He has been regarded as the father of the modern fly rod. Atlantic salmon remains the favourite of fly rod enthusiasts. Construction of a fly rod starts with the rod blank. Dad fished with a fly rod; mother rowed the boat. After becoming ill in 1931, Edwards made arrangements to sell his fly rod company. A Master's Guide To Building A Bamboo Fly Rod. Tenkara rods are a type of fly rod used for tenkara fishing in Japan. In 2003, Brunvand entered the "Trout Bum Tournament" sponsored by Fly Rod and Reel. Early rod builders perfected the split bamboo fly rod. The fly is cast using a fly rod, reel, and specialized weighted line. Oyster Fly Rods is a bamboo fly rod making business in Blue Ridge, Georgia. In 1997 he was named "Angler of the Year" by Fly Rod and Reel Magazine. The 'Kosmic' fly rod enjoyed many awards and accolades in its short time. With a little extra maintenance, a bamboo fly rod can be used for many decades. Spey casting requires a longer, heavier two-handed fly rod, referred to as a "Spey rod".