The employees of the Orvis Rod Shop stand outside the factory in the sunshine

The Orvis Fly Rod Shop

Seven Trout Streams, 170+ Years of Rodbuilding History, and Still Only Two Traffic Lights

We may hail from a small Vermont town, but in the Orvis Rod Shop, we've always been big thinkers beholden to a high bar: to build and fish the world's finest fly rods, right here at home. For over 16 decades and counting, that's exactly what our team of rodsmiths has done. Welcome to our town, and where your rods are born.

A close-up of a worker's hands as they inspect a fly rod
A rod shop builder tests the flexibility of a rod.
A rod shop builder gestures while explaining to the photographer
A rod shop builder works on a new fly rod.

From initial concept to engineering to prototype to testing, testing, and more testing, our fly rods pass through a myriad of skilled hands and are examined by scores of expert eyes before they ever make it to you.

The interior of the Rod Shop filled with machinery and employees building rods


Meet The Team

A man in a black shirts standing in a brightly lit workshop

Plant Manager

Frank Hoard

A fourth-generation Manchester native, Frank grew up ¾ of a mile from the shop. Right after receiving his degree in Mechanical Engineering, nearly 20 years ago, he started rolling blanks as a summer job. He never left. Frank now serves a Plant Manager, Rod Designer, and a vital member of the R&D Team.

Orvis Rod Shop Facts

1880 – Orvis bamboo rod named “Best of Its Weight in the World” by leading outdoor writer Ned Buntline


1942 – Orvis joins the World War II effort, producing split bamboo ski poles for U.S. troops


1989 – Orvis fly rods are named “No. 1 Best-Made Product of the U.S.” by Tom Peters, author of In Search of Excellence



2018 – An enhanced manufacturing process allows Orvis to introduce interchangeable parts to decrease time for rod repairs

A rod shop builder adds a coating to a fly rod tip.
A rod shop builder working on a new fly rod.
A rod shop builder at work.

Building them to last a lifetime is the name of the game at the Orvis Rod Shop. Our master fly-rod builders attend to every detail to ensure that no fly rod leaves the Shop until it's ready. That focus and attention is just as critical whether it's a Helios or one of our handcrafted Orvis Bamboo Fly Rods.

A collection of tools wait for use on a workbench