Author: Adam Back

Hurricane Ian was a near-Category 5 storm with 150-mph winds and a large storm surge when it made landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast last September. Officially recognized as the fifth strongest hurricane in US history by measured sustained winds at landfall, Hurricane Ian took a devastating toll on people, property, and natural resources in Florida. One of those people was Steve Maillakakis, and one of those properties was his restaurant Plaka, a beloved 43-year-old Greek food institution that sits near the foot of the Fort Myers Beach pier.

Raised in the Bahamas in a strong fishing family by a career restaurateur, Maillakakis, his parents, and brother moved to Fort Myers when he was 9 years old in 1987. “We fished a lot growing up, both in the Bahamas and after we moved. to Florida,” says Steve. “My family bought and ran two restaurants: one in St. Petersburg and The Plaka in Fort Myers Beach. Like just about everything else in the area, Ian completely swept the restaurant last year.”

Maillakakis, a resident of nearby Cape Coral with his wife and two children since 2006, says he made the difficult decision not to rebuild The Plaka. “I started building custom rods about ten years ago and made the decision after Ian to turn my hobby into a full time career,” he says.

“All my friends and I fish together in tournaments,” Maillakakis says. “I started out just fixing our broken rods at first, then a friend helped me build rods that would support our competitive fishing. I built a lathe before I could afford to buy one. I made it out of old drill bits and bought a chuck from Grainger. This is how I started to shape the cuffs. I won a pretty high profile custom bar building contest in just my second year of building, met a lot of other really good builders and my business took off from there.”

Maillakakis’ business is called Spartan Stix, and its exponential growth has come largely from Florida tournament captains. “I’m a Greek by decency,” says Maillekakis. “My dad was born there. My brother and I were baptized there, and growing up we always went back every summer. Our family was originally from Crete, and I was always intrigued by the ancient Spartan civilization.” Steve’s wife suggested the name. “Yeah, my wife came up with Spartan Stix and my tattoo artist did the logo,” she says. “It’s so far away!”

Maillakakis feels lucky that his business has grown organically, thanks in large part to word of mouth. Today, he is one of the most popular and well-known blacksmiths in Florida. “It really helps when other captains see me winning or placing well in so many tournaments,” he says. “They notice and ask about my rods, and that opens a dialogue about how I perform according to the constructions. I will always be an angler first and a custom rod builder second, and all my clients see that.”

So how has the transition from part-time to full-time custom rod building been going so far? “I’ve built 67 rods in the last three months and I’m on track to build close to 200 rods this year,” Maillakakis says. “I am quite efficient. I won’t do anything but grips for 3 days then guides then wraps. I have seven dryers, so there are really no bottlenecks.”

Maillakakis builds all types of rods, but maintains a main focus on the most popular ones, mainly inshore rods for bass, redfish and trout, as well as shad competition rods. “You can catch everything here around Pine Island Sound, Sanibel, and the Captiva Islands,” she says. “We have large schools of red fish over 30 inches, large snook, and of course Boca Grande is ground zero for tarpon migration. Cobia fishing is also excellent, and pelagic and reef fish can be caught just three to four miles offshore. The fishing is always amazing here; there really is no downtime, just days when the wind is blowing and you can always work it out.”

Maillakakis’ rod building philosophy follows his angler first mentality. “Because of my skill and knowledge as an angler, when it comes to building rods, I’m a technician first and an artist second,” he says. “I have an artistic streak and I know what looks good, but things like blank selection, lead train design, reel seat, front grip and rear grip placement and design are keys. to build a technically excellent rod that can perform. better than a standard rod in its intended applications.”

Maillakakis believes that many of these technical aspects are ignored or at least not sufficiently considered by most builders, especially when it comes to track selection and placement. “A lot of times, they just take someone’s advice about which guides to use and where to put them. They don’t experiment and look for things like longer casting distance or how to take the slap off the line. I customize everything based on how the client likes to fish and what they will be fishing for, and my designs are honed and tested on the water.”

When choosing the blanks that form the base of his builds, Maillakakis relies on Rod Geeks blanks, designed and handcrafted by St. Croix Rod.

“With Rod Geeks, high performance comes standard with every blank, and consistency is always there. There is no variation; I can order 12 of the same blanks and they will all have the exact same features,” says Maillakakis, who often draws on blanks from the Rod Geeks X-Comp and Carbon 2 Inshore series.

“Beyond the fundamental considerations of length, power, and action, durability is extremely important when building any saltwater rod,” says Maillakakis. “And when you consider that my clients are paying anywhere from $500 to three times as much for one of my rods, durability becomes even more important. Extremely high modulus carbon blanks are more brittle and less forgiving. The Rod Geeks Carbon 2 blanks strike an excellent balance between sensitivity, power, and durability. The material is softer and a bit thicker than the Carbon 4 blanks, which I build on in some cases.”

Maillakakis is also a fan of Rod Geeks’ X-Comp blanks. “These are moderate to fast acting blanks ranging from 7’3” to 8′ long and ultra-light to extra-heavy power,” he says. “They are actually a hybrid mix of carbon fiber and glass that produces a more forgiving and slightly softer action while offering lightweight performance and extreme durability. They are an excellent base for almost any saltwater rod.”

While technical design considerations are his favorite part of the rod-building process, Maillakakis also enjoys marrying the performance fundamentals of any build with his artistic skills. “That’s the fun part that creates a completely unique rod for each client,” she says. “Aesthetics are generally driven by a clear concept determined by each client and brought to life through my creativity. We could match his boat, his equipment, whatever… I don’t turn a client away from any idea”.

Maillakakis is very skilled at wrapping custom threads, but says designing and spinning grips is his favorite. “I’ve invented a couple different grip styles, and foam is my favorite material,” she says. “I never just put together store-bought pieces. Custom grips make a rod look and work amazing, and mine are always unique to what the client wants.”

When asked what advice he has for others looking to improve their building skills, Maillakakis says the most important thing is to be open to, and even seek, constructive criticism. “Everyone is different and has different opinions, so never pigeonhole yourself thinking you have it all figured out!” he says. “You can learn something valuable from anyone.” He also emphasizes not being afraid of failure. “Fall on your face 100 times, because you never learn without failing. That is something that is true in any aspect of life and it is something that we have worked hard in my family to always remind our children of. Falling has been the thing that has helped me the most in my life. Even when you do something right the first time, it can be hard to do it again, because it was usually an accident! On the contrary, you always remember when you mess something up, and that’s how we really learn.”

Contact Steve Maillakakis or learn more about Spartan Stix at spartanstix.com.

Come visit Rod Geeks and St. Croix Rod
If you are ever going to be in northern Wisconsin, or want to take a dedicated trip here, we encourage you to arrange to visit our Park Falls factory and witness the care and craftsmanship that goes into rods and spaces. blanks you choose and trust. Schedule your tour by emailing [email protected] or calling 800-826-7042.

About bar geeks
Leveraging the people, knowledge, and experience at St. Croix of Park Falls, Inc., Rod Geeks has been delivering handcrafted, high-performance fishing rod blanks to custom rod builders since 2014. Backed by nearly With 75 years of experience designing and building the world’s best fishing rods, we own and operate state-of-the-art, modern fishing rod factories in Park Falls, Wisconsin and Fresnillo, Mexico, where we combine the best raw materials, equipment, technologies , experience and experienced craftsmanship to produce thousands of uncompromising fishing rods and blanks every week. Whatever your next adventure or project, trust Rod Geeks to provide a foundation for your passion and creativity that is worthy of your talents.

Hunters have come to appreciate Millennium’s M-300 Tree Seats for their rugged use and portability. New for 2023, Millennium Treestands® expands its tree seating offering with the M-350 Tree Seat. Decorated with Mossy Oak® bottomland camouflage, the seat will help hunters blend seamlessly into their natural surroundings.

The M-350 Tree Seat is the ideal waterfowl hunting platform for standing timber. The patented ComfortMAX™ seat provides a secure and comfortable setup that keeps hunters dry and comfortable while they wait for their game. With Millennium’s Cambuckle Strap, the seat can be attached and removed in less than a minute.

The new M-350 Tree Seat is ideal for hunters on the go. It’s exceptionally lightweight at just over 4 pounds, thanks to its powder-coated all-aluminum frame, and it also has a shoulder carry strap and folds flat for convenient mobility.

Whether hunting whitetails with a gun or standing wood ducks, the M-350 Tree Seat is a solid choice for a quiet, portable, and comfortable hunting platform.

M-350 Tree Seat Features:

• Mossy Oak Bottomland Camouflage Pattern
• Exclusive patented ComfortMAX™ contoured sling seat
• Foldable seat for easy transport
• Attaches to tree with Cambuckle strap and gutter hook.
• Ideal for a variety of hunting applications.
• Comfortable to sit on all day.
• Quick and easy to set up and take down
• Powder-coated all-aluminum frame

M-350 Specifications:

• Material: powder-coated aluminum
• Capacity – 300 lbs.
• Weight: 4.8 lbs.
• Seat size: 17.5″ high x 19.75″ wide x 17″ long
• Model # – M-350-00
• UPC-850002711585

At Millennium Outdoors, maker of Millennium Treestands, OL’MAN Treestands, and Millennium Marine, we’re committed to ensuring every hunter and angler can make the most of every season, from fall bigs to spring gobblers, from redfish on the flats to crappie and bass in the lakes, and all species and seasons in between. From innovative ladder and hanging brackets to ground blind chairs, fishing seats and rod holders, Millennium Outdoors and its brands are dedicated to providing quality products to avid outdoor enthusiasts. Millennium’s reputation has been built on the comfort, safety, quality and versatility that hunters and anglers recognize and appreciate.

For more information please visit
WWW.MILLENNIUMSTANDS.COM

Eusebio Wins First Two 2023 Championships With New Bushnell Reflex Sight

Bushnell®, the industry leader in performance optics, congratulates professional shooter KC Eusebio on winning his 10th Speed ​​Shooting World Championship title. Eusebio achieved his record victory using a Bushnell RXM-300 reflex sight and continued his streak as the only shooter to have won ten overall sprint shooting world titles.

Following his first national championship of the season at the US Steel Nationals, Eusebio once again took first place in the Open Division and First Place Overall. Eusebio opted to use the recently released Bushnell RXM-300 Reflex Sight, which has quickly become his favorite red dot of all time.

With its large, versatile lens, 4 MOA red dot, and optimized hood geometry for faster target acquisition, Eusebio has proven that Bushnell’s new reflex sight offers a competitive edge without sacrificing durability. This combination of features not only makes the RXM-300 the perfect competition scope for professional shooters like Eusebio, but also makes it an excellent choice for portage, home defense, and hunting.

“My 10th rapid fire world title feels like a great achievement,” said Eusebio. “I am very proud and honored that nobody in the history of the sport has achieved this. I couldn’t do it without the support of my Bushnell family!”

At the core of the RXM-300 is its 4-MOA LED point-source bright spot with 12 brightness settings, allowing for excellent visibility from a night vision application to bright daylight. The red dot also features user-selectable auto ambience intensity, shake with optional disable, and button lockout. Fully loaded with features, the RXM-300 boasts 35,000 hours (4 years) of battery life on medium settings, and wake-up functionality helps save power.

For more information on the RXM-300 reflex sight or to view the complete line of Bushnell optics, visit Bushnell.com.

About Bushnell – Built for the Chase

Bushnell, a Vista Outdoor brand, has been the industry leader in high-performance sports optics for over 70 years. Our guiding principle is to provide the highest quality, most reliable and affordable sports optical products on the market. And our commitment to excellent customer service and strong retail partnerships is unmatched. Bushnell boasts leading market share across all sports optics categories, and our products have consistently won design and performance awards. Our product lines enhance the enjoyment of every outdoor activity, from spectator sports, nature study, hunting, fishing and bird watching to stargazing. For news and information, visit www.bushnell.com or follow us on Instagram at www.instagram.com/bushnell_official/ and Facebook at www.facebook.com/bushnell.

Henry Repeating Arms is pleased to announce a $25,000 donation to the Youth Shooting Sports Alliance (YSSA) in solidarity with their mission to keep shooting sports heritage alive. Henry CEO and founder Anthony Imperato presented the check to YSSA CEO Cyndi Flannigan at Guns Unlimited in Omaha, Nebraska, a “Top 100” Henry dealer.

“Preserving and promoting America’s shooting sports traditions and supporting organizations that share this goal is a core tenet of our Guns for Great Causes program. YSSA is incredibly effective in advancing programs that achieve these goals,” Imperato said. “The future of shooting sports is in good hands with YSSA, and I am proud to include them in our list of partners.”

YSSA rises to the challenge of introducing new people to the sports of shooting and hunting by identifying and supporting the needs of the nation’s most successful youth programs with safe and reliable equipment. Founded in 2007, the organization has grown into a distribution center for equipment donated by industry partners, distributing firearms, targets and security equipment across the country to programs with the greatest need or greatest impact.

To celebrate the gunmaker’s 25th anniversary, Henry’s Guns for Great Causes charitable program has donated more than $725,000 since June 2022 to a wide variety of categories, including pediatric cancer, military veterans, law enforcement, first responders , wildlife conservation, firearm safety education, and 2nd Amendment advocacy.

For more information on the Youth Shooting Sports Alliance, visit youthshootingsa.com

For more information on Henry Repeating Arms and its products, visit henryusa.com or call 866-200-2354 for a free catalog.

About Henry’s repeating arms:

Henry Repeating Arms is one of the leading manufacturers of rifles and shotguns in the United States and a world leader in the lever action category. The company’s motto is “Made in America, or not made at all,” and its firearms come with a lifetime warranty backed by award-winning customer service. The company is also known for its Guns For Great Causes charity program, which focuses on helping families of sick children, children’s hospitals, military veterans’ organizations, Second Amendment advocacy groups, and wildlife conservation organizations. The company currently employs more than 550 people and has more than 330,000 square feet of manufacturing space at its Wisconsin and New Jersey facilities. The company is named in honor of Benjamin Tyler Henry, who invented and patented the Henry lever-action rifle in 1860, the first practical repeating rifle and America’s unique contribution to the international stage of firearms design. Visit Henry Repeating Arms online at henryusa.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/HenryRepeating and @henry_rifles on Instagram.

BELLEVUE, WA – The Second Amendment Foundation is proud to announce that Dillon Precision, the legendary manufacturer of quality recharging equipment, has renewed its Bronze corporate sponsorship for 2023.

Arizona-based Dillon was founded by the late Mike Dillon, a staunch supporter of the right to keep and bear arms. Mike passed away in 2016, but left a legacy of product pride and his devotion to the Second Amendment. SAF was honored to have him as a friend and ally in the battle to protect America’s gun freedom.

“We are honored and excited that Dillon Precision continues to support our effort to restore the Second Amendment to its rightful place as the cornerstone of liberty,” said SAF Founder and Executive Vice President Alan Gottlieb. “Dillon Precision’s commitment comes at a crucial time, as there are currently 50 active lawsuits challenging unfair and unconstitutional claims pending in court.

“At Dillon Precision,” noted Dillon Publishing Editor Mark Pixler, “we recognize the critical need to support the efforts of the Second Amendment Foundation in the fight to protect and defend the rights of American gun owners. We must all unite against the unprecedented attacks on our constitutional rights, and SAF is definitely on the front lines of this battle. We are proud to offer our support to Alan Gottlieb and the foundation.”

“There have been times when it seems like we’re swimming against the tide of political demagogy,” Gottlieb observed, “but now we’re making significant progress and with the help of Dillon Precision, we’re going full steam ahead. We can never thank you enough for standing by us.”

Federal Ammunition congratulates sponsored shooters Gregg Wolf and Cameron Hicks on their strong performances in the American Grand Prix and Trident Cup. The event took place May 4-7 at Meadows Clay Sports in Forsyth, Georgia.

At the Grand Prix, Wolf took FITASC High Overall Runner-up honors after posting a score of 188/200 and coming up just short on a tiebreak. Hicks took eighth overall in Grand Prix and then clinched M1 in a final playoff in the Sporting Main division. Both shooters relied on Federal’s High Over All competition grade target loads.

“We are proud to sponsor top-level shooters on Team Federal this year,” said Jason Nash, Federal Ammunition’s vice president of marketing. “Their performances and accomplishments reflect Federal’s dedication to its quality products and its commitment to shooting sports.”

Federal Premium High Over All is designed for most elite trap, skeet and sport clay shooters. These quality target charges leave a trail of broken clays in their wake and more reloads per shell. Its high antimony lead payload and wad produce the most consistent patterns, while the solid brass head and hull design make reloading easier than ever.

High Over All is available in a wide variety of 12, 20 and 28 gauge options, as well as .410 caliber – offering an option for any competitive target shooting discipline. It’s the ultimate competition loadout for the world’s best shooters.

Federal ammunition can be found at dealers across the country. For more information on all Federal products or to shop online, visit www.federalpremium.com.

Save over $200 on an AR500 rifle or pistol when purchased between May 8-14, 2023.

Big Horn Armory (BHA), maker of large-caliber firearms, is offering a 10 percent discount, a savings of more than $200, on any new BHA AR500 semi-automatic rifle or pistol purchased directly from the website between the 8th and on May 14, 2023. BHA is currently shipping the AR500 from stock and a service representative will contact you within 48 hours to discuss options.

The AR500 rifle is an AR rifle like no other. Chambered in 500 Auto Max, BHA’s innovative AR500 rifle is the most powerful AR firearm available. BHA was not satisfied with the large-bore cartridge offerings available on the AR platform, so the company made its own. The logical choice was something that would match the power and versatility of BHA’s lever-action Model 89 in a 500 Smith & Wesson Magnum. The result was the development of the 500 Auto Max, a rimless 500 S&W Magnum to feed a semi-automatic rifle.

BHA’s bold AR design and large-bore 500 Auto Max cartridge put an unparalleled amount of power into a versatile, fast-firing, and enjoyable rifle. This combination of size, familiar gun manual, available accessories, and on-target power make the AR500 rifle ready to handle almost any situation. The AR500 is also available in an ATF-compliant pistol configuration: the AR500 semi-automatic pistol.

The 500 Auto Max is a rimless 500 S&W Magnum that is easy to get or reload. A very versatile cartridge, it can be had in ammunition loaded with bullets ranging from 350 grns to an amazing 600 grns. The manual loader can take over 55 different bullets ranging from 200gm to 700gm in almost any type of bullet imaginable including hard cast, hollow point, solid monolithic, etc. This unprecedented variety of weight and bullet design make the AR500 suitable for anything from prairie dogs to pachyderms to Peterbilts. Truck stopping power in a bed that weighs less than 10 lbs. Factory ammunition for the 500 Auto Max is available through Buffalo Bore, Steinel Ammunition, Underwood Ammunition, and Defiant Munitions.

Whether you’re packing 36,800 ft. lbs. of power in a lever action, or building the most powerful AR on the market, BHA’s goal is to give the customer the most bang for their buck.

For more information about Big Horn Armory, please visit www.bighornarmory.com or any of its social media platforms: Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, MeWe, LinkedIn, Parler, Locals, or Twitter.

About the Big Horn Armory:

Big Horn Armory was founded in 2008 with the express intention of designing a Browning-type lever action weapon chambered in 500 Smith & Wesson Magnum. Big Horn Armory’s American-made Model 89 closely follows the work of John Browning with refinements courtesy of modern metalworking and machining capabilities. The first rifles began shipping in September 2012, and since then, BHA has added to its large-bore lineup a Model 90 Carbine in 460 S&W, Model 90A in 454 Casull, Model 90B in .45 Colt, Model 89A in 500 Linebaugh and the Model 89B in .475 Linebaugh. In 2017, Big Horn Armory departed from its lever-action series and developed the AR500 Auto Max, the most powerful short-range semi-auto based on an AR .308 platform.

Murray Road Agency is proud to announce its sponsorship of the 2023 NSSF Leadership & Marketing Summit, May 8-10, 2023 in Savannah, Ga. The event combines elements of two of the Firearm Industry Trade Association’s most popular events over the years, the Industry Summit and CMO Summit. It is well attended by marketing leaders and business executives from across the industry, including some of Murray Road’s current clients.

The 2023 NSSF Leadership and Marketing Summit takes an exclusive look at the entrepreneurial culture within the firearms industry and guides discussions through valuable market insights, inspiring speakers, innovators and exciting networking opportunities. . The super conference features cutting-edge marketing strategies for the firearms community.

“We’ve been attending this event and previous iterations since its inception,” said Kelsey Puryear, Murray Road’s director of operations. “NSSF does a great job facilitating collaboration and important discussions. We also like the mix of relevant industry data presented and the presence of non-industry speakers who bring much-needed perspective, insight and motivation. We are happy to join several Murray Road customers and all industry colleagues at this powerful event.”

Murray Road delivers results that make a difference for its growing list of brands and organizations. The full-service agency has continued to add talent and resources to better serve a broader and more diverse client base. Murray Road is deeply embedded in the outdoor hunting and shooting industry. As experts in connecting businesses and brands with their target audiences, the agency provides services for content creation, social media management, public relations, media buying, event management, digital advertising, and more.

For more information on the 2023 NSSF Marketing and Leadership Summit, visit nssf.org.

For more information about Murray Road and its services, visit murrayroadagency.com or call 843-410-2739.

About Murray Road Agency

Murray Road is a passionate and comprehensive marketing agency dedicated to the outdoor industry. If a consumer uses a product, technology, or process for searching, hunting, fishing, gathering, cooking, exploring, border crossing, or any other outside activity, we can and will market it. We also excel in both digital and physical retail environments. We are an equal opportunity employer and are always looking to add new team members or brand partners. To inquire directly, please contact [email protected]. For more information on Murray Road, visit www.murrayroadagency.com.

Primary Weapons Systems will have the full line of BDE™ suppressors on the range, as well as several rifles for attendees to take a closer look at.

PWS (Primary Weapons Systems) will join multiple firearms and accessories companies and other members of the shooting industry at the Silencer Shop’s Second Annual Pew Party on May 6.^he2023. Attendees will have the opportunity to shoot a variety of PWS firearms with the new line of BDE suppressors at the live shooting event held at The Bunker Gun Club in Clermont, Florida.

Pew Party is an annual event hosted by the Silencer Shop showcasing some of the best firearms and silencers in the industry. The day will also have many prizes and challenges available for attendees. People who attend this exclusive event can interact with multiple companies at the shooting range and fire a wide variety of weapons, both silenced and unsuppressed. The day will be filled with live fire demonstrations, challenges and time at the shooting range.

The BDE™ (Bravo Delta Echo) line is the newest line of suppressors from Primary Weapons Systems and each features a revolutionary 3D printed design using aerospace grade titanium. The BDE762 and BDE556 will show up in PWS rifles, making it the perfect suppressive host thanks to the long-stroke piston system that helps mitigate recoil. Each suppressor in the BDE™ Collection makes the range experience even more pleasurable, making them the perfect addition to the Pew Party.

For more information on PWS, please visit www.primaryweapons.com and/or keep an eye on PWS e-newsletters and social channels.

About primary weapon systems

Primary Weapons Systems (PWS) was formed in 2008 as a rifle components company and has since grown to become one of the largest firearms manufacturers in the Northwest. Taking the operating system of Kalashnikov’s AK design and fusing it with Stoner’s AR platform, the PWS long-stroke piston system brings a hybrid rifle to shooters seeking a low-maintenance yet reliable and accurate firearm. PWS makes AR-15s in .223 Wylde, .300BLK, and 7.62×39, all with the long-stroke piston operating system. As of 2022, Vigilant Gear, LLC purchased PWS. For more information, visit www.PrimaryWeapons.com or @PrimaryWeapons on Instagram and Facebook.