In the the new world of mass producing fishing poles, 85-year-old Wes Cooper, of Fremont, is bucking the trend by making handmade bamboo fly rods out of his home.

I had owed Jim Downes a visit since last June when I wrangled his little 7 ½-foot Garrison 206 away from him at PA Fly Fishing Heritage Day. That rod has a beautiful, smooth, full-flexing action ...