TOM MORGAN RODSMITHS - A Morning in the Shop with Joel

As the trip to Montana neared, I had reached out to Joel Doub, owner of Tom Morgan Rodsmiths, and asked if I could stop by.  I had planned for my last day in Bozeman to be a series of shop visits and blocked off several hours to be at Tom Morgan Rodsmiths.  I was looking forward to talking with Joel, and if he was fine with it, to walk around the shop with my camera.

There was a sentimental aspect to this stop since, while I had never met Tom Morgan in person, we had traded emails and talked over the phone quite a few times.  Tom was always gracious with me over the years to share what he was up to in the rod shop and with their fiberglass fly rods.  He didn't have to take the time to talk with some "Glass Geek" he'd never met but he would always stop what he was doing for a twenty minute conversation.  I'll always appreciate that.

I arrived at the shop just before nine o'clock and minutes later, Joel pulled in with his pups piling out as soon as he opened the truck door.  We were the first ones there and Joel flipped the light switch on in the office and then walked into the shop doing the same.  I followed him around as he was on was on his morning routine walking station to station in the shop, checking something here and checking something there.  We talked about the time he, and (recently departed co-owner) Matt Barber, spent with Tom and Gerri Morgan learning everything that they could about Tom Morgan Rodsmiths.  They learned Tom's quirks and philosophies in fly rod design and fly rod building and have done their absolute best to continue that. 

Over the last several years, Joel and Matt found that the reality of running a fly rod business, with a handful of essential employees, is that it could only support one of them.  Joel took over full ownership of Tom Morgan Rodsmiths a few months ago and is still adjusting after working together as a team for several years.  Any given day in the shop is a mix of emails with customers, phone calls, but then also jumping to continue the process of completing the dozens of fly rods that are in some stage of completion.  Joel is also one of the last to carefully inspect the craftsmanship of every fly rod that leaves the shop to make sure it lives up to Tom Morgan's pursuit of perfection.

I really appreciated Joel being candid with me during the visit and allowing me to walk around take a series of images of the shop.  I could have spent all day there since the office and shop were a treasure trove of memorabilia from Tom's shop with paintings, posters, handwritten notes, sketches, and more.  

No apologizes as this will be a long scroll through thirty plus images and I hope you enjoy it.

Visit the Tom Morgan Rodsmith website  and follow along with the latest shop news on Facebook and Instagram.

6 Cool Things

Is the smoke from your email inbox finally dying down after all the endless Black Friday to Giving Tuesday emails?  Mine has but here are a few highlights for the latest "6 Cool Things" post...

BAJIO SUNGLASSES - TEMPLES OF CHANGE
Aside from being an emerging sunglasses brand, head man Al Perkinson has a vision for how his company can do more than just sell something. Temples of Change is one of these initiatives and the purchase of select sunglasses that feature the artwork of tattooist Casey Anderson helps support
Fish for Change.

BOB WHITE STUDIO - 2024 ART OF FLY FISHING CALENDAR
This is the time of the year where we are all looking for a new wall calendar and one of my all time favorites is from the artful hands of Bob White.  These make a great gift item too...

FISHPOND - NOMAD RIVER ARMOR AMERICAN RIVERS EDITION NET
A.  This is a great looking (limited edition) landing net.
B.  $90 from each net sold goes directly to American Rivers to continue their mission.

PAKMULE - SCOUT POWDER BLACK EDITION CARRIER
If you do a search in the lower right box of T.F.M., you'll find a few dozen posts on PAKMULE.  These carriers are worth the price tag and this limited edition Scout Powder Black Edition is nifty looking.

Use code "FLYFISHING" for a pair of free 6' MULEstraps.

POPS FLIES - LEATHER FLY TYING AND FISHING JOURNAL
One of my favorite Instagram follows has been Pops Flies and this leather journal is a neat replica of Harry K. Cameron, a.k.a. "Pops", journal from the 1960's that surfaced when his grandson came across it and began sharing his fly tying sketches and recipes.

REMEDY PROVISIONS - FISH CAMP AND DUCK CAMP FLAGS
This latest offering from Remedy Provisions has me thinking that I'll need a Redfish Camp Flag for Louisiana in February and a Carp Camp Flag and Smallmouth Camp Flag for Beaver Island. 

How cool are these?  Use code "TFM15" for 15% off your online order.

What is on your "6 Cool Things" list right now?

ORVIS - The Great Awaits

You know that I like brand stories and this latest shortie from Orvis is work pressing PLAY for...

They event dropped a neat "Experience Orvis" page that is a rabbit hole of stories, product, education, and an opportunity to talk about their impact in conservation, sustainability, and advocacy. 

SEA RUN CASES - Andrea Larko Artisan Series Cases

The folks at Sea Run Cases are kicking off pre-orders for their Artisan Series Cases featuring the work of artist Andrea Larko with an Instagram giveaway that is worth putting your name in for. 

The Artisan Series by Andrea Larko cases features her artwork on five rod cases to include...

Norfolk Classic QR Case
Norfolk Expedition Case

Norfolk Expedition QR Case

Riffle Daily Compact Case

Riffle Daily Compact QR Case

Visit the Sea Run Cases website to check these and their other excellent travel cases out.  The Instagram giveaway closes later this weekend and the winner will be announced on Monday, December 4th.

Considering a Sea Run Case but have questions on which one will be best for you?  Send me an email.  I have experience with most of their cases and happy to provide an opinion. 

SOUTHERN CULTURE ON THE FLY - Issue 49

The latest issue of Southern Culture on the Fly is live and ready for a weekend read.  Enjoy...

CHECK IT.

RED TRUCK FLY FISHING - DIESEL GLASS CYBER DEAL

You may or may not have seen that Red Truck Fly Fishing ran a sale on their Diesel Glass fly rods last weekend into early this week.  They have extended the 20% off sale for the T.F.M. readership through Sunday, December 3, 2023, using the code below.

I've said it a few times that these are some of my most favorite economy priced glass out there and they are just flat out fun fly rods.  I have the four, five, and eight weight in my personal stash.

 Check out the Diesel Glass line up on the Red Truck Fly Fishing website and use discount code "TFMCYBER" for 20% off.  You've got another couple of days for this code to be good still.

ORVIS - "School of Fish" & 10% Today to Bristol Bay Initiatives

From filmmakers Colin Arisman and Oliver Sutro comes "School of Fish" which premiers today sharing the story of the relationship of Bristol Bay, salmon, and the indigenous people who live there.  Orvis supported this film and for Giving Tuesday, they have pledged 10% of today's profits to Trout Unlimited and the Bristol Bay Fly Fishing and Guide School.



From the Orvis presser...

Indigenous people and salmon have been intertwined for thousands of years in Bristol Bay, Alaska. The knowledge of harvesting, preserving and sharing fish is as important here as any lesson in a book. Today, kids must not only learn from their elders how to fish, but also how to fight. For the last century, corporations have sought to extract the wealth of this rich region. Now Pebble Mine threatens to pollute the pristine headwaters of Bristol Bay.

“School of Fish” offers an intimate portrait inside one family's seasonal salmon rituals and their connection to the Bristol Bay Guide Academy, where local youth are empowered through flyfishing to serve as guides and conservationists. Can the next generation step up to defend the most prolific salmon run left on earth?

Learn more on the Orvis website and feel good about any purchases today where profits will support these worthy organizations.