O. clarkii Rods

03/22/2023

Reels have been my bag lately, but there are new developments in O. clarkii Rods as well! I will be getting some blanks in that will be perfect for cricks like this one, here. Made in the U.S. and then customized a bit in the O. clarkii shop! And another development that is too early to say much about, but underway! I’m stoked.

11/03/2022

This is a sample of the aircraft-grade, bar stock aluminum we use to make our reel frames and spools, with our prototype reel and spool. We are still modifying our design and materials to withstand the most rigorous fishing conditions.

11/01/2022

OCR is in a competition to win seed money! It starts at about 5:30 mountain time. Hope you can watch and vote for us!

2022 Sheridan Start-Up Challenge Pitch Night

06/29/2022

I have been remiss in updating my O. clarkii Rods fly-fishing bliss! These photos are a brief summary of many trips in recent travels. I have almost entirely been using the 10’, 1 wt., with the cottonwood bark grip and sagebrush reel seat insert. It has proven itself to be very sensitive and diverse. I have caught small fish on small streams, big fish on small to big streams and a few on lakes as well. Hope you enjoy.

04/15/2022

I’ve been working on a 10’, 1 wt. fly rod for our local small streams. Notable in this build: all made-in-USA components (Snake Brand guides and seat hardware), grown-in-Wyoming cottonwood bark rings for the grip and sagebrush for the seat insert! This is an idea I have had to use as many locally-sourced materials as I can.

03/15/2022

I have finished a few orders for the classy and floatable hook releases, as well as started finishing a few graphite rods. The shop and processes are slowly coming together but working well.

02/23/2022

Making hook-release progress in the shop!

I have been prepping and assembling hook releases as of late - along with working on the shop and rods! Huge thanks to my dad, Tom Sexton, for so much help in making a workable workshop!

: About 16 sections of gray wire with a coil at one end and a brass sleeve rests on a rough, wooden surface painted white. The brass sleeves cover about 2/3 of the gray wire and make for a classic contrast. Set on the surface, below the line of wire are many short sections (about 5”) of bamboo that have been sanded and glued together in varying, geometric cross-sections . These shapely sections of grass will soon be varnished and polished to make elegant handles on a tool designed to release fish of all shapes and sizes, back into their aquatic hide-outs.

02/23/2022

I have been prepping and assembling hook releases as of late - along with working on the shop and rods! Huge thanks to my dad, Tom Sexton, for so much help in making a workable workshop!

: About 16 sections of gray wire with a coil at one end and a brass sleeve rests on a rough, wooden surface painted white. The brass sleeves cover about 2/3 of the gray wire and make for a classic contrast. Set on the surface, below the line of wire are many short sections (about 5”) of bamboo that have been sanded and glued together in varying, geometric cross-sections . These shapely sections of grass will soon be varnished and polished to make elegant handles on a tool designed to release fish of all shapes and sizes, back into their aquatic hide-outs.

02/17/2022

And for a truly exciting moment: the first dipping of a bamboo rod in the O. clarki Rodshop!

02/14/2022

I am continuing work on a 7’3”, 2-pc., 4 weight, bamboo fly rod. She’s all straightened now AND ammonia-toned! She’s a thing of beauty. I’ll get ‘er varnished next.

: An average man in a blue shirt and camouflaged Sports Lure trucker cap holds a tip section to a bamboo fly rod over a heat gun. The goal - to make the section straight; it’s not as easy as you might think. But this average man keeps at it, checking progress constantly, until the section is perfectly straight. All this so the average man can make an exceptional fishing tool.

02/12/2022

The 4H crew made more progress on their rods and tying flies. We are nearing the end of a couple projects and it’s exciting to see their craft. I keep threatening them that if they screw up on their rod-making they will only catch small fish.

: In the first image, a young man sands the end of a wooden reel seat insert which he made from a native bush. He is getting the pieces lined up perfectly - so he will be able to catch big big fish successfully. In the second picture, a young man ties stonefly nymph fly patterns. Behind him, two fathers help two young men work on wrapping guides on graphite blanks. The subtleties of doing such work are great rewards for student and teacher.

02/03/2022

Been working on cutting some reel seat blanks. Still have a few burls to sort through, but I’m really liking the possibilities.