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

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