Who here plans to head up to NC on Feb 21-22 to go to the rod builders expo? I sure would like to meet up with some of you guys and have a chance to chat face to face. Post if you are going here.

I'll be there!  Looking forward to it.  Last year I went just to see what it was all about - it was great.  Get a seat early if you are going to the seminars - they fill up quickly.  I will have a couple of my surf rods in the Atrium display - so that will be very cool for me.

Eddie

I wish I was going...  had the money already set aside.  But with a newborn baby now home, my travel is very limited for a while...  

I'll most likely be there next year.

Eddie,

Get a bunch of pics for us to drool over!  

Eddie,

 I have heard that there are some really good deals to be had on components and blanks.  Is everything discounted the whole show. or just on Sunday aftenoon?

Flechero,

 I can understand about the little one.  I am due with my second boy on Feb 4th.  I only live 3 hours away from High Point so it will be easier for me to slip away for a while

Flechero,

I can understand about the little one. I am due with my second boy on Feb 4th. I only live 3 hours away from High Point so it will be easier for me to slip away for a while

Lucky dog!  And congratulations!!

bowtech_182, last year when I went, which was my first, I saw A LOT of people buying blanks, hardware and accessories. I bought a couple blanks which were the same price as on-line, however, I saved a bunch in shipping cost. I have heard that prices go way down on Sundays towards the end of the show - I plan on finding out this year.

Congrats on the new baby!!!!

Eddie

Most of the dealers discount during the whole show, and of course saving on shipping blanks can really add up. The real deals are the trash can blanks, these are close out or discontinued blanks that some dealers buy in bulk and you can get some screaming deals, like $5-$15 per blank. Those get picked over pretty quickly on Saturday morning, but you can find some really good blanks mixed in. Some times the only issue is that the blank was painted the wrong color, or the original customer couldn't pay for them after they were made.

My strategy was to buy blanks at the show since I could get such great deals, and no shipping, then buy the components as needed for the builds, that way your shopping dollar goes farther at the show. Also with all of the traffic and commotion going on around the booths it can be a pain to make sure you have every little part to build a rod, and counting out dozens or even hundreds of guides can get tedious.

Well hello Mike.

Eric