I won't go as far to say that a tool is inhabited by the hands and spirit of the people who crafted it, but I like to think that's not far from the truth.
From selecting only the best cork rings for a grip to choosing exactly how sections are aligned and ferrules fitted, to multiple coat finishes on guide wraps and hand inscribed model information, these craftsmen take the process to a higher level that adds considerable value to a rod.
Small scale, artisan quality production is alive in many places but nowhere is it stronger than in Japan.
Detail isn't just a word there; it's a way of relating to the world. I've been working for years with a small Japanese fabricator to produce the fiberglass tubes from which I craft my fly rod blanks and have been delighted with what I get compared to previous fabricators.
That's why I was happy to talk with my friends Bill Higashi and Katsumi Harada when they suggested that they might join my fiberglass rod project.
Bill knows fly casting and the fly rod world as well as anyone on either side of the Pacific, and Katsumi's fly rod work embodies elegance and exceptional craftsmanship. As my own skills are increasingly tested by age, they will bring both a fresh energy and considerable artisanal talent to the project.
This is going to be fun!
----- Larry Kenney
Founder Larry Kenney was born and raised in California. After graduate school he started teaching at junior college, met a guy named Harry Wilson, and his life changed for ever. They founded the legendary Scott PowR-Ply in San Francisco in 1975, which later morphed into Scott Fly Rod company and moved to Montrose, Colorado. Larry has (almost) seen it all as far as modern fly rods are concerned --- the development of fiberglass, the boom of graphite, diversification and rekindled popularity of glass. He stays as a rod designer and consultant at the new Larry Kenney Fly Rods. He lives in San Rafael, California.
Tomonori Higashi is a lifelong angler and a detail guy. He majored in language and literature at college, found a job in local government, left it ASAP, and never looked back. In 2004 he became the very first FFI Master Casting Instructor in Asia Pacific and is still very active in that field. His strength also lies in his knowledge about fly rods and their performance through interactions with legendary talents in USA. He fished many places in the world outside his home turf, sometimes with bamboo, other times with graphite. However, for fishing close-in, his choice of material is glass. He takes charge of testing, marketing and communication at Larry Kenney Fly Rods. He lives in Yokohama, Japan.
Katsumi Harada has made a living out of crafting bamboo fly rods for more than 20 years under his own brand of "Harada Takezao." He used imported tonkin bamboo at first, but soon shifted to madake cane, which culms he harvests every year to be seasoned for three years and more. Madake occurs in China and Japan, and he likes the lower modulus fibers for light line stream rods. His work is absolutely breathtaking, and he has a loyal customers all over the world due to the rods' performance and beauty. Katsumi is excited to work as the creator of Larry Kenney Fly Rods, carrying on the tradition of meticulous handwork. He lives in Osaka, Japan.