Our dear friend, Olivia Elia, is not only a fantastic bamboo fly rod builder, she is also an accomplished Luthier, working at Preston Thompson Guitars here in Sisters, Oregon. She was just profiled as an “up-and-coming” young guitar builder in Acoustic Guitar Magazine. They even chose to highlight her on the cover of the most recent issue. We’re so proud of what Olivia has accomplished, both in her bamboo rod building and her guitar building. Check her out in the November/December 2022 Issue of the magazine.
I got out on the middle Deschutes River recently with my good friend and bamboo rod builder, Olivia Elia to try out a couple of bamboo rods. I chose my 9′ 0″ 3 wt Euronymphing Bamboo Rod and Olivia took out her 7′ 9″ 4 wt bamboo rod. Well, the student outfished the teacher. Here is one of the very nice browns that Olivia found in this stretch of the river.
Our good friend and bamboo fly rod builder, Olivia Elia, was just profiled in the latest Journal of The Italian Bamboo Rodmakers Association. IBRA is one of the most prestigeous bamboo rod organizations in the world, and they just published a wonderful article on Olivia’s journey that took her to becoming a gifted bamboo rod maker. I’m proud to have contributed to her journey and to have her in my workshop as she builds her custom bamboo fly rods. Her article appears in the April edition of IBRA, and can be found at: Documento senza titolo (rodmakers.eu). Let’s all celebrate Olivia’s accomplishments by raising a glass.
Olivia Elia, is back in my workshop this week. She was with family for several days but is back in Sisters now it’s great to have her back. It’s fun to have another builder in the shop with me to bounce ideas off of, and I think we do a great job at challenging each other in our bamboo rod building efforts. She started a new 7′ 9″ 4 wt bambo fly rod this week as a custom order from a new client. Here is Olivia at work!!!
I would like to introduce everyone to Olivia Elia, my bamboo rod building apprentice. Olivia built her first bamboo fly rod two years ago, and has a goal of taking her rod building skills to a high level. Olivia currently lives in Santa Rosa, CA, and we’ve worked a plan for her to apprentice with me through some time with me in my workshop, as well as through virtual connectivity for the two of us. Olivia is a very talented photographer, musician, luthier, and and fly fishing angler, and you can see some of her talents showcased on her WEB site at: https://www.oliviaelia.com/.
Olivia spent a couple of weeks with me in my workshop recently working on rods. Her workshop skills are at a high level, and she has demonstrated fantastic skills towards rod building. I worked with her on three new bamboo fly rods while she was here, passing on my rod building knowledge where ever I could. It may not be too long before she is teaching me a few things about rod building. Here are a few photos of her time in my workshop:
Olivia and I with beveled and heat treated strips for our rods.Splitting StripsRemoving nodes.Straightening Strips with the Heat Gun.Running strips through the Bellinger Beveler.We’re both hand planing strips.Ferrules, Cork, and Reel Seats are done…ready to varnish bamboo and tie on guides.
