Stonefly
Bamboo, Fiberglass & Graphite Fly Rods
Meticulously Hand-Crafted for Maximum Performance & Aesthetics
About the Fly Rod Builder
Read what Jim's clients say about his fly rods.
Fly fishing has evolved dramatically since I began participating in the sport in the mid-1960s. (My mother began fly fishing more than a decade earlier!) When I started fly fishing, rods were individually hand-crafted of bamboo. As a young man, I worked in the Orvis rod factory under the watchful eye of Wes Jordan. He taught me that quality and performance in a hand-built rod cannot be duplicated in an assembly-line rod factory. That principle is as true today in the graphite era -- actually more so -- as it was then.
Each rod that I make, whether of bamboo, fiberglass or carbon fiber (a.k.a. graphite) has more than 50 years of building and fishing experience built into it. I have fished in many environments — saltwater flats for tarpon and redfish, saltwater bays for barracuda and Calico bass, shallow lakes for Florida black bass “hogs”, slow rivers for northern pike, tailwater streams for monster rainbows, small mountain streams for native cutthroat and others — under all kinds of conditions. Because of this, I know what is appropriate in a fly rod and what is not.
There are many possibilities in rod making today that didn’t exist a few years ago. The variety of blanks, actions, reel seats, and guides is greater than it has ever been, and it takes an artist and an avid fisherman to choose the right components to make a truly exceptional custom rod. I believe that I am both, and I have never had a dissatisfied customer.
I make every rod with the attention and care that a fine fishing instrument deserves. Like a violin maker, I refine each piece until I am personally satisfied that I have gotten the maximum performance and feel from it, as well as exceptional aesthetics. Because each rod is custom made by a dedicated craftsman, there is simply no comparison between a Stonefly custom fly rod and one produced in a factory.
In summary, I have always loved fly rods. To me, they represent the pinnacle of fishing technology and art, and they must be a pleasure to use. I feel privileged to be able to make quality hand-made rods for other fly fishers; I would like to make a Stonefly Custom Fly Rod for you.
-Jim Benenson, Guild Certified Professional Rod Builder