Over 30 Years Ago

December 1983, Joe Fisher, owner of J. Kennedy Fisher Co., Carson City, NV visited the Chief's rod shop.  In the early 80's I was building and selling over 100 rods per year using Joe's blanks.  The very same blanks used by the R. L. Winston Co.  Joe brought me some of his experimental boron blanks for being a good customer. My high school baseball coach and I went in business together to buy the blanks at distributor prices.  We were selling the blanks and Fisher rods to other shops.  I showed my rods at TU spring shows for a couple of years.  After that my customers brought me more orders than I could handle.  I was very proud to be asked by TU for a rod that they could raffle off at the TU National Convention in 1984.

I still have a few J. Kennedy Fisher blanks including the brown fiberglass used by Winston.  After some research, I believe that I am the only one owning these blanks.  I recently sold one on the Internet for an obscene price.

Father's Day and Christmas orders kept me away from the stream and the woods.  I debated quitting my full-time job and opening a complete fly shop.  The Fair Maiden set me straight.  I continued my job as a safety engineer and only built rods in my spare time.  Around 1985, I bought a large supply of bamboo blanks sold by Herter's.  I sold most of them but still have a few to complete for myself.  I continued to repair and refinish good bamboo rods, working on Leonards and Paynes, to name a few.

I only owned one factory fly rod.  My dad bought me a Shakespeare Wonder Rod that I used for many years.  I built my first rod in 1968. Today, I have several rods in various stages of readiness.  I should get busy as I now have the time.

I have enjoyed my rod building experience.  Once in awhile, I will meet someone on the stream that is still using my of my rods....and loving it.