“The Makers”
William W. Blackburn
From Tom Morgan Rodsmiths to W.W. Blackburn Bamboo Fly Rods
Among the independent bamboo rodmakers of contemporary Montana, William “Bill” Blackburn occupies a distinctive place. His career connects two important chapters in modern American rodmaking: the remarkable work of Tom Morgan and Gerri Carlson at Tom Morgan Rodsmiths, and the tradition of small, independent workshops where a craftsman develops rods under his own name.For more than a decade, Blackburn played a central role in producing the bamboo rods designed by Tom Morgan. He subsequently established W.W. Blackburn Bamboo Fly Rods in Bozeman, Montana, applying the experience gained in Morgan's workshop to his own designs.
The Tom Morgan Connection
To understand Bill Blackburn's work, it is necessary to begin with Tom Morgan. Morgan had already established an important reputation during his years at R.L. Winston, where he helped develop a modern approach to fly rod design grounded in casting efficiency, accuracy and the relationship between rod and angler.
After leaving Winston, Morgan established Tom Morgan Rodsmiths in southwestern Montana. His ambition was to produce a limited number of exceptionally refined rods, free from the pressures of large-scale manufacturing. The workshop became a collaboration between Morgan, his wife Gerri Carlson and a small number of skilled craftsmen. Blackburn joined this operation around the turn of the millennium, becoming responsible for much of its bamboo production.
Under Morgan's direction, Blackburn helped establish the bamboo workshop and produced the carefully prepared blanks that formed the foundation of the company's split-cane rods. Morgan himself acknowledged Blackburn's contribution in a detailed account of his rodmaking history published on The Classic Fly Rod Forum in 2012. He described how Blackburn had helped establish the workshop and made the bamboo blanks subsequently finished by Gerri Carlson. It is an important acknowledgement from one of the most influential American fly rod designers of the modern era.
Building the Morgan Bamboo Rods
The bamboo rods produced by Tom Morgan Rodsmiths represented a demanding combination of engineering, traditional craftsmanship and careful attention to casting characteristics. Morgan's approach to taper design placed particular emphasis on smooth loading, accurate presentation and the ability to maintain control over a wide range of fishing distances. Producing the bamboo blanks to these specifications required exceptional consistency. Blackburn's work involved translating Morgan's designs into accurately constructed cane sections, including the hollow-built construction associated with some of the workshop's finest rods. Gerri Carlson subsequently undertook the finishing work, while Morgan maintained his exacting oversight of the completed instruments.
This division of responsibilities is essential to understanding the provenance of Morgan-era bamboo rods.Although they bore the Tom Morgan Rodsmiths name and reflected Morgan's design philosophy, Blackburn's craftsmanship was an important part of their physical construction. His contribution is documented not only in Morgan's own account but also in contemporary recollections from anglers who visited the workshop and watched him at work. One particularly interesting surviving example is a Tom Morgan Rodsmiths bamboo rod inscribed to W. William Blackburn and presented to him in recognition of his service to the company.
A New Chapter in Bozeman
At the end of 2011, Blackburn left Tom Morgan Rodsmiths to pursue rodmaking independently. The transition was initially described by Morgan as a retirement, but contemporary accounts from Bozeman made clear that Blackburn was not leaving the craft. Instead, he was establishing a workshop under his own name. By 2012, W.W. Blackburn Bamboo Fly Rods was operating in Bozeman, Montana.
The decision marked an important change in his career. After years of working within Morgan's carefully defined design philosophy, Blackburn could now develop and produce rods according to his own preferences. An August 2012 account describes the delivery of a hollow-built 8'3" five-weight rod, made for fishing the Madison River and other larger waters of Montana. Its owner praised the smooth casting action, considerable reserve power, precise ferrule fit and quality of the handmade reel-seat fittings. These early accounts suggest that Blackburn's independent work was immediately recognised for the same exacting standards that had characterised his years with Morgan.
W.W. Blackburn Bamboo Fly Rods
Blackburn's independent rods retained the precision and refinement associated with his earlier work, but were no longer simply expressions of another designer's ideas. His workshop produced both solid and hollow-built bamboo rods, with tapers intended for practical fishing rather than adherence to a single traditional school. Contemporary owners have described actions ranging from smooth medium-fast rods to more progressive designs capable of carrying considerable line.
An especially admired model is his eight-foot four-weight, which has been praised for its versatility, combining delicate presentation with the ability to handle larger flies and demanding fishing conditions. Blackburn also made his own reel-seat components, including caps, sliding bands and other fittings. Such details are significant. They demonstrate an approach to rodmaking in which the mechanical and aesthetic elements are considered together, rather than assembled from unrelated components. The resulting rods have a restrained appearance, with careful proportions and workmanship that rewards close examination. Their elegance lies in the quality of the construction rather than elaborate ornamentation.
A Rodmaker Shaped by Montana
Montana has long occupied a central place in the history of modern American bamboo rodmaking. The state's rivers, particularly the Madison, Yellowstone, Missouri and Gallatin, have influenced generations of rod designers and craftsmen. Blackburn's work belongs to this tradition.
His rods were developed in an environment where casting performance could be judged against the demands of real fishing: changing currents, long drifts, wind, delicate presentations and the need to control fish in substantial water. The relationship between maker and angler was equally important. Accounts from those who knew Blackburn describe an accomplished fly caster whose practical understanding of fishing was reflected in the rods he built. This combination of technical craftsmanship and experience on the water helps explain the character of his designs.
In 2013, the Bozeman Daily Chronicle produced a short film featuring Blackburn discussing bamboo rodmaking and fly fishing in Montana. The film offers a valuable contemporary record of his independent workshop and the philosophy behind his work.
The Beaverkill-79
Among Blackburn's individual designs is the Beaverkill-79, a 7'9" bamboo rod intended for a five-weight line. We are happy to carry one of these rods here at Alder Creek.
The model reflects the practical character of his rodmaking: a relatively compact trout rod with a progressive action and sufficient reserve power for varied fishing conditions. Its design makes it an appealing example of the modern American bamboo tradition, combining traditional materials with a distinctly contemporary understanding of casting performance. As with many independent rodmakers, the precise specifications and appointments of individual Blackburn rods may vary. Each example should therefore be considered on its own merits, with attention to its original configuration, inscriptions and accompanying documentation.
Sources
Tom Morgan. Tom Morgan on His History with Winston Bamboo (Part 2/2). The Classic Fly Rod Forum, 2012. Morgan's firsthand account of his rodmaking career and Bill Blackburn's role in establishing and operating the bamboo workshop at Tom Morgan Rodsmiths. The discussion also contains contemporary clarification of Blackburn's departure and independent business.
The Classic Fly Rod Forum. New Bill Blackburn Rod, August 2012. Contemporary owner account of an early independent Blackburn hollow-built bamboo rod, including casting characteristics, construction and handmade fittings.
The Classic Fly Rod Forum. Looking for an 8' 4 wt., August 2025. Later collector discussion of Blackburn's independent work, including his eight-foot four-weight and his reputation among experienced anglers.
Bozeman Daily Chronicle. Blackburn Bamboo Fly Rods. Short documentary featuring Bill Blackburn discussing rodmaking and fly fishing in Bozeman, Montana.
Global FlyFisher. Blackburn Bamboo Fly Rods, published December 14, 2014. Presentation of the Blackburn documentary and its subject.
Freestone Vintage Tackle. Tom Morgan Rodsmiths – 7'6" Bamboo Fly Rod. Description of a Tom Morgan Rodsmiths rod presented to Bill Blackburn in recognition of his work with the company.
https://www.freestonevintagetackle.com/products/tom-morgan-rodsmiths-76-2-2-5wt-bamboo-fly-rod
MTN News / KTVQ. Montana Made: Tom Morgan Rodsmiths, October 23, 2018. Regional reporting on the history, craftsmanship and philosophy of Tom Morgan Rodsmiths.
https://www.ktvq.com/news/montana-made/2018/10/23/montana-made-tom-morgan-rodsmiths/
Bamboo Journal. Interview with Tom Morgan, Issue 14. Historical account of Morgan's career, the establishment of Tom Morgan Rodsmiths and Blackburn's contribution to bamboo production.
https://www.rodmakers.it/wp-content/uploads/Bamboo_Journal/ENG/BJ14ENG.pdf