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 With Ian Scott |
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| Resources | Makers Rod '98' - Unique Stream Restoration Raffle Thu 28 Aug,2008 | |||||
 One of the most unique methods for raising funds for stream restoration owes a great deal to the growing popularity and use of the Internet. While many businesses and organizations have been using this medium to promote products and look for ways to sell their products, there are still many who continue to rely heavily on the Internet for what it was originally intended for. For several years, a listserv known as RODMAKERS has been used successfully by split cane rod builders all over the world to share information on their craft. The members of this group are a great bunch, always willing to share their own techniques and offer guidance and honest critique to newcomers, while discussing the merits of new ways to produce the finest split cane fly fishing rods. The friendships that have developed have had other spin offs, including an annual get together of these craftsmen on the AuSable River in Grayling, Michigan. This gathering has been called the "Trout Bum Bar-B-Q" (TBBBQ) and is described by some attendees as "intensive camaraderie", and in the words of the organizers, one of its purposes is "to raise a few dollars for our fisheries resources." Out of this desire to designate funds for stream restoration, a huge co-operative undertaking involving some of the best craftsmen to build one of the most, if not the most, unique bamboo rod ever. Demonstrating their love of the craft and concern for fisheries resources, 28 different rod makers from across the U.S. took part in the construction of a 7'6" 4 weight, 3 piece, 2 tipped rod. Never before has such an impressive national cross-section of cane rod makers collaborated in the construction of a single rod! Sponsored by the George Mason Chapter of Trout Unlimited, and supported by the Great Lakes Council of the Federation of Fly Fishers, the project also received support from Bellinger Reelseats with the donation of the finely crafted reel seat, Classic Sporting Enterprises who provided the ferrules, and by 3M-Scientific Anglers which produced a one of a kind fly line especially for the rod. As well, the Makers Rod '98 Grand Prize package included a custom suede rod sack and an elegant hand tooled and engraved leather rod case. Even those who were not lucky enough to have their name drawn for the Grand Prize came away with something special and of great value. Even the raffle tickets were limited edition pieces of art! Noted Michigan wildlife artist Larry Cory contributed a rendering of the Makers Rod, reel, line, leather case and a brook trout in spawning colors. The painting was reproduced as an art quality 4" by 6" color image and were signed and numbered by the artist. Each ticket is suitable for framing. A total of 350 raffle tickets were sold and proceeds totaling of $15,000.00 were presented to:
More information including images of the rod and raffle tickets may be found at Makers Rod.
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The Muncher is a favorite of Ian James for carp, smallies, more. 
Thoughts of a Chicken Rancher. Doc tells it like it is.