

St. Croix Rods

Lamiglas

Swifty/Diamondite

Mud Hole Custom Tackle

WoodCraft

Swampland Rods

Munich Man's Rod Shop

Trondak U-40

Ken's Custom Rods

G. Loomis, Inc.

Custom Tackle Supply

RBI (Rod Builders International)

NERBS (Northeast Rod Builders)

REC Components

Flex Coat Company

American Tackle

Calico Creek Rods

TightLine Rods

Legacy Paddlesports

Get Outdoors

Skin Shop USA

Anyfish Anywhere

C&M Custom Tackle (Acid Rod)

Visual Wrap

Packard Wood Turning

Rick's Rods

Seeker Rod Company

Cheseapeak Cork

Flex Coat Company

Blue Water Fly Rods

The Rod Shop (C. Alho)


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The 2008 International Custom Rod Building Exposition will feature over 25 educational seminars and demonstrations on all aspects of custom rod building. From seminars on basic rod building to advanced subjects and everything in-between, you can learn more in a single weekend here, than in 10 years on your own!


BASIC CUSTOM ROD BUILDING BY JIM UPTON - Learn every step required to build your own custom fishing rod. Jim walks you through each and every task needed to get great results on your first attempt. Learn from one of the best in this enjoyable and informative seminar expressly designed to get you started on this rewarding hobby!

SALTWATER BOAT, PIER AND TROLLING RODS BY KEN PRESTON - Ken is highly regarded up and down the east coast by charter fishing captains who rely on quality gear to get the job done for their clients. Learn the extras needed to build the best possible rods for demanding saltwater applications from a master rod builder.

THE COMMON CENTS SYSTEM BY DR. WILLIAM HANNEMAN - The only perfectly objective and relative system for quantifying rod action, power and feel. Presented by the inventor himself, this system has won rave reviews by knowledgeable custom rod builders the world over. The new expanded URRS now covers spinning and casting rods!

THE UNIVERSAL ROD RATING SYSTEM BY DR. WILLIAM HANNEMAN - The only perfectly objective and relative system for quantifying rod action, power and feel. Presented by the inventor himself, this system has won rave reviews by knowledgeable custom rod builders the world over. The new expanded URRS now covers spinning and casting rods!

BONDING, COATING, FINISHING BY RALPH OQUINN - Perhaps the most knowledgeable person in the rod building field when it comes to adhesives and finishes, Ralph will teach you how to obtain the strongest possible bonds and the smooth possible finishes. No custom rod builder working with epoxy can afford to miss this one!

MARKETING CUSTOM RODS By Bill Stevens - As a custom rod builder you possess unique skills and abilities, but how do you make your customer aware of this? Bill has spent a lifetime teaching skilled individuals how to market themselves for the greatest benefit to themselves and their customers. If you sell rods, you will not want to miss this one. You will learn a great deal about marketing, advertising and... yourself!

FINISHES FOR CUSTOM ROD HANDLES AND GRIPS BY J.P TIMBERLAKE - Cork, wood, plastics, blanks, etc., all required specific finishes and application techniques in order to look good and last for years. JP has spent many years perfecting the best methods and products to provide the utmost in beauty and durability on nearly any material used for crafting handles and grips today. Blank painting and finishing is included!

CUSTOM ROD AESTHETICS BY KAREN CAMPBELL - When it comes to pleasing aesthetics on a custom rod, let nature be your guide. Karen is a long time artist and understands the natural world of color and contrast. Her instruction will completely change how you go about selecting colors and combinations for your next custom rod. This is a truly enlightening seminar focusing on the color and aesthetic perfection that is all around us in nature. Karen shows you how.

ROD TECHNOLOGY UPHEAVAL BY TOM KIRKMAN - Over the next year, several new products will change the course of both commercial and custom rod building as we know it. Drop in for an eye opening look at how both commercial and custom rods will be built in the very near future. Things are going to be a lot different!

INNOVATIVE ROD COMPONENTS BY RICH FORHAN - Rich is the most influential custom rod builder of our generation. His ideas and concepts have been adopted by not only custom rod builders, but by many commercial rod companies as well. Let Rich show you how to modify existing off the shelf components for improved performance, sensitivity and durability.

SPIRAL WRAP RODS BY RICH FORHAN - From his innovative Revolver Rod to the Simple Spiral, Rich covers everything you will ever need to know about the spiral wrap for casting rods. If you have ever wanted to spiral wrap a rod, or had questions on this practical yet often misunderstood technique, Rich will teach you all you need to know.

TECHNIQUE SPECIFIC RODS AND METHODS BY RICH FORHAN - Modern bass fishing is evolving at a rapid pace. Swim baits, jump lures, dropshotting and a host of other techniques are covered here. Learn how to build the rods required as well as how to actually perform these modern and highly productive techniques. This one isn’t just for rod builders... come one come all. If you bass fish, you will love this one!

BAMBOO ROD MAKING BY DAVE MALE AND KEN PRESTON - Enjoy watching each and every step required in making your own bamboo fishing rod. This art form is not only rewarding, but definitely obtainable for anyone with a little patience and a love for the natural world of bamboo. Dave and Ken have prepared a beautiful presentation explaining every step necessary in crafting a handmade bamboo fishing rod.

TOOLS OF THE TRADE BY MIKE BARKLEY - Rod building requires very little in the way of special tools, but there are some specialty tools out there that definitely make custom rod building easier and more enjoyable. Join Mike as he teaches you how to build and use some of them. This is one of the more clever and enjoyable rod building seminars you will ever attend.

BASIC THREAD WEAVING BY JIM UPTON - Learn the ins and outs of decorative thread weaving by the Dragon Master himself. Jim is a master thread artist and quickly explains how this fascinating aspect of the craft is performed. Yes... you can learn thread weaving and Jim is the guy to show you how. Here is your chance to learn up close and in person from the man who has revolutionized the weaving art.

ADVANCED THREAD WEAVING BY JIM UPTON - Take your knowledge of decorative thread weaving to a new level as the Dragon Master shows you how to employ multiple thread colors in the same pattern, perform 360 degree weaves and how to create and develop your own personal weaving patterns. You cannot buy this level of instruction at any price. Do not miss it!

BUILDING BLUE WATER FLY RODS BY MICHAEL TAYLOR - Learn the tricks needed to build fly rods than can stand up and conquer the denizens of the deep! Michael builds them every day and his rods have proven that they are more than up to the task. If you want to build fly rods for landing large species such as tuna and marlin, you will not want to miss this one.

UNIQUE HANDLE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION BY MIKE BARKLEY - Mike has made a name for himself with his beautiful and intricate handle assemblies. Here is your chance to learn from one of the best in the business. Mike will also cover many of the newer handle materials that have appeared on the market in the past year.

VISUALWRAP COMPUTER SOFTWARE FOR THREAD ART BY DAVID BOYLE - Custom rod thread art became a science when David Boyle introduced his VisualWrap software. Come learn how to use it on your home computer to design, view, manipulate, create and execute nearly any decorative crosswrap your mind can conceive. Also on tap - David introduces a new software component that allows you to design and execute thread weaves on your computer. If you do decorative crosswrapping or weaving, this is the future!

ABALONE SHELL VENEERS BY JOE EMIG - Joe shows you how to add this beautiful irredescent shell to your next custom rod in a variety of sensational ways. If you want your next custom rod to really stand out from the crowd, this is one seminar you must attend. A real groundbreaker!

UNIQUE DECORATIVE HANDLE TECHNIQUES BY JOE EMIG - There are a variety of ways you can dress up a custom rod. One of them is by using intricate wood inlays, laser engraving, powder coating or polyester casting in your handle or grip pieces. Joe is a master of all these techniques. Learn from one of the very best in this eye opening seminar!


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WWW.RODEXPO.COM



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/19/2007 05:00PM by Tom Kirkman.

GOSH! Being that I'm a newbie to rod building and this will be my first ICRBE, I'm afraid I won't be able to get any shopping done. I mean with all the seminars and demonstrations and trying not to miss one over another just soaking in the products available will be difficult.

Tom - Are you going to post some sort of schedulein advance for the seminars and demos?

The times for each will be in the new issue of RodMaker due out in mid December (just around the corner now).

I'll try to get the times up on the website in the next couple of weeks.

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Ash hopefully you will be able to deal with the "Shock & Awe" of all the "STUFF" for sale on the floor. Many simply loose track of time and miss the seminars alltogether. If you manage your time wisely a lot can be accomplished in this well structured event. It is really amazing how short that two day period of time proves to be! I wait patiently for months and it is over in the blink of an eye!

What really gets you is the SIZE of this event!! When you walk in you see this huge beautiful building with about a five story open air ceiling and then you turn right and go into the exhibit area and it just blows you away. The amount of stuff is amazing!! I was worried even after making the rounds a few times that I had still missed something that I needed!!

The whole thing is just done up right. Tom doesn't spare any expense and we are not talking about something going on in a hotel or some sort of pole barn or aluminum building. Everything is FIRST CLASS all the way!!!

I heard announcements being made last year about five minutes before each seminar. So even if you lose track of time they will alert you before something you want to see begins.

Well I for one sort of wish Packard wood turning wasn't coming I could spend my entire budget at one booth LOL I think they have the largest selection of pure turning tools then all the rest of the big outfits.
Got to have all those goodies without having any idea how to use most of them
John

Man…that sounds like it is going to be one incredible show! I am very new to rod building and I never knew such an event existed. Wish I could go, but can’t (time, money, work, family etc.). I was wondering though, Tom does anyone tape the seminars? I would love to be able to purchase them. Looks like an invaluable amount of information on rod building.

Ash,

Your problem is nothing new. I have had the same problem for five years. You just have to come up with some compromise. I seem to always miss some of the excellant seminiars to shop.

Esd Smith

Don't discount the tons of info that can be picked up on the show floor and lounge area (not to even mention the Radisson Bar) just by talking to some of the 1,500 or so other builders, the vendors, etc. Keep in mind that everyone that puts on a workshop/seminar is also hanging around the show all weekend and I never met a rod builder that doesn't want to talk rods from morning to night! This isn't like other kinds of shows where most people look over the show and go home. Most attendees are there the whole weekend from opening to closing making and renewing acquaintances

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!!

We'll also be building a rod from scratch at our table. Stop by and join the fun, or just to comment (I can hear it now!), and if you're there at the right time maybe we'll make you help with the stuff that takes more than two hands. We were thinking that maybe everyone could do one guide wrap and instead of a butt wrap we'll all sign it for a reception prize for the 2009 show. :-}

Uncle Russ
Calico Creek Rods

Russ,

That's a GREAT idea!! I'd love to do a guide or whatever you want! (maybe marble something LOL!!)

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!!

Harold,

No, we don't allow taping. First, such tapes made very bad instructional tapes or DVD's, and the cost to edit and produce anything that anyone would actually buy would outstrip the number that would actually pay for it. Sorry.

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