Ray Wright

Better late than never? My name is Ray Wright and I live in south central Colorado. I have farmed here in Colorado's San Luis Valley for 35 years, fished the Rio Grande for most of that and have been building rods for 2 years now. My late father bought me my first bamboo flyrod when I was in eighth grade and I fished it for many years until haste and neglect got the better of it. Remembering it fondly I undertook the process of learning how bamboo is converted into a rod. Harry's online tutorial proved that it wasn't rocket science and Maurer and Elsner's book provided all the information I needed for the first one. The only other local builder, Chad Wigham provided advice and encouragement. I took number18 out of the string this morning, and I'm looking forward to another fishing season. My father died when I was 28, 28 years ago, and a fine man kept company with my mother for 18 years until she passed away in 2008. I'm giving away rod #16 to him when he comes over for supper tonite. I guess that will complete some sort of circle. Thank you Ralph for the effort in compilation. Ray