About the Gathering

Southern Rodmakers is an annual gathering of bamboo fly rod makers. Over 300 craftsmen from 39 states have gathered on the White river near Cotter Arkansas since 1998. If you're interested in making bamboo fly rods, join us at the gathering in October, or follow the links below to join the on-line gathering of bamboo rod makers. "The List" is a great place to start. The list is an old school e-mail server with hundreds of members around the world.

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Final 2014 Schedule

The final 2014 schedule has been published.  You can download a PDF of the schedule here.

The presenters are all volunteers.  No one get's paid to do presentations or organize the gathering.  We're organized, but we're still just a gathering of rod makers.  We always need volunteers to keep it going.  If you would be interested in doing a presentation at the 2015 gathering, be sure to visit with Bill Armon about it at the 2014 gathering.

Here's the schedule:

THURSDAY: Oct. 16, 2014

1:00 pm        Check In - Greet Old and New Friends
6:00 pm        Dinner
7:00 pm        First rods - and other tales!                  
    
FRIDAY: Oct. 17, 2014

8:30 am        Welcome and Announcements
9:00 am         Taper Quest 2014 – Marv Loopstra
9:15 am         Rod Making 101   - Tony Spezio
11:00 am       More Than One Way to Scallop (Hollow) – Mike Biondo
12:00 pm      Lunch
1:00 pm        60 Degrees - Make and Maintain - Harry Boyd
2:00 pm         Bamboo Ferrules – J W Healy
3:00 pm         Jigs, Jigs, Jigs.” (And a strip cutting machine) – Scott Grady 
            Scott would like for others to participate in this presentation.  Bring your homemade jigs and to show off during Scott’s presentation.                      
4:00 pm        Silent Auction Opens                                                                           
4:00 pm        Social Hour and Reception
6:00 pm        Dinner
7:00 pm        Annual Awards

SATURDAY Oct. 18, 2014

8:30 am        Announcements
9:00 am        Strips, Grips and Scallops on the CNC– Dennis Bertram  
                                      And Al Medved on Grips                          
10:00 am      Stress Curves Explained – Bob Norwood
11:00am       Review of Rods Made for Taper Quest 2013 – Bob Norwood
11:45 pm      Group Picture
12:00 pm      Lunch
1:00 pm        Mini Lathe Basics and Reel Seat Hardware – Alan Kube
 2:00 pm       Making Ferrules from Bar Stock -  Louis Barbaro                                                                                                                         
 3:00 pm       Bellinger  Glue Binder Demo -  Chet Croco
 3:45 pm       Taper Quest for 2015  - What to look forward to!
 4:00 pm       Sell ‘n Swap

SUNDAY Oct. 19, 2013

   9:00 am     Coffee, Cleanup & See you next year at SRG!