Many say Hiram Leonard’s knowledge and craftsmanship toward bamboo rod making and fly fishing are tremendous.

In 1869 his first rod, which he made for himself was made of ash and lancewood. After much ado about his craftsmanship from his friends he sent it to Bradford & Anthony (in Boston, MA). The manager of Bradford & Anthony asked him if he knew how to make split bamboo rods and his legacy began.

Leonard opened up a business in 1871, (Leonard and Co.) in Bangor, MA and manufactured rods for Bradford & Anthony. He was completely on his own during his first year of making bamboo rods.

In 1881 the Leonard factory was moved to Central Valley, N.Y. Many famous rod makers learned their trade and honed their skills under the apprenticeship of Hiram Leonard: Ed Payne, Fred Thomas, Billy Edwards, and the Hawes brothers were among a few.

From the heavier Calcutta cane from which Mr. Leonard’s first rods were made, and with the introduction of Tonkin cane and dry-fly fishing, which unfortunately he did not live to see, the present-day light bamboo rods of the H.L Leonard Rod Company have been made on the same six-strip design, and on the same machinery he designed.
Hiram Lewis Leonard, with his craftsmanship and business acumen undeniably earned the title of father of the modern fly rod.