Meet John: the man behind 30 Bamboo Fly Rod Classes.
Q: What are you making this week?
A: I am making 7' 6" 5wt specifically for fly fishing the Appalachians.
Q: I know is this was a gift from Flo, but what inspired it?
A: Well, it started when we were looking for mountain property. We looked in Asheville, and we were actually looking at places out in Colorado. I kept seeing houses for sale in the Blue Ridge area that were really nice.
The first couple of times we came to Blue Ridge looking at houses, I noticed Oyster’s storefront and the shop next door (Cohutta Fly Fishing Co.).
There was all of this fly fishing stuff.
Fly Fishing is one of those things I regret not doing when I was younger.
Fly fishing was totally new to me, and of course, we came into the shop, and oh, these are really nice rods.
They do classes. Flo says, “Why don’t you make one?”
Q: Did you think the gift from Flo is an example of her knowing you better than you know yourself or was it just sheer luck?
A: Probably, her knowing me better. She knew that I would enjoy fly fishing because I loved spin reel fishing, but it was all salt. I think she knew I wanted to fly fish because I have always had a fly rod but never used it. Living in coastal communities, you don’t fish freshwater; you mostly go offshore fishing. My first fly rods were saltwater rods; my son bought a fly rod, and we would go cast, but we had no idea what we were doing.
Q: Your original class week, did you know you were coming back during that week?
A: After I got through the first couple of days and got to that third day when I was gluing the rod together, “magic day,” it was sort of like, I know I can do better than this.
That’s still today. I’ve got to do better. In my last class, rod 29, coating the wraps. The first few I knew I undercoated, and then the next three or four I overcoated…way overcoated, so I had a lot of sanding to do.
Q: Are you the type of person, in general, that tends to lose themselves in an interest? What other “hobbies” have you pursued?
A: I wish I had learned to fly fish sooner; I enjoy both the saltwater and freshwater fly fishing. The other thing I started after I retired was I wanted to learn to play guitar. I started with the bass guitar, then I got a regular guitar, and a couple of years ago I got a piano. I wish I would have gotten a piano first because the guitar would have made much more sense. The piano is very linear, and I like things linear, not staggered.
Q: That's a commonality of our clientele, you are learners, people who can’t get enough of learning. Before retirement, did you have things you would emerge yourself in?
A: We sailed and I went offshore fishing.
Q: Was your original plan was to make five rods for your family?
A: Originally, I thought...I’m going to try to build this rod so I can use it. I didn’t go into the class saying this is a legacy but that is how it eventually morphed.
I can hand this rod down.
Listen to John talk about what legacy means to him:
A: It's not just about the rod; it's the people. I mean, I fish with Adam, who is in this class, Mark; he's another one I went out to Wyoming with, Colin and Gordon; and Randy. When you're older, you think your quota has been met with friends; friendships within the class are big.
We now have more friends in North Georgia than we do in back in Florida.
Q: So tell us how many times you have brought your kids and grandkids to class.
A: Jon has come twice, Heather has come twice, Kelly once and the two oldest grandchildren came together last summer with Heather and Kelly.
Q: How many of these 30 rods have you kept for yourself and which ones do you fish the most?
A: The 6wt with a fighting butt or the 7wt with a fighting butt are my favorites. They are a little stiffer, and for me, getting a streamer out of the water is easier with those. It started when Flo wanted a rod with a fighting butt on it because she tends to put the rod on her hip. So she asked for a rod with a fighting butt for freshwater. So I made her a 7'9" 6wt and took her out fishing. We always let our fishing guide use our rod, and he thought this one was amazing. So I thought if it was that great, I better build one for myself. So for freshwater, it's the 7'9" 6wt and 8' 7wt that I tend to use most. The 3wt and 4wt cast extremely well too. I have three saltwater rods as well.
Q: What is next in terms of your rods?
A: All of my "series of rods" are freshwater fly rods with scales. (see above)
So, I've thought, do I give all of mine to my son Jon or do I make him a "Colorado" series of rods and leave the others to my grandson Neil? Flo has enough rods to leave the girls and Oyster started an entire rod series based off of her rods, called the "Flo Series."
Q: What is the toughest part of the week for you?
A: Believe it or not, it's the first day, the flaming and splitting.
For example, yesterday, the wind was blowing, and all of a sudden it stopped but the bamboo was still getting heat and quickly turned black. The shop is more of a controlled environment. You are outside when you flame, so you have temperature, wind, and humidity to factor in.
With splitting, I don't know if I don't have the strength to take it in the right direction, but I've always come out with enough pieces. I enjoy planing and gluing, and wrapping is when you can do more of the creative stuff. My series, except for this one, was all amber wraps, and I made the accents different.
Shannen: We call it the Schimmy Series.
Q: Have you developed any person preferences or unique styles outside of the Oyster way?
A: I am still in the envelope of Bill's instruction but I know where I need to take the time and do it correctly.
Q: How has your fly fishing experience changed since you started fishing bamboo?
A: In North Georgia, distance casting is not as important. The saltwater side forced me to try to get better at casting. Going on that Bahamas trip with Oyster in December was one of the best saltwater fly fishing experiences I have had. Fishing bamboo on saltwater simply elevates the experience that much more.
Q: What does the Oyster community mean to you?
A: When I come here, I feel like I am part of the Oyster family. With Bill, what you see is what you get, and that's the same for everyone at Oyster.
Let's talk about some of your hand engravings and the stories behind them:
Q: Tell us a little about your custom rods and their engraving.
A: Our first rods were custom Oyster rods for our 50th wedding anniversary.
The custom rods for our anniversary were Flo's idea. She is not a jewelry person. We came into the store, talked to Bill and Shannen, and I vaguely remember I told Bill I wanted a ball cap. What we were most surprised with was the date on the tree in both engravings. Bill put so much thought into this engraving.
Q: I know there is a very special story behind the Elk engraving.
A: This rod was for a disabled vet who goes shed hunting. If you don’t know what shed hunting is, they look for the racks of the elk. I wanted to do something special for him. Bill came up with this design; originally, we discussed intertwining antlers.
At the event I had attended, the last night we were sitting around a campfire, they asked if anybody wanted to share, say anything. I had read this vet's poem about his demons and suggested he read it; it brought everyone to tears. So I started thinking how I could commemorate something that made him happy, which is shed hunting, and this is it.
Q: Let's talk about the mushroom rod.
A: This is a classic. It started as “let's do an ACR rod.” I’m working on a 7’6” 5wt rod this week for ACR. As you know, I am making the mushroom rod for my wife. I’m actually thinking about displaying my 30th rod and the mushroom rod together. I think Bill really put a lot of thought into this one. He was considering a design with florals, mushrooms, fish, and trees. The engraving is something else. I showed it to Kelly when she came to town to celebrate my 30th class, and she was blown away by the engraving. I told her it’s probably one of the best rods we’ve made.
It has kind of taken on a life of its own.
Q: This engraving represents your military career?
A: The Air Force rod was to commemorate my service. It was a B52, which is what I worked on as an aircraft radio guy. I would sit at the end of the runway, and if that plane had a radio problem on takeoff, I would hop on the plane and try to fix it. As you turn the rod, you can see both sides of the plane, bombs, and the wheels at the end of the wings; the detail is unbelievable. I had actually thought about doing this early on, but this is rod 26 or 27. I was in the Strategic Air Command, and the logo on the bottom is their logo, with the iron fist and olive branch.
Q: This engraving was for Flo (obviously) and the rhododendrons represents Southern Appalachia.
A: Yes, inspired by North Georgia, the rhododendron was me saying, “Let’s do flowers.” They signify clean land and water. Rhododendrons also provide shade for streams, so I wanted something that incorporated the nature locally.
This is the San Juan Mountains in Colorado. This is where Neil's (my 5-year-old grandson's) other grandfather lives. I made this rod for Neil. We haven’t let him touch the rod yet.
While fishing with Bill in Louisiana, we discussed doing a geometric engraving. It started as geometric, which is the rod aspect, the triangle. Then Bill ran with the idea until he and Paxton were satisfied, and this is how it turned out.
Editor's note: It is also a favorite among the Oyster crew.
Q: What about the creel engraving? I love this concept.
A. While Bill and I were discussing geometrics, he suggested a basket. I said, “Can we do something like a creel?” Then Bill came back with this…I mean, look at that stitching and the buckle. It’s made with copper, so as it’s aging, it looks more leathery.
This engraving was for my son-in-law, Heather’s husband. That’s where Heather teachers right now and he graduated from NC State.
Q: This tarpon engraving blows my mind. I guess that's not a question. The fade is so fun! (click on image to see video).
A: I called this on my '57 Chevy, I always wanted a '57 Chevy that aqua color.
Q: It’s like choosing between children, but is any of these engravings your favorite?
A: I would say the mushroom rod then the elk.
Q: What advice would you give someone making their first bamboo fly rod?
A: It goes back to something I said earlier: spend the money on the engraving! Each rod represents something special and is truly an heirloom piece. I enjoyed watching Bill as an artist figure these things out. Start thinking about what you want your legacy to be.
Q: Here's an off-topic but fun question. What was your first concert?
A: Bruce Springsteen in the early 70's. Concerts before that were in Thailand and I don't really count those.
Q: If you were a fish, what would you be?
A: A Permit - not the easiest to catch.
Thank you John. It's truly been an honor. See you in a few weeks (LOL)
