When I started in on making fly rods my life was at a crossroads. It could have gone in several directions. Fortunately, for reasons really unknown to me, I was tempted to try to make my own fly rod. I fell in love with the craft almost instantly & I still love it two decades later.
It wasn't easy in the beginning. Literally I put my blood, sweat, & tears into my rods (I sometimes still do, literally), but I knew that I wanted to do this & that I was going to be a rod maker,,,,,,I just didn't know how. I operated on only faith & hard work at the start. Eventually I began to see signs that this would work, which only encouraged me more.
Today I live a life where I love my work. I've met fly anglers from all over the world & from all walks of life. Some have become very good friends. My rods can be found on four continents, many different countries, & in almost all of the 50 states. My rods have been fished in exotic places & far reaching parts of the globe that I'll most likely never get to myself - but a part of me has been there!
Even after 20 years of doing this, I don't feel drained, tired, or burned out in any way. The bad things in this work (every work has it's bad things) hasn't seemed to make me bitter. I think it's because of all the wonderful folks I've gotten to work with over the years. Don't get me wrong - it isn't all rainbows & lollypops, but the good (so far) seems to far outweigh the bad. I am blessed. I feel like I'm just getting started &, honestly, I'm excited about the next 20 years in the rod shop!
So please bear with me from time to time this year, as I look back at some people, rods, & events. Maybe you'll find it interesting or entertaining? Maybe not? Be sure to check out my Instagram feed as well through this year. I'll be posting photos of the new rods, as I have been doing, but I'm also going to post some of the more memorable rods I've made over the years as well.
Thank you all for your support over these last two decades! Now, on to the next 20 years!!