Jeff Davis possesses a healthy obsession for both Maine and fly fishing. These obsessions are reflected in the handcrafted rods produced by Davis and his team of master craftsman at Maine Fly Company.
As the recipient of his father’s extensive and treasured collection of fly fishing rods, reels, flies, waders, and bags, Davis became increasingly fascinated with the collection of inherited fly fishing equipment now in his possession. His interest progressed to deep-seated curiosity and he yearned to rediscover the dying art of the rodsmith. So, he left his office job and began working with his hands, obsessing over his father’s old bamboo rods. Soon, the passion project took over and in 2018 Maine Fly Company was born.
Setting up shop in his North Yarmouth, ME, Davis’ mission with Maine Fly Co became crystal clear—put craftsmanship over profit and honor the northeast’s deep fly fishing heritage. Now, four years from its inception, Maine Fly Co continues to buck the modern trend of mass production, sourcing components locally when possible and handcrafting small-batch rods with intention, precision, and personality.
Each batch is named after well-known Maine waterways and designed with various sizes, weights, actions, grips, and configurations, telling a story all their own. Take the popular Kennebec rod, for example. Inspired by the 170-mile renowned trout river, this 9-foot fast action carbon rod is responsive, powerful, and perfect for catching trout. Unique design elements draw inspiration from the vintage Maine Guide patch worn by registered guides on the river. The finished product is a work of art, incorporating an earthy pine green matte finish, burnt orange wraps, and an all-wood reel seat.
No Maine Fly Co rod is recreated until the initial design earns its stripes. Each design is put through its paces, spending hours on the water. Davis ensures every aspect of the rod is perfected for its intended use before the design is ready to be ushered into small-batch production.
With each new batch, Davis continues to push the boundaries of his knowledge, enjoying the freedom (and pressure) that accompanies a passion project built from the ground up. New challenges provide newfound inspiration, and the cycle continues. Currently, Davis has become enthralled by the desire to repurpose old whiskey barrels into beautiful, artisan reel seats. From cooper to distiller, distiller to brewer, brewer to rodsmith, the history in each grain of wood is passed down from craftsman to craftsman.
Learn more about Maine Fly Company at maineflyco.com or follow them @maineflycompany. Darby Communications recently began working with Maine Fly Company to introduce their lineup of unique small batch and custom rods to the broader fly fishing community. Learn more about how we can help your brand with their product launch.