About Proof

Proof Fly Fishing began with a simple idea: good rod-building materials should be easier to find and reasonably priced.

It started with an email list of fellow rod builders who were having trouble sourcing quality cork. By pooling our resources, we were able to purchase directly from a cork supplier in Portugal. It's a relationship that continues to this day.

What began as a small group eventually grew to more than 300 builders. At that point, it made sense to turn the informal buying group into a business.

Proof started small, offering cork and Snake Brand guides. Over time, we added grips, reel seats, rod blanks, thread, and the other components that go into building a fly rod. For years, the entire operation ran out of my attic.

Two years ago, Proof outgrew that space. Moving into a dedicated shop and getting help with order fulfillment allowed me to spend more time on the part of the business I enjoy most: finding good products, working with manufacturers, and developing new tools and components.

Today, Proof continues to grow, but the idea behind it hasn't changed much. We're still looking for better ways to help people build fly rods, whether that's finding a reliable source for a traditional component or developing something entirely new.