This year’s Schaumburg Outdoors expo was well worth the time again
I really enjoyed the time I spent at the Chicagoland Fishing, Travel & Outdoor Expo at the Schaumburg Convention Center. I saw the latest and greatest innovations in fishing tackle and could window shop a very large collection of the latest fishing boats on the market.
There were plenty of vacation destinations represented, but not as many as were represented in past years. I think the Internet has changed that business, but I would prefer meeting the people who own the resort where I elect to stay.
I love walking the floor and seeing and catching up with old friends I only get to encounter annually at the fishing shows. I also love to meet Daily Herald readers. I was approached by many fine folks who made me feel great, telling me that they were glad that the newspaper found space to include me in this fine publication every week. I am thankful and quite humbled by the reactions.
Speaking of old friends, I was elated to see my friend, Jim Grandt, from Grandt Industries at the show. I’ve known Jim forever. To be honest, Jim Grandt makes the finest fishing rods in the world.
Grandt Rods was home to the biggest booth on the show floor, with the exception of the boat dealers. Sixty feet of floor space housed the largest collection of premium fishing rods that you can imagine.
The Grandt Rods booth was staffed by members of Jim’s knowledgeable pro staff. A bonus for shopping at the Grandt booth is the opportunity to chat with Jacqueline Grandt, Jim’s lovely wife who is a noted actress, with a prestigious Jefferson award on her shelf.
The Grandts enjoy fishing. They have a getaway home in the North Woods of Wisconsin, and are usually able to escape to Central America once a year for the opportunity to chase monstrous tarpon.
The 65-year-old Jim Grandt has been making rods for 41 years. This isn’t a commercial, but Jim boldly claims that he only uses the absolute best materials and components when building his rods. That is a reason that he can offer an unconditional lifetime warranty on every rod that Grandt Industries manufactures. The fact that all of the Grandt rods are made in America is an attractive feature for many. I know that it is for me.
Grandt has built an incredible reputation for his rods. The rods are owned by many celebrities and politicians. Usually, Jim is approached by luminaries wanting to buy his rods. Jim isn’t out chasing people, they come to him. Poland’s Lech Walesa is an owner of a Grandt rod. What other company can claim that?
Jim has had the honor of presenting a rod to the first President Bush at the White House. When the phone call came in, Grandt hung up because he thought he was being pranked. Jim Grandt recently mourned the passing of his buddy, singer Jimmy Buffett, a Grandt rod owner and user.
Grandt is a good guy who is always willing to help out charities and groups that help to further the sport of fishing. He serves on the selection committee for the National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame and he has donated plenty of time and funds to the Illinois Conservation Foundation, among the many groups he has helped.
It was good to spend time with Jim Grandt. Keep going my friend, there are a lot of fishermen counting on you. For more information, please visit www.grandtrods.com
• Daily Herald Outdoors columnist Steve Sarley can be reached at sarfishing@yahoo.com.