Rodbuilding Class offered near Cedar Rapids

Build a fishing rod to your specifications! A fishing rod building class will be held on February 9, 16, and 23 from 6:30-9:30 p.m. at Wickiup Hill Outdoor Learning Center, near Toddville – just outside of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Custom rod builder Greg Buckendahl, from Bend River Fishing Tackle, Manchester, will lead participants through the process of building a G. Loomis or St. Croix spinning rod. When finished with this series of classes, you will have the knowledge to move on to other rod-building projects. You also get to keep the rod you build and will be set up for some great angling memories.

For additional information or to register, please call Chuck at 319-892-6489. Participants must pre-register by January 27. Class size is limited. Class cost depends on the model of fishing rod blank and options selected. Sponsored by Linn County Conservation Department.

I wish we would have something like that in our area That sounds like a great hobby and a cheap way to get great rods

And yet in so many ways it isn’t about the savings – it is more about learning about the tools of the trade – I have always studied gear closely before and now I have a better appreciation for how rods are produced… what kind of components are used and how much or little care goes into producing factory versus custom rods.

The other side of the coin is catching fish on a rod you have built is just wild and also very cool to see a guy describe what he wants – you develop it – he fishes it – it performs beyond his dreams and … he catches more fish than he could with lesser rods – word spreads… what a feeling. Sure is fun. Chuckles

Just wanted to let you guys know I am down to 6 spots left in the class. If you are interested please let me know – it is a great class – we have been holding one for the past 5 years so this will be our sixth class! Usually have a few repeat customers each year too. Chuckles

I wish that I could attend.
The 4hr drive there wouldn’t be so bad,
but that drive home after would be a killer.

Seriously though, your class would be an excellent thing to video tape with a digital camera and post it on Google. The video file would reside on googles server and use their bandwidth for the downloads. You would still own the rights to it. You could have several splash screens for advertising anything you want. And you can set it up so that there is a fee people would have to pay to see it.

If your the first rod building videos on there you’ll be the king in on-line rod building videos.

Google Video

jwellsy – sorry you are too far out there to make it. Been meaning to ask yu what exactly the creature in the photo in your avatar? Down to 5 openings folks… Chuckles

Anybody else interested? Chuckles

Chuckles is a very good friend of mine who is one of the best rod builders you could ever have teach you the trade.My family has had 7 rods built by him.Anyway if you want to learn how to build rods,go to this class.
Ryan Hale

Chuckles,
Do you think that there would be anyway we could get a class set up in the La Crosse area? I am sure there would be a ton of interest from the anglers around here. Ted

The problem would be finding a place to hold it that would work out… our nature center works slick and I can do this for work so we run this class for VERY reasonable. I think this is our 6th class and we between 12 and 15 most years. I’ll have to give it some thought on offering the classes elsewhere. Chuckles