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Master Bamboo Fly Rod Maker
Written By: Jenny King | Issue: 2018/08 - August
Tucked among these Southern Appalachian Mountains are people creating some amazing things. Talented artists and craftspeople seem to thrive in the glory of the nature that surrounds us. One of those is John Hollifield of Hollifield Bamboo Fly Rods.
A lifelong fisherman, Hollifield was taught fly fishing by his dad at the tender age of 8. He took to it like a fish to…well, you get it. After retiring from corporate America in 2014, John and his wife Sharon moved to Sapphire, where he has continued perfecting his handmade bamboo rods. He is a member of the Southern Highlands Craft Guild.
“I devote my attention to making bamboo fly rods, teaching others how to make their own rods, and I also have plans to do a little more fishing myself as well,” he says. “I finally reached the point where I decided to follow my passion, and the advice of Howard Thurman, as stated in one of my favorite quotes, ‘Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, then go and do that. For what the world needs is people who have come alive!’”
His dedication to his calling shows in every part of his rods. He does the intricate engraving himself with a 30-power stereo microscope that allows him the precision and flawless detail he demands of himself. He makes all the major components for his rod personally in his home shop, using carefully selected raw materials. He creates bespoke rods based on the customer’s specifications and personal taste. He has shipped his work domestically and internationally to points as far away as Mongolia and South Africa.
Hollifield recently attended a bamboo-only rod gathering at Harriman Ranch on the Henry’s Fork River in Idaho. This is an international invitation-only conclave and it is a huge honor to be accepted. Next he’ll be headed to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, for the Western Design Expo, another juried show in early September.
Hollifield’s rods are available at Brookings Anglers in both Cashiers and Highlands and on his website at HollifieldBamboo.com, where you can see additional samples of his recent work. Give him a call at (828) 557-9790 if you’re interested in learning more about fly fishing, would like to order a custom rod, or would like to schedule a one-on-one class to make your own bamboo rod.
