Rick Pope, the founder of Temple Fork Outfitters, is on the podcast to share the history of TFO rods and the impacts to the fly fishing industry. We hear how Lefty Kreh was instrumental in elevating the company and how it all came to be.
Rick shares the background on how he started and scaled one of the big fly rods companies in the world. This is the perfect episode if you want to hear the past, present and future plans from one of the best and most respected guys in the fly fishing business.
Click below and listen to the Rick Pope Interview:
Find the show: itunes | stitcher | overcast
Find the show: itunes | stitcher | overcast
Sponsors and Podcast Updates
Show Notes with Rick Pope
09:35 – Wanda Taylor helped TFO with their trout rods for light gear and teaches casting at her website.
10:10 – We talked about Lefty Kreh and the Lefty signature series TFO rods and the impact to the industry.
14:40 – Rick noted Redington and the mistake they made with their warranty claims. This is what help TFO take off an grow.
15:45 – Bob Clouser, Ed Jaworowski, Nick Carcione were all big players along with Lefty in the evolution of TFO.
31:10 – TFO was one of the first companies to support Project Healing Waters. I had Jerry Lorang on the podcast in episode 50.
31:50 – Casting for Recovery, Reel Recovery and Hero’s on the Water were other big impacts for TFO.
36:30 – We talk about the BVK model rods and the double helix kevlar process to make the rod just killer.
37:20 – We talk about the new Axion models that are coming out in the fall.
39:30 – Rob Fordyce helped design some sait water rods for TFO. Here’s a salt water tips video with Rob.
42:00 – Flip Pallot was on in episode 70 here and talked about the hurricane ripping his house apart. Joan Wulff was on the podcast in episode 100 here.
1:01:50 – Rick talks about the Cosmic Cowboys Skeet Shooting team and how they were best in the country.
1:09:30 – Jake Jordan introduced Gary Loomis to TFO.
1:10:30 – Gary started Edge Rods which ended the TFO partnership.
1:13:40 – Cliff Pace was noted in the show here and is a bass master.
You can find Rick Pope at TFORods.com or by email at Rick@tforods.com
Resources Noted in the Show
Videos Noted in the Show
Conclusion with Rick Pope
Rick Pope, the founder of TFO Rods, is on the podcast to share his story about how he started a low cost fly rod company. We talk about the importance of community and where we are all heading in the fly fishing business.
We even get a few tips on skeet shooting and bird hunting from Rick. This one brings it all together as we talk about Flip Pallot, Gary Loomis, Lefty and all of the people who helped to make TFO Rods the company today.
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Good Evening…I’m Byron Kitchen, from southern Ontario, Canada, and I have been listening to your podcast interview with Rick Pope, and can’t stress enough how valuable it has been to me…I am starting a fly fishing store, Heritage Fly Fishing, in Trenton Ontario, and want to stock and promote a product that reflects more than just image…and, until this podcast, I was losing faith in this product…now, after listening to this, I am going to carry and promote this first, before anything else…what you and Rick spoke about, and the entire atmosphere of the interview, was what inspired me to carry this product, almost exclusively…I plan on implementing the various support programs that TFO also promotes, through the store…it is very gratifying to have received this image from your interview…very impressive…both the show that you hold, and the business practice and insight of Mr. Pope…thank-you…immensely…
Hey Bryon,
Thanks so much for reaching out and letting me know you enjoyed the podcast. The fly fishing founders interviews, as we call them are always some of my favorites on the podcast. I’ll pass along this message to TFO as I’m sure they’d love to hear it. Thanks again for the support and excited to hear how else we can help your shop!