golden beetle
Active member
I met Jerry Kustich at the Symposium this afternoon.
He made a profound impression on me.
I spent no more than 20 minutes with him, but was lucky enough to cast three of his rods.
If you're not aware of Jerry Kustich, he is of Sweetwater Rods. One of a handful that left Winston a while back with Glenn Brackett.
Bamboo rod making is an art form unlike any other. It isn't like music or painting; there are no Cobains, Van Goghs or even Lennons making bamboo rods, because the medium - bamboo - won't allow it.
And while art allows for the expression of all ideas, bamboo is not so forgiving. Some ideas work with bamboo, and others don't. The rod maker is gentle and careful, because the medium demands that of him, and won't allow it otherwise.
To the rod maker, every moment matters.
Jerry Kustich has written three books that tell his life story. I bought the first book tonight.
I will read all three, not one being better than the rest...
Because every moment matters.
And so this brings me to some small point that needs to be made.
If you don't understand the allure of bamboo, let me try to explain it by describing the world that isn't bamboo.
We are so alienated from our work these days that we hate our jobs. The guys at McDonald's assemble the burgers. They don't make them.
There are very few professionals left.
Ding, fries are done!
Most of us have important job titles, like Sandwich Artist.
But really, we're just glorified meat folders.
I love bamboo for the same reason that I value my own work.
And if you fish and happen to value your own work, or at least aspire to contribute something with your life's work, you might want to meet a rod maker with a taper in mind.
He made a profound impression on me.
I spent no more than 20 minutes with him, but was lucky enough to cast three of his rods.
If you're not aware of Jerry Kustich, he is of Sweetwater Rods. One of a handful that left Winston a while back with Glenn Brackett.
Bamboo rod making is an art form unlike any other. It isn't like music or painting; there are no Cobains, Van Goghs or even Lennons making bamboo rods, because the medium - bamboo - won't allow it.
And while art allows for the expression of all ideas, bamboo is not so forgiving. Some ideas work with bamboo, and others don't. The rod maker is gentle and careful, because the medium demands that of him, and won't allow it otherwise.
To the rod maker, every moment matters.
Jerry Kustich has written three books that tell his life story. I bought the first book tonight.
I will read all three, not one being better than the rest...
Because every moment matters.
And so this brings me to some small point that needs to be made.
If you don't understand the allure of bamboo, let me try to explain it by describing the world that isn't bamboo.
We are so alienated from our work these days that we hate our jobs. The guys at McDonald's assemble the burgers. They don't make them.
There are very few professionals left.
Ding, fries are done!
Most of us have important job titles, like Sandwich Artist.
But really, we're just glorified meat folders.
I love bamboo for the same reason that I value my own work.
And if you fish and happen to value your own work, or at least aspire to contribute something with your life's work, you might want to meet a rod maker with a taper in mind.
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