Rob Clarke

Good stories. I am Rob Clarke. I started with an old Heddon rod my dad gave me some time in the early 90's. One year at a conference I was at, a friend Randy Brewer introduced me to Chris McDowell, who told me about the list. From that I got Wayne's book and started collected bamboo and building my tools. I know the Penrose site and actually fished with Tom in eastern Oregon (he stopped me from stepping on a rattler). I have some of Tom's leftover materials in my oven. I have only bilt a few rods over the years (2 on the bench right now!) I somehow got into the Oregon rodbuilders book that was published a few years ago. I was honored to be included with the folks in that book. I also did a cartoon for the defunct Bamboo Fly Rod magazine, and an article on Chris McDowell in Powerfibers (still have the hat for that). I looked on the hexrod site and see something from my back in 99. I think I have been building rods longer than that, but I am in Nashville right now and don't have access to my notes back home in Newberg. I enjoy building darkened rods using as resorcinol and spar varnish. Driggs river is my favorite, but I also enjoy the CC D France. Hoping to fish this next year! -- Rob Clarke