There’s just one month left to enter Mud Hole Custom Tackle’s 2015 Calendar Contest, an annual event for amateur and custom fishing rod builders to submit photos of their favorite works. It’s the fifth year Mud Hole has presented the worldwide competition which, according to Mud Hole vice president Scott Gimbert, generates a variety of entries from anglers/rod builders across the nation and in a growing number of countries.
“It’s the only calendar created by rod builders for rod builders and it gets harder each year to judge,” said Gimbert with a smile.
“Because Mud Hole provides over 45,000 fishing products and parts to anglers in every U.S. state and over 100 countries worldwide, we receive hundreds of great photo submissions showing off artistic creations by our deadline of October 1. Then in a week we whittle it down to the 12 calendar months and the cover, in time for the winners to be announced on October 8.”
Gimbert said entries can be composite or individual photos and have anything to do with the art of custom rod building and/or tackle crafting. It can feature handles, thread work, guides, feather inlays, decorative wraps, lure painting, fly tying, etc.
“The photos are judged on a combination of artistic value, originality, technical difficulty, photography and aesthetic preference. The winners, who each win $100 in Mud Hole gift certificates, come from all walks of life and areas of the globe.
“It’s been an amazing success. Some entrants have caught ‘the fever’ after attending one or more of our Rod Building 101 classes hosted annually across the U.S., or from viewing our variety of free tips videos on our website.”
Last yearCanada’s Justin Kim, Victoria, British Columbiawas among the 2014 international winners along with Alfavitskyi Vitalii, Kiev, Ukraine; Vladimir Muskatelo, Belgrade, Serbia and Mark Fisher, Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia.
From the U.S., the winners included Adam Bricker, Ft. Wayne, Ind.; Donald Morse, Lapeer, Mich.; Ted Zack, Portsmouth, R.I.; Rick Miller, Phillipsburg, N.J. and Texans Austin McWhorter, Amarillo and Andrew Stone, Houston, along with Floridians Victor Josephs, Port St. Lucie and Marco Silvia, Boca Raton.
For the contest rules go to http://www.mudhole.com/Specials/2015-Calendar-Contest .
“We are in partnership with FishingPhotos.net.,” said Gimbert. “To upload your photos go to http://fishingphotos.net/index.php?/gallery/category/23- 2015-calendar-contest/
“We cannot accept emailed entries. However, if you have questions about the contest, please email us at webmaster@mudhole.com,” said Gimbert.
“The photography in Mud Hole Custom Tackle’s 2015 calendar is printed in vivid color on glossy paper, pre-punched and ready for hanging in December,” Gimbert said. “It’s loaded with great ideas from our talented friends in the expanding custom rod building community, with monthly money-saving coupons, important rod building class dates and more.”
Mud Hole Custom Tackle is the world’s largest rod building e-retailer and mail order catalog company, the leader in custom rod building, fly tying and lure building components, plus educator of those popular fishing activities.
For further information contact Gimbert, 866-790-7637 ext.104 or scott@mudhole.com .