To say that John Rivera builds fly rods is like saying General Motors builds Cadillacs. Yes, it’s true, but there’s a lot more to it than that. As proprietor of The Fly Rod Company with his wife, Fabia Fuenzalida, he makes all kind of fly rods, including bamboo, fiberglass, and graphite, but he also repairs all kinds of rods, including spinning and casting rods, and he develops ways to meet the special needs of all kinds of anglers. That’s how he came to California Fly Fisher’s attention — for the magazine’s publisher, he’s building a version of the very short fly rod based on a converted spinning rod that’s discussed in Rob Ketley’s article in this issue. And he teaches casting as an International Federation of Fly Fishers certified casting instructor and work tirelessly to promote the sport. He’s a generalist, innovator, and problem solver in an increasingly specialized sport and business, and we wanted to find out more about him.
Bud: Some of us came late to fly fishing, but started fishing at an early age, while others were in it from the beginning. You’re from Gilroy — right? When did you start fishing, and when did you start fly fishing? What appealed to you about fly fishing, and who helped you learn the sport?
John: I was born in Gilroy, California, but was raised in Hollister. Hollister is not exactly a fly-fishing mecca, nor is it even a fishing mecca. I grew up fishing San Luis Dam and O’Neill Forebay, which was about 40 minutes away on Pacheco Pass — too far to ride my bike. Back then, it was anchovies on a Mitchell Garcia spinning rod and reel. We had two of these outfits, and they belonged to our family . . . share and share alike. I did not get my first spinning rod and reel until I was 10 years old, an outfit made by Daiwa. I purchased it with S&H Green Stamps. It was on this rod that I had my introduction to customizing fishing rods. Back then, I used my mom’s sewing thread and some clear fingernail polish to achieve an accent wrap. It was my rod, so I felt entitled to make it unique. I consider this the beginning of self-learning with regard to rod building.
My first encounter with fly fishing was at Woods Lake on Highway 88 when I was 10 years old. It was, as best as I could tell, a grandfather and grandson who were trolling flies and occasionally casting to rising trout. I thought it was cool. Unfortunately, I didn’t know anyone who was a fly fisher or who could teach me. However, I never lost hope.
The summer of 1982, between my freshman and my sophomore year at UC Berkeley, was one of the most memorable times in my young adult life. I spent that entire summer working for Larry Kinser at Caples Lake Resort. Larry taught me how to fish the lake and allowed me to purchase gear at wholesale prices. I lived at the Caples Lake Resort, where room and board cost five dollars a day, and fished Caples Lake and surrounding water for the entire summer. I came to know the area very well, especially Caples Creek and the West Carson River in Hope Valley.
I did not come to the sport of fly fishing until 2007. I returned from a trip to Hope Valley and decided that I wanted a new spinning rod. I searched the Internet looking for stores that carried the brand I was looking for. The store Fish First, in Albany, was at the top of my search results, so I visited them after work one day. The guy working in the store was Bob Woznicki, and he told me that they sold only fly rods. He also told me that the shop offered classes in beginning fly casting and fly fishing. I signed up and took the classes with Marc Noble. I eventually purchased an entry-level outfit from the shop. Leo Siren, the owner of Fish First, helped me pick some flies, and I went fishing at Caples Lake that weekend. I caught more fish that day than I had ever caught on lures or bait. It was amazing, and I never looked back.
Bud: You had a 27-year career in commercial printing and printing management, then you made what some would see as an ideal career change and others would see as taking a big risk, building cane, fiberglass, and graphite rods. Why and how did you make the leap? Printing (and publishing in general) is a detail-oriented business and a people-oriented business. Were there skills that transferred from one career to the other?
John: I was working for UC Printing Services in Emeryville. We worked diligently to bolster the level of customer service at UC Printing. It maintained a 147-year-old legacy of providing printing services for the University of California system. The powers that be decided that our revenue surplus would be better spent funding the University of California Athletic Department. Our surplus was stripped from us, and the decision to close UC Printing was made in March 2010.
In 2009, I was already buying vintage bamboo and fiberglass rods in need of repair from garage sales, flea markets, and antique stores. I stripped these rods down and refurbished them for sale on eBay. I received some formal rod-building instruction from Joe Douglas of Rodbuilders International in Orofino, Idaho. By the time UC Printing shut its doors, I was already honing my skills in rod making. Work in commercial printing at the level that I was accustomed to was not available, because 2010 was the height of the nationwide financial crisis. By November 2010, after talking it over with my wife, Fabia, I signed up for a bamboo rod-making class with Chris Raine of the Dunsmuir Rod Company. Chris is a great teacher of a complicated subject. In commercial printing, there is a lot of self-learning, as well as quality assurance and project planning to the extent of visualizing the finished piece. I feel these are skills that are directly transferable to fly-rod making.
Bud: What got you into rod building and rod restoration and repair?
John: I was curious as to what makes a fly rod a fly rod. I was also curious about what made a fly rod popular in the past and what does so in the present. Why were some rods held in high regard and others not so much? By asking those questions, I achieved a working knowledge that allows me to practice the rod-building craft.
Bud: Why did this aspect of our sport capture your attention and your passion?
John: Living in the Bay Area, I was limited by the readily available water to fish for wild trout, but not to fly cast. For me, fly casting and rod building are closely related. Rod building does not require a four-hour drive to the Sierra and perhaps six hours to return. I could drive 20 minutes and practice my casting and try out a new fly-rod creation at the Oakland Casting Pond. Rod building is a part of the sport that was available to me, and it suits my temperament. Of course, going fishing is part of the whole process. Using my finished rod to catch fish grounds me. I recently began to tie flies. For me, tying is another aspect to the joy of fly fishing.
Bud: Many rod builders in effect become specialists, or at least known for a particular approach to rod building — quad cane rods, say, or a special kind of ferrule. However, you are much more of a generalist, working not just with cane, but with glass and graphite and offering a wide range of services, up to and including casting instruction, and repairs on all kind of rods. How did that emphasis on diversity come about?
John: I could not have become a competent rod maker and caster without pursuing IFFF certification. It made me focus my efforts and allowed me to support the missions of both the IFFF and of The Fly Rod Company.
I became an IFFF certified casting instructor in 2011. It took me two years of fly-casting practice and practicing fly-casting instruction before I passed the exam and received my credentials. I owe a debt of gratitude to the members of the Oakland Casting Club and members of the Golden Gate Angling and Casting Club. Specifically, a gentleman named John Wurzel, Jr., who was the first to pull me aside and take me under his wing. With his guidance, my casting became crisper, my loops tighter, and my double haul in sync. I became a better fly fisher.
I should also mention Chris Korich, Floyd Dean, Guy Manning, George Revel, and J. B. Walker. In one way or another, these individuals added to my fly-casting education and my rod crafting. It goes without saying that my wife, Fabia, has been supportive of my rod-making endeavor from day one.
After I started building rods I discovered that repairs and modifications could very well be part of what I could offer. People with broken fishing poles found us on the Internet. I had started my craft by tearing down rods and refurbishing them, so it was an easy fit.
I am a fan of vintage tackle for reasons unknown. I just am. It is also reflected in my work, whether it is bamboo, fiberglass, or graphite. I like to see a vintage look on a recently produced blank. In some manner, it is an ode to Dale Clemons’s book Fiberglass Fly Rod Making. In other instances, my work reflects a little bit about my personal history. The wood that I use for reel seats is from Mexico, California, Chile, and Hawaii. I am connected to all these places.
Bud: From your perspective as a rod aficionado, what are the pluses and minuses of each of the three primary rod materials, graphite, fiberglass, and bamboo?
John: In my mind, a fly rod is a fly rod. I don’t discriminate, nor am I biased toward one material over another. However, I do discriminate when it comes to how a rod is put together in each of these materials. Whatever the material, I pay attention to the guide spacing, the number and sizes of the guides, the aesthetics, and the casting feel. Likes and the dislikes are subjective, but there is one thing that I hold to be true: fly-fishing and casting education are crucial for getting the best out of all three materials. Someone who really knows how to use a fly rod efficiently can overcome the minuses and accentuate the positives when it comes to each material.
Bamboo fly rods have a rich tradition of craftsmanship that dates back to the 1860s. It is an organic material containing power fibers that, together with tapered dimensions and the casting movement of the individual, aid in the deflection of the rod. Bamboo is a very strong material. If you stop and think about it, bamboo in its natural form can withstand a monsoon. It is expensive to have a bamboo fly rod made from the culm, and once completed, the rod may be heavier than your other fly rods. Bamboo fly rods are often made by a single craftsman working diligently over many hours. Converting a bamboo culm into a fishing rod takes an impressive amount of effort. It is a thriving craft, and I hope it remains so.
Generally speaking, fiberglass rods are lighter in the hand than solid-built bamboo rods. Modern fiberglass rods that are constructed from S-Glass or E-Glass are wonderful to cast, and landing fish on fiberglass feels more lively to me. Moving to fiberglass also forced me to be more disciplined in my casting stroke. I discovered that my loops could be just as tight as the loops that I produce with fast-action graphite. Whether the fiberglass blank is sanded or unsanded is a matter of personal taste. I prefer unsanded fiberglass blanks, because the caster can experience the full benefit of the material.
Fiberglass is more durable than graphite. Hit a graphite rod with a beadhead or conehead f ly or knock it around in the boat, and its integrity becomes suspect. Do the same with fiberglass, and it keeps on fishing. It takes more of a wallop to put a dent in a fiberglass rod.
Graphite fly rods, when constructed properly, result in the lightest of the three types of material. Depending on the model, you can shoot line a healthy distance. Many of the graphite fly rods and spinning rods on the market are matte gray in their finished form. Matte gray is the natural color of the graphite.
If those rods get knocked around a bit, a weak point can be created, resulting is an increased likelihood of breakage. In my opinion, graphite rods that have been painted are more resilient. The paint constitutes a protective layer.
There is also something positive to be mentioned about early graphite rods, some with spigot ferrules and some with tip-over-butt ferrules. I know first-hand that some of the best fly casters in the world are using vintage graphite fly rods to compete on a national level. These dedicated casters practice for hours and have done so for many years. What is it that they know? And furthermore, these casters also use vintage fiberglass fly rods to train their casting stroke. There again, what is it that they know?
I enjoy casting graphite for distance, just as I enjoy hitting a golf ball with my driver, but I like to fish with fiberglass and bamboo. Some of the fiberglass rods, especially the vintage Fenwicks and the modern James Green blanks, are pleasant to cast, good to cast in the wind, and you can protect light tippets when landing fish. There is a feel and durability to fiberglass and bamboo that is unparalleled by graphite.
Bud: One of the interesting things about cane rods is the way in which they are artisanal products and in many ways reflect the personalities, inclinations, and even idiosyncrasies of their builders. At the same time, there’s a good deal of sharing that goes on between rod builders. How does the relationship between individuality and community play out among rod builders and the people who value (and buy) cane rods?
John: I had the opportunity to speak to Mario Wojnicki a handful of times before he moved out of the country. His advice? First, set up your shop in an ergonomic manner so that you don’t hurt yourself during the rod-making process. Second, make the rods that you enjoy casting, and the people who enjoy what you like will find you. Third, study the bamboo rod maker Paul Young.
Truth be known, I had already become a fan of Paul Young after I made a 7-foot 6-inch 4-weight Perfectionist and preferred that style of rod taper to the progressive rod taper.
I never wanted to be a cookbook rod maker who follows a recipe and simply slaps guides onto a blank and calls it unique. I have a profound curiosity about evaluating bamboo tapers and rod actions in general. I think aesthetics are complimentary to executing the taper, calculating the guide spacing, and affixing the appropriate guides and ferrules. Finally, matching up the rod with the appropriate reel and line completes the creation. I feel that one’s ability to fine-tune a creation is part of what it means to be a professional rod maker.
Of all the bamboo rod makers with whom I have spoken, I’ve noticed that some are willing to share openly and some not. I have chosen to take the cafeteria approach and take the best of what everyone has to offer.
I have since spoken at length to several notables in the fly-fishing industry about rod action and components . . . Kerry Burkheimer of Burkheimer Fly Rods, Collins Illich, formerly of TFO and now of North Fork Composites, James Green, of James Green Fly Rods, Chris Korich of the Oakland Casting Club, and Jerry Foster of Skunkworks Bamboo Fly Rods. All of them have helped me become a better fly-rod maker in one way or another.
The route that I have taken to understanding why a fly rod behaves the way it does and how to fine-tune it involves a lot of trial and error, too, but one comes away with a more profound understanding of one’s craft. In my opinion, fly-rod making is an exercise in continuous education and personal advancement.
I also have an extensive list of authors who have written relevant material that I draw from . . . Ernest Schwiebert, Everett Garrison and Hoagy Carmichael, John Gierach, George Maurer, Gary Borger, Wayne Cattanach, Don Phillips, and a host of others. I read online forums, as well. It is part of the continuing education that supports my rod-making passion.
Bud: What advice do you have for fly fishers who might want to build their own rods?
John: Throughout my professional career, I always valued the journeyman/apprentice dynamic, which is why I chose the path that I did to rod building. I sought out instruction and wisdom from individuals who came highly recommended. I wanted to complement my reading research by meeting and speaking with individuals who had achieved success in rod building. By doing so, I saved a tremendous amount of money and time and avoided many headaches. Also, fly-fishing clubs and retailers sometimes offer rod-building classes. If hands-on instruction is not available to you, then I would urge you to consult the plethora of written material and video instruction that is available on the Internet. Some of it is very good.
Once you purchase your blank and components, take the leap of faith. I know it’s easier said than done, because I am the worst critic of my own work.
Bud: Do you have any insights on what fly fishers should consider when buying a rod?
John: Given the assortment of fly rods on the market, both modern and vintage, fly-rod choice is subjective. I would recommend a rod that loads evenly, and as I have been stressing here, I would seek out qualified fly-casting instruction. I believe that you don’t get the true feeling of fly casting with a stiff, fast-action rod, nor do you cast well without knowing how to use the rod efficiently. With a stiff rod, you eventually learn to haul and shoot line, which helps for distance, but having a rod that allows you to feel the cast helps the learning process. It is also more lively when you land fish. When I teach fly casting, the challenge is to get the student to feel what’s going on. You can watch videos, read books, and practice on your own, but in my opinion, nothing replaces qualified fly-casting instruction. The immediate feedback from an instructor is paramount to success. If you aren’t getting this from a fly-casting lesson, get another instructor.
I’d also recommend good balance in your first outfit. One strategy I’ve used to help first-timers choose a rod is the following. Mount the reel in the reel seat, remove the fly line from the box, be careful not to uncoil it, drape it through the butt of the fly rod so that it rests on the reel, and assemble the remaining pieces of the rod. Then, put your index finger under the cork grip and evaluate the balance of the entire outfit. By doing this, you get some idea of the location of the swing point on your rod. If the rod is top-heavy, the rod tip will teeter downward. If the reel with line is too heavy, the rod butt will teeter downward. The goal is to find a balance point somewhere along the cork handle. This is not an exact science, but it is an excellent starting point. If the rod is top-heavy, you risk hurting your arm after a day of casting, and getting hurt is not the goal. I learned this the hard way. This example is similar to moving a refrigerator with a dolly. There is a balance point where the 300-pound appliance is balanced on the wheels of the dolly, making the appliance virtually weightless.
Bud: The publisher of California Fly Fisher, Richard Anderson, recently asked you to build a version of the “punk rod” that Rob Ketley discusses in an article in this issue. What other unusual requests have you and for rods or modifications of rods?
John: I am willing to take on rod-building challenges that I believe no one else will touch.
Early in my rod-building career, in 2010, I refurbished and converted a lot of spinning rods to shorter fly rods. In fact, one of the very first rods that I refurbished was constructed from an old Heddon solid glass spinning rod. It is still in use today, and it turned out to be a two-piece 5-foot 8-inch rod that can carry lines ranging from 4-weight to 8-weight. I sold it to an individual in Florida who fishes for bass, bluegills, crappies, baby tarpon, ladyfish, and sea-run trout. He does this mostly from a kayak. I have an open invitation to fish with him the next time that I visit Florida.
Then there was the time that I replaced a grip for a retired heart surgeon who had developed arthritis in both hands. However, he was not ready to retire from fly fishing. I developed a grip for him that allowed him to continue fly fishing without having to hold the rod so tightly.
I’ve also converted one-piece casting rods to short-fly rods that can cast a shooting head of 200 or 300 grains. One customer used this rod conversion on the California Delta for striped bass. He liked it so much that he ordered a second one from me.
I also perform modifications and custom builds for members of the American Casting Association’s National Fly Casting Team. The projects come to me via Chris Korich, who is the coach, a former champion, and a current team member. The specifications are extremely precise, since one is trying to maximize distance while staying within the guidelines of the American Casting Association. It is another aspect of attention to detail. Some of the rods that are used at the highest levels of tournament casting are actually vintage Fenwick graphite rods from the 1980s. The dialogue about these casting tools takes my rod building to another level.
Finally, I currently have a request for a single rod that can be used as a spinning rod, a casting rod, and a fly rod. There will be some trade-offs, but we’re confident that we can collaborate successfully.
Bud: You recently moved from Berkeley to Idaho Falls, Idaho. What motivated the move, and, assuming you’ve recovered from the culture shock, what are the advantages for someone who does what you do?
John: The advantages are plentiful. There is less traffic, which translates to less stress, there are more opportunities for fly-fishing recreation, and the cost of living is lower, compared with the San Francisco Bay Area. I like to tell people that for the price of a new four-wheel-drive pickup, we bought a house with a nice shop for our rod-building business. There is a lot of beautiful country and fishing nearby: Yellowstone National Park, the Henry’s Fork, including Harriman Park and the Railroad Ranch section, the South Fork of the Snake, the Madison River, the Beaverhead and Big Hole Rivers, Jackson Hole, Wyoming, the Falls River, the Teton River, and more. We live 200 yards from the Snake River, and there is a boat ramp near us that sets up well for fly-casting instruction on John’s Forebay.
My hometown of Hollister is similar in size to Idaho Falls, so the transition is not as drastic as one might think. I grew up in a small city and am used to the small-city atmosphere. I do miss the beaches of California. Fabia and I had a tradition of visiting the beach every New Year’s Day. On January 1, 2015, we were in Point Reyes Station preparing for a picnic. I was walking to the bookstore while she was buying groceries. I saw a man coming out of the bookstore and I asked him, “Are you Russell?” As it turned out, it was indeed Russell Chatham. He chatted with us for two hours on the main street of Point Reyes Station. I thought it was cool that he would take the time to talk to us. It is a valuable thing to share your time.
Bud: Is there anything that you miss with regard to fly fishing in California?
John: It’s the people associated with fly fishing in California that I miss. The list is long and heartfelt.
I miss the occasions to fish the lower and the upper Sacramento Rivers with my good friend John Rhode. There are some big wild fish in both rivers, along with a variety of conditions that are suited for both wet-fly and dry-fly fishing. For me, Dunsmuir, with the upper Sacramento River and Bob Grace at the Ted Fay Fly Shop, holds a distinct charm for fly fishing and for bamboo rod making, as well.
I miss the people who frequent the Oakland Casting Pond. Being there always made me feel that I was part of a living tradition, even when it came time to volunteer and clean up the greenery around the pond. I am happy and proud to have been a part of it.
As I said, I caught my first fish on a fly rod at Caples Lake in 2007. Sometimes the drive to Caples along the Mormon Emigrant Trail gets interesting. Fabia and I once saw a black bear scamper across the road, a rare sight for us in California. Another time, we emerged from a short fly-fishing hike along Caples Creek only to find that we were in the middle of a paintball battle. That was a first. There are wild fish in Caples Creek, and there was a time when you could catch cutthroats in the West Carson above Picketts Junction. I discovered the effectiveness of grasshoppers on that river. I miss fishing the East Carson and the great hamburgers served in Markleeville at the Wolf Creek Bar.
I used to attend the annual meeting of the Bamboo Underground in Dunsmuir. This event was hosted by Chris Raine of the Dunsmuir Fly Rod Company. It is where I met Jerry Foster and cast his 5-weight sinusoidal rod. It changed my impression of what a bamboo fly rod could be.
Bud: Here we are at the traditional Silly Tree Question: If you were a tree, what kind of a tree would you be?
John: I would be a fruit-bearing tree with several burls.
