Come and learn about rodbuilding with many masters of the art form from throughout the Midwest at a beautiful Nature Center outside of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. We are arranging a variety of topics, demonstrations and exhibitors. Current presenters include Al Hutchison, Sam Fox, Scott Kleppe, Steve Cox, Chuck Ungs, Paul Rohrbacher, Bob Hasbrook and others may be arranged yet. The meeting is free to anyone interested in rodbuilding from beginners to professionals and all should leave with new thoughts and ideas on how to build better fishing rods. We will take a good will donation to cover food expenses at lunch. We will be drawing for a limited number of door prizes at the end of the day. Current sponsors of the event and door prizes include Batson Enterprises, Bingham Enterprises, Jann’s Netcraft, Linn County Conservation Department, Midwest Rod & Reel, MudHole.com, Rodguild, Rodbuilder magazine and Rodbuilder.org, and possibly others that are yet to commit.
Topics we intend to cover this year include making dragon scales, abalone shell inlays, Micro Wave guide set up, question and answer panel discussion, how to start rod building classes of your own, and much more. Part of the program this year will be a show and tell session with the rods folks have brought in to display their craft. We also will have a limited time at the end of the day for a little swap meet so bring in anything related to building fishing rods for a bit of buy, sell or trade.
For more information or to RSVP so we can plan an appropriate amount of food please contact Chuck at (319) 892-6485 or at [email protected] There will be time during the day to network with other builders – what a great way to share your craft!
For those who have built custom rods before – please bring a few along to display your work, we’ll have racks set up to display all the works of art – it is always a learning experience to see what other folks have designed. During the workshop the last several years we’ve had visitors here from as many as 6 or 7 states. Hope to see you here.
For directions to Wickiup Hill at 10260 Morris Hills Rd. Toddville, IA 52341 go to this address and scroll to where it says Directions and Map to Wickiup Hill: http://www.mycountyparks.com/County/Linn/Park/Wickiup-Hill-Learning-Center-Area.aspx or you can go directly to a Google map here:
https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=217452777252840541028.0004bee7249aea224c3e2&msa=0&ll=42.082697,-91.764486&spn=0.001439,0.002401
