Let's GO FISHING
Episode of Akimaru & Tom Morgan Collaboration Rod
Right: Tom Morgan, Left: Akimaru
My name is Chikako Akimaru, who is a daughter of Akimaru, and I am managing website and PR for AKIMARU BAMBOO RODS. I am very much touched by the episode of how Aki and Tom developed collaboration rod and dedicated to make a webpage to share the story to as many fly fishermen as I can. Let me present you the story of Aki and Tom.
Chikako, on a shiny day in 2014.
(Below is the translation of Tom's letter to Akimaru. "Aki" in the letter is his nickname, referring to Akimaru.)
I first met Aki on the Henry's Fork River in Idaho in June 2013 at a gathering for bamboo rodmakers.
This is how the letter started, and it continues as below.
I was not familiar with his rods at the time but several anglers at the gathering had mentioned there were several rods from a Japanese rodmaker and not only were they beautiful but they were very nice casting rods. I was introduced to Aki and we immediately made a personal connection between us as fellow bamboo rodmakers. Aki showed me one of his rods and I could see the workmanship and the rod itself were very nice. I was intrigued by the rod with the bamboo ferrule
My father, Akimaru still delightfully tells me about how this began -- Tom suddenly called Akimaru name in The Bamboo Rod Days. Tom's message continues.
Aki asked if he, his students, and translator could visit my shop in Montana. I told him they would all be welcome so they came several days later. I showed them around my shop and how we made my bamboo rods with the Morgan Hand Mill. They cast some of the rods and were very fond of them and their action. During this time he showed me his unusual bamboo internal ferrule in detail which I thought was very innovative and provided a lightweight and good joining of the rod. We had a very warm and personal visit that lasted several hours.
Aki and I started corresponding and he asked if I would share my taper for the 7 1/2 foot 4-weight rod so he could build one. I was somewhat reluctant to share a taper but decided it would be interesting to have him build one of my designs using his bamboo ferrule design so I sent him the dimensions. Aki redesigned the portion where the metal ferrule is to accommodate his bamboo ferrule design and built a rod. He reported to me after he cast the rod he fell in love with the taper design and after having some customers cast it they did too. It turned out to be a wonderful collaboration between us and helped to cement a closer relationship.
Toms told my father that he often dreams about fishing.
Akimaru was impressed with it and decided to offer him to build a bamboo rod together.
During the winter Aki sent me one of the beautiful bamboo poles (Name is WATAKE)he makes his rods from and I absolutely could not believe how clean it was. In all my experience of bamboo rodmaking looking at thousands of poles I had never seen one so beautiful. I haven't made a rod from it yet but I intend to soon.
Aki and his students came back to Idaho in 2014 to the bamboo gathering. I didn't go this year but Aki called to see if they could visit the shop once more and I said I would be delighted but I thought we should meet first so he and his companions could fish a stream. He wanted to bring the special rod he made using my taper. I was anxious to see how it performed and suggested we all go to Ennis, Montana, where they could fish my favorite stream, O'Dell Creek, where I grew up fishing and learning the fine points of dry fly fishing. It's a wonderful spring creek of medium size with great hatches at times and large fish.
Tom Morgan has multiple sclerosis and is paralyzed. He is confined to a wheelchair. I remember my father told me that his wife is always with him.
His message continues.
Normally I would have loved to fish the rod but I have multiple sclerosis and am paralyzed so my fishing days are over but I'm still a keen observer of casting and fishing.
We all met at O'Dell Creek and looked at the stream. After watching for a while we could see there wasn't a good hatch but thought they should go fishing anyway. So I said to Aki, "Let's go fishing". He and his friends spread out to fish but Aki stayed where I could watch. I could see how smoothly the rod cast and how easily it presented the fly. It looked like the perfect 4-weight rod for that type of fishing. Unfortunately there wasn't a good hatch and the fish weren't very active that day but they all had a wonderful experience and there were still some nice fish caught. They all thought O'Dell Creek was a special place and could see why it was my favorite.
A few days later they visited the shop and Aki presented me with the rod he had made using my taper and his ferrule design. He also presented me with two bamboo coating sticks he had used to coat thread wraps and I could see how beautiful and smooth they were from the years of use. I was very touched by his generosity and heart felt feelings towards me. My wife, Gerri Carlson, Aki and I made the personal connection one rarely makes in life and we treasure his friendship as he treasures ours.
Aki is now presenting one of his wonderful rods using my taper design and his ferrule design and workmanship as the AKIMARU/TOM MORGAN rod. It's been a wonderful collaboration with him to make this wonderful bamboo rod. I hope it provides a lot of enjoyment to anglers on their favorite streams.
Tom Morgan
"Let's go fishing" – I think we all know true happiness behind the words.
I understand the meaning of it, and now I am very happy for this collaboration rod.
Happiness of being able to go fishing with beautiful bamboo rod – it is my pleasure to share this happiness to all flyfishermen in Japan and world.
Now, let's go fishing.
Text: Chikako Akimaru
Photos: Yudai Mochizuki
Original message: Tom Morgan
Translation: Daisuke Ogura
You can find more information of this brand collaboration rod "Aki & Tom":