WFS 404 - Rod Building Supplies with Matt Draft at Proof Fly Fishing - Kits, Equipment and Tools

Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/404

Presented By: Stonefly Nets, Mavrk, Drifthook, Range Meal Bars

Sponsors: https://wetflyswing.com/sponsors

Matt Draft is back on the podcast with an update on what he has been up to and some more rod-building supplies and tips.

We find out how Matt built his business that doesn't require any marketing. I also dig into some random questions that give us a feel for the how and why behind building a rod-building supplies business.

Rod Building Supplies Show Notes with Matt Draft

2:50 - We look back to our episode back in 2018 which was episode 85.

3:37 - Matt gives an update on Proof Fly Fishing. He says they added a new video series with the title How to Restore a Bamboo Fly Rod.

4:24 - He shares tips on restoring a bamboo rod and building one from scratch. More information on these can be found in the tutorials section on their Proof Fly Fishing website.

6:20 - I ask him how he figured out that restoring bamboo rods is the next step he wanted to take.

8:09 - He walks us through the steps of building your own rod. He recommends ordering or customizing a kit from their website and watching their video tutorials.

10:15 - He breaks down the parts of building your own rod.

12:47 - He talks about the blanks which have the largest cost among their rod-building supplies. One of his favorites is the Czech Nymph Blank.

13:09 - He gives the two defining characteristics of a true Czech blank.

13:33 - He talks about cork grips. He also shares some of their new stuff, the carbon fiber handles and EVA grip.

16:28 - We talk about other products from their website. One of these is the Gorilla Glue which is an unbelievable adhesive. They have a tutorial on using Gorilla Glue as a rod finish.

21:00 - We dig into the usual blocks that people encounter when they are just starting out in building their own rods.

22:27 - I mention the Gink and Gasoline series where I found Matt.

23:06 - He gives some tips for those who are looking to get an affordable bamboo rod.

25:43 - He shares about their specialized tutorials.

27:13 - He talks about the process of building rods.

29:27 - He takes us back to building his company.

32:06 - He tells his species of choice.

32:40 - He recommends The Classic Fly Rod Forum that people can dig into to learn more about rod building.

33:08 - I ask about his plans for the company.

35:09 - I mention our episode with Joe Jackson on deer hair bugs.

35:37 - He shares his gratitude to the rod-building community for being generous with information and materials when he was just starting out in the business.

41:01 - He talks about his goal for this year.

42:20 - He shares how he runs and promotes his business.

45:06 - We talk about what music he listens to while building rods. He mentions the Counting Crows.

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/404