How It Began
Building my own flyrods is a hobby that developed out of my love for the outdoors, fishing for trout and grayling. I got bitten by the bamboo bug back in 1976 when I was presented with my first custom made flyrod of split bamboo.
At that same time I started to investigate about how such works of art are made and if I could learn it from someone.After some time I gave up. It was impossible to find someonein Germany to show me the black art of building bamboo flyrods, but I kept on looking for information.
Finally, in the early 80sI heard about a book published in the U.S. written by Everett Garrison and Hoagy Carmichael. So it was just a matter of time that I managed to get a copy of that book and get a step closer to becoming a bamboo rodmaker.
After reading it for at least 4 times I decided that all the equipment needed would be a bit too heavy on my budget, but after another 2 years of meditation I finally started (I am not the fastest with things like that).
To make a long story short, the first time I caught a trout on my first self built bamboo rod was in 1987, it was a long way, but definitely worth it. It was a Garrison 201E taper, 7 foot rod for a 4 weight line (for those who are interested).
Since the first time I fished a bamboo flyrod it always seems to me that a day on the river without a bamboo flyrod is less than half the fun.
Here in Western Germany I fish the dry fly most of the time, so the tapers in my taper database pages are meant for rods to do that. But they are useful as well for nymphing or fishing a wet fly or for pond fishing from a bellyboat or pontoon boat, in suitable configuration (line size and weight).
Like many other rodmakers I have my own opinion on fly rod actions. I think that a good flyrod should be a bit like an allrounder (up to a certain extend) to meet most of those different situations you encounter during a long fishing day on a river. I guess that only very few fishermen straps two or three rods onto their backs when wading and fishing a stretch of their favorite river or spring creek...