Thank You Lamiglas - Rod Building Workshop 2009 - after thoughts

[StickFish]

Well for a few of us the 2009 Rod building Workshop is off to a great start. Some of us on hand today to build a blank. BYOB they call it. Basically we got to choose which of three blanks we wanted to build a fly rod, a medium salmon/steelhead rod or an inshore popper. A Lamiglas employee worked with us at each step from cutting the scrim to the correct shape to getting it on the mandrel and wrapping in cellophane.

The funnest part was the huge collection of - oh wait I can't go there - Kendra and Jennie would kill me.

Anyhow, Saturday is the big day and the focus this year is on lots of basic techniques - basic wrapping, components inlay wraps things like that. Course there will be some advanced skills - feather inlays, marbling, weaving and what not to keep everyone happy.

I don't know how full up they are on Saturday, but it just might be worth calling Kendra at Lamiglas and inquiring if you can attend. After the workshop on Saturday is a nice pot luck dinner and door prizes.

Now - this part of the post is going to go on a lot of other forums. Lamiglas is down to a skeleton crew. If you need a rod, been thinking about a rod or blank - now is the time - support your sponsors. Please focus your retail efforts at Fisherman's or at Lamiglas in person.

More to come I'm sure

[fishnazzi]

Are you telling us there are some deals to be had?????................

[StickFish]

The point is to support Lamiglas or they will not be there.

[StickFish]

The Workshop was another huge success - attended some very interesting sessions. Loved the feather inlay demo done by Chris Herrerra - gotta try that one. The additions of an opal was very cool oh and elk horn used in making grips - very neat stuff.

I enjoyed watching Cheryl Babineau's basic wrapping and trim bands. Its always nice to see how someone else does something to learn and incorporate their techniques.

Especially enjoyed Putter's marbling. I've been slowly gathering pigments to start doing that, but some of the tips tricks and how the thickness of the media effects to overall color. Putter is always full of little trinkets and hanging around you never know what little gem is going to come out from questions others ask.

I didn't get to watch Bob Balcombe's cork repair or Karry's tips and tricks, but did get to attend Jim Mick's session on Story Pole guide spacing. I missed that last year, and seeing it done really brought it all together.

I also missed Joe Kassuba epoxy thoughts and Frank Rodriguez's work turning - hopefully something for next year.

Spent quite some time at the Verdor tables. Some new items coming out for the Pac Bay Rod Smith will really make that tool take a big leap forward. Bob Lee and I talked for some time about going DC on the motors versus the AC motors they currently have as well as taking a hard look at the new Minnima guides. Also spent lots of time talking to Darrin Heim from American Tackle and their new Vertus all titanium guides. Between the Minnima and the Vertus some really nice light and very strong alternatives are going to be hitting the shelves. The minnima guides have a greatly reduced ring size which means lighter weight. The insert material is steel that is Pvd coated and resists braid and mono so no more ceramic insert failures. The Vertus Ring locks, much lighter than the Titan turbo guides and they come in two frame weights the heavy being sucessfully fished to 130# without any trouble, Vertus light clear to 100# by pro staffers on the rail. Pulled on lots of Rainshadow blanks got to have a couple XST's and a couple of the BP's very nice, but need to go check out the heavier off shores rods - ROAD TRIP.

As always saw lots of really good work and had lots of really nice side bar conversations.

I made one mistake - Abalone :passout:Never mention something like that in mixed company. Especailly around the host organizer.

[butwhymalemodels]

Holy cow. I had this on my calendar for the weekend of the 16-18. How the heck did I get that wrong?