As another year wraps up in the rod shop, I like to take time to share with you a review of the past year & tell you what I’m looking forward to in the new year. It’s my annual “State of The Rod Shop Address”.
2017 was the busiest year the rod shop has seen in a long time. It was a banner year with the introduction of my hand stitched leather accessories. It was a dream fulfilled to be able to make & offer these items. It took a lot of long hours & a lot of sweat to be able to add these great accessories to the catalog, but it finally was accomplished this year. From reel cases to fishing bags & now leather covered rod tubes, I’m now able to offer you some of the finest leather fishing accessories you can find. I’m also (to the best of my knowledge) the only craftsman working today that can make you a matching set of leather accessories & a rod that matches as well, all from the same leather & all made under the same roof from start to finish. I want to thank each of you who bought one of these items, as well as Fred Balling of the Perfection Reel Company.
2017 was the busiest year the rod shop has seen in a long time. It was a banner year with the introduction of my hand stitched leather accessories. It was a dream fulfilled to be able to make & offer these items. It took a lot of long hours & a lot of sweat to be able to add these great accessories to the catalog, but it finally was accomplished this year. From reel cases to fishing bags & now leather covered rod tubes, I’m now able to offer you some of the finest leather fishing accessories you can find. I’m also (to the best of my knowledge) the only craftsman working today that can make you a matching set of leather accessories & a rod that matches as well, all from the same leather & all made under the same roof from start to finish. I want to thank each of you who bought one of these items, as well as Fred Balling of the Perfection Reel Company.
I got to work with fellow rod maker Mike Buriak of Mountain Brook Fly Rods again this year. Mike enlisted me to make the rod tubes & bags for his awesome fiberglass fly rods. It’s always a nice to work with him & admire his talent & his rod designs.
I’m not done with the accessories yet - I’ve got some new items & some improvements on existing ones to make next year as well. Be sure to keep an eye to this website for some really exciting offerings to come that will take things up a notch!
I was very blessed this year to make (if I may say so myself) some pretty awesome rods. I am continually learning from the folks who come to me to have a rod made. You’ve all taught me through the years different color & component combinations, what works, what doesn’t, & have really shown me your visions for unique & gorgeous fly rods. This year was no different.
I again enlisted the help of master engraver Glenda O’Donnell with her skills on this wonderful cactus engraving. How does she do it???
I again enlisted the help of master engraver Glenda O’Donnell with her skills on this wonderful cactus engraving. How does she do it???
The newer fiberglass rods that are being made now are lighter & more responsive than those in the past years. Blank manufacturers are also making them available in a bunch of new colors, which gives us even more options when making a custom glass rod like this one I was honored to make this year:
As I said, color combinations are something you folks have really taught me a lot about, like this rod:
There were also some really nice bamboo rods that came out of the rod shop this past year. I’m so honored to be able to make these rods for you folks.
Next year I hope do even more! In addition to some different bamboo rod tapers, I’m planning on working a lot more with fiberglass. The glass rods of today are amazing to me. They are so much better than the old stuff I grew up on. Fiberglass rods have a special place in my heart & I’m excited to make some nice glass rods in the months to come. Keep an eye out on this website for some very cool fiberglass fly rods next year.
The fishing season started slow for me this year, but I made up for a sorry spring with a good summer & a fantastic autumn of fly fishing. There were some very memorable fish, too the memories of which will stay with me a long time. I had a blast on the streams & I’m really looking forward to next year’s season & hatches.
The fishing season started slow for me this year, but I made up for a sorry spring with a good summer & a fantastic autumn of fly fishing. There were some very memorable fish, too the memories of which will stay with me a long time. I had a blast on the streams & I’m really looking forward to next year’s season & hatches.
On a personal note, I had to say goodbye to a close friend & fly fishing mentor. He was the kind of guy that got along with everybody, because he was always so kind with his knowledge - & he knew a lot about this sport indeed. I was lucky to have known him & even luckier that he took me under his wing. I still think to pick up the phone & call him for a fishing report or to plan a meeting, but of course I can’t anymore. I miss him a lot, but I can’t think about him without breaking into a grin remembering something he said or did that made me laugh at the time. Rich, I can’t thank you enough for your friendship - we’ll fish again on the other side someday, buddy.
2018 is shaping up to be as busy as last year was. I’m really looking forward to the work, too. I absolutely love what I do. Every day I’m happy to go to “work” on the rods & accessories you folks want. To me it’s both an honor & a blessing to do this & I consider myself extremely lucky to be able to do it. It’s because of you folks that I’m here, making rods & accessories. Thank you all so very much!!
Last year was pretty good, so let’s all keep it going. Good Lord willing, we’ll meet back here again after a fantastic 2018, too!!! I hope for each of you that the new year is your best one yet!!
2018 is shaping up to be as busy as last year was. I’m really looking forward to the work, too. I absolutely love what I do. Every day I’m happy to go to “work” on the rods & accessories you folks want. To me it’s both an honor & a blessing to do this & I consider myself extremely lucky to be able to do it. It’s because of you folks that I’m here, making rods & accessories. Thank you all so very much!!
Last year was pretty good, so let’s all keep it going. Good Lord willing, we’ll meet back here again after a fantastic 2018, too!!! I hope for each of you that the new year is your best one yet!!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
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