The RodMaker issue that is in the mail now marks the beginning of our 13th year of publication. And as it turns out, the number 13 is anything but unlucky - this issue's mailing was the first time in RodMaker's history that we mailed to over 16,000 subscribers. It seems like only yesterday we were struggling to get to the 5000 mark. In reality, however, that was almost 10 years ago.

The Expo has shown similar growth each year and today while working on the 2010 Expo floor plan I see that we are only 7 booths shy of selling completely out. And it's only August.

The interest in custom rod building is greater than at any time in history and shows no signs of abating.

This is truly the golden age of rod building.

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Yes it is!

I thank Tom for all his hard work in putting together such an awesome trade publication that with the help of some other very good rod builders contributing articles, keeps getting better with every issue. I'm not surprised to hear that subscriptions are up.

Thank you all!

I'm saddened every year that I could not attend the ICRBE. So far, no matter how I plan ahead something has always got in the way. So many hands I want to shake.

Raymond Adams
Eventually, all things merge, and a river runs through it..

Happy Birthday Tom!

Amazing that there’s been 13 years of pertinent info to publish with no end in site.

Tom,

Happy Birthday!

As a newby, I am constantly amazed at the content and great people here.

Thanks to you and the other contributors.

Dave Burley

This site is great.Can't go a day without looking at this site
Tom Loew

The magazine is considerably older than this website, which just passed 8 years back in June.

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Holy cow! I guess I'd better send in my $$ for a "back row booth" tomorrow. I missed the show last year and promised I would never do that again. As in the past I'm planning to have "the ugliest rod lathe in history" with me as well as some other things folks can play around with (precision scales / digital calipers / depth micrometers so people can weigh all the guides/reel seats/ components that they want to)

CONGRATULATIONS TOM!

RodMaker and this site are an extremely valuable asset to all us builders and fishermen. I have learned more in a few years from both than all my previous time spent building rods.

Keep up the fine work!

Congadulaions are definately in order here!!! RodMaker, and this forum have been such an awesome help to me, I can't even begin to convey enough thanks to Tom and ALL involved!!

Bill in WV

Tom, Congratulations on 13 years of RodMaker Magazine and hitting the 16,000 subscriber mark.

Just think some people told you when you first started the RodMaker Magazine that you would run out of thing to write about in a few years.

Lynn Williams

Awesome job!!! Longevity is the result of quality!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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!!

The key to the magazine's great success has been twofold. First, you have not reverted to just publishing reprints of earlier articles and Second, you constantly have something new---the next big thing on the horizon for rod builders. For too many years custom rod building was mired in stagnation. I think the magazine is one of the main reasons that so much has happened to the hobby in the past decade. I hope it will continue for a long time to come.

Good on you, Tom. Thanks for all your advice and for hosting Rodbuilding.org. This site has been such a help for me.
Hopefully it will continue for years to come.
Cheers, Greg

Congrats on 13 years of publication.

Rodmaker is the least expensive investment in rod buildng knowledge that I've ever made. I enjoy all the fishing magazines I get but Rodmaker is the one I am still most excited to see arrive in my mailbox. It is also the only one I bother to save for future reference.

Tom,
Add my congratulations to the list. There are so many reasons to applaud RodMaker Magazine, The Forum and The Expos but the keystone of it all is you. Your dedication and brilliance keep all three expanding in breadth and quality.

My hat is off to you, my friend.

13 years!!!! And I'm only missing the first two volumes! Congratulations Tom!!

Having the most talented rod builders in the world as writers doesn't hurt! Names like Jim Upton, Bernie Cohen, Rich Forhan, Mike Ballard, Joe Emig, Dr. William Hanneman, Gene Bullard, Ralph O'Quinn, Scott Throop, Bill Colby, Jason Brunner, Tom Kirkman, Andy Dear and so many others that I'm forgetting, means that you get information from people who truly know the craft front to back, inside and out. It is like having a direct pipeline to the most vast resource of rod building knowledge available. These people do more than talk..... they walk the walk.

Tom,

I subscribe to the magazine, and enjoy reading all of the articles. But, keeping all of the hardcopy magazines does require a little bit (not much) space.

How about providing a login on the magazine site where current subscribers could login and download a copy of the magazine - Adobe pdf or whatever format you choose. Another option, which could save you some money, would be to allow subscribers the option of receiving either hardcopy or electronic format sent via email.

Just a thought.

Jerry

Jerry,

I appreciate your comments. Currently I have a $1.20 gross margin on a full year's subscription to the magazine. Adding the various options you mention (all good ideas) would not be possible for the amount of funds available. Although CDs and electronic downloads are less expensive in the long run than hard copies of the magazine, there is an expense involved nonetheless and with things like write protection and double mailings (hard copies and CDs) the money and work involved just preclude that sort of thing being done here.

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