Rick Robbins of Lexington, Virginia has been building bamboo fly rods since 1972.  

Rick Robbins of Lexington, Virginia has been building bamboo fly rods since 1972.  His love affair with bamboo fly rods began in the 1960s when, as a university student, he made his first ever credit purchase—an H.L. Leonard 48 DF.  After graduation, Hap Mills, of H. L. Leonard, introduced Rick to the karma of the Leonard line and ended up making Rick a Leonard dealer.  But it was a friendship with Tom Maxell, that began in 1971, that launched Rick as a bamboo rod builder.  As mentor and friend until his death in 1998, Tom Maxwell was the dominant influence on Rick’s work.  Rick also credits Marc Aroner’s friendship and help as significantly inspiring his pursuit of quality bamboo fly rod construction