About Art
Art Weiler Rods represents the life’s work of master rod maker Art Weiler, whose handcrafted fly rods were built one at a time in his Pennsylvania workshop and fished by anglers around the world. For decades, Art was known for producing bamboo, glass, and specialty fly rods that combined traditional methods, classic tapers, and practical fishing performance.
Art believed that a fly rod should do more than cast a line—it should create a connection between the angler, the water, and the fish. That belief guided every step of his process.
A Commitment to Traditional Craftsmanship
Art built his bamboo rods using time-honored techniques that few modern makers still practice. Each culm of Tonkin cane was hand-split strip by strip to preserve the natural power fibers, never sawn or batch-processed. Nodes were steam-straightened rather than scorched or compressed, and final tapers were achieved by hand planing rather than milling machines. This meticulous approach resulted in rods that are smooth, progressive, and responsive—rods that load easily at short distances, carry line effortlessly when needed, and transmit the feel of a fish through every fiber of the cane.
Classic Tapers, Thoughtfully Executed
Art Weiler Rods is especially well known for faithful reproductions of classic fly rod tapers, including Garrison, Payne, Leonard, Young, Powell, Dickerson, Granger, Gillum, Kreider, and Pezon styles. These rods were not mass-produced copies, but carefully measured and refined interpretations built to honor the originals while offering durability and real-world fishability. In addition to bamboo rods, Art also produced Willow Glass fly rods using modern S-glass for anglers who appreciate a softer, more forgiving action, as well as specialty rods for small streams, steelhead, salmon, and larger waters.
The Final Shop Inventory
Art passed away in August 2025, leaving behind a limited number of completed rods from his workshop. The rods offered on this site represent the final inventory personally built and finished by Art. No new rods will be produced. Each rod includes its original bag and tube unless otherwise noted and has been carefully documented to ensure accuracy, condition, and provenance.
Built to Be Fished
While these rods are collectible, Art always intended his work to be used. They were designed for anglers who value feel, balance, and craftsmanship—and who appreciate tools made with patience, skill, and integrity. Whether you are an experienced bamboo angler, a collector of classic tapers, or someone discovering traditional fly rods for the first time, we invite you to explore the rods Art left behind and continue their story on the water.
Testimonial from Naoto Kaibab in Japan
My first acquisition of the year is more than just a new tool; it is a return to the roots of our craft and a tribute to a master who recently left us. I have just added a bamboo rod to my collection—a Garrison recreation.
Of course, it is not an original, as those "Holy Grails" of the bamboo world now command prices that reflect their museum status. This rod, however, carries a profound pedigree of its own. It was crafted by the late Art Weiler, the Pennsylvania master who passed away this past August at the age of 80.
Finding one of Art’s builds here in Japan was a moment of serendipity. For those of us in the classic tackle community, Art was far more than a builder; he was a bridge to the past. Having dedicated decades to studying and perfecting Everett Garrison’s "Stress Theory" designs, Art was perhaps the most faithful steward of that clinical yet poetic taper.
I own several rods built on Garrison tapers, but there is a bittersweet weight to this one. Knowing it is now part of a finite legacy—that Art is no longer at his bench in Kunkletown—gives this "repro" the soul of a true heirloom. Comparing his interpretation of the Garrison action to my others will be a highlight of my season.
In keeping with Art’s philosophy of making rods that are "working tools" rather than wall-hangers, I have paired it with an Ocean City 76. Its utilitarian, honest finish is the perfect companion to the rod’s understated blonde cane and Garrison-style appointments. The balance is impeccable.
This rod was built to be fished, and I intend to honor Art’s craftsmanship exactly that way. My goal for this year is to take this Weiler-Garrison to the clear mountain streams of Toyama. There, I hope to capture a photograph of it resting alongside a native Iwana—a quiet moment of gratitude for a master builder whose work will continue to cast lines long after his passing.