The Boo Boys

Meet the Boo Boys

The Boo Boys have come together to continue a legacy of fine bamboo and graphite rod craftsmanship in Montana. With over 80 years of collective rod building experience, the Sweetgrass Rod Boo Boys promise to build bamboo and graphite fly rods that are as special as they are a credit to the craft.

Your confidence in our abilities has encouraged us to stay together, keep the legacy alive, and eventually pass it on to others. We thank you for the undying support. For the Boo Boys, the responsibility is a blessing that will enkindle our passion for years to come.

Jerry Kustich has been a part of the "Boo Boy" team for the past twenty years learning the many intricacies of rod building. Always found on a stream testing anything from flies to waders to pentagonal bamboo designs, he has become an outspoken advocate for public access to Montana's rivers. Author, writer, devoted environmentalist, rod designer, and dedicated angler, he spends much time on the road as a fly fishing ambassador lecturing on and representing the ideals for which all serious fly anglers stand.

With 33-years of triumph and tears at the rod bench, Glenn Brackett has been defined by his love of building bamboo fly rods. An inspiration in the shop as well as throughout the local community, Glenn will often say that his most sacred duty is to preserve the legacy by teaching others the many lessons of building cane rods. For bamboo rod lovers, Glenn's intangible influence can be felt in every finely crafted rod we ever built.

Mike Watson, another graduate from Winston, has an attention to detail matched by few, and a sense of caring that one can feel in the finished product. With a history connected to the out-of-doors, his union with nature somehow transfers to the natural fibers of the bamboo rods he creates. Careful student under Jerry and Glenn, Mike's efforts will not disappoint.

Richard Hansen's degree in Fine Arts transfers in a tangible way to the rods he builds. Richard's passion for what he does can be seen in his eyes when you ask him how he's doing...a common response is, "How could I be doing any better? I get to make bamboo rods for a living!" Examine any rod Richard builds and you will behold a work of art consistent with tradition, but anchored in the present moment--aspects important both in building bamboo rods and when fishing with them.

Dave Delisi is the latest addition to the Boo Boy team. With a strong background in business and finance, his gifts differ from the traditional rod-builder. Responsible for much of the Sweetgrass back-office necessities, he may represent your first encounter with Sweetgrass. Building rods is an ethereal art, but Dave brings a sense of organization that anchors Sweetgrass to the necessities of the business world. He is also a student of the rivers and is learning, under Jerry and Glenn's patient tutelage, to build rods in the time-honored tradition.

Dana Escott wears many hats in the Twin Bridges community, from Director of Fairgrounds for Madison County to expert rod wrapper for Sweetgrass Rods. Trained at Winston, Dana's experience combines with a meticulous attention to detail to ensure our rods' wraps hold up to close scrutiny. If you are ever in the shop when Dana comes by to pick up the rods she wraps, you are guaranteed to catch some of her positive energy vivacious spirit.

Thomas Simarud, visiting Sweetgrass on a two-year internship, brings talents to the bench that come from a passion for innovation. Experimenting with different crossectional designs and with larger salmon and spey rods, Thomas represents the bleeding edge of forward thinking in bamboo design. Sweetgrass is committed to tradition, but is also eager to push the envelope of bamboo potential, and Thomas is vital in our efforts along those lines.

Sam Drukman is the man behind Sweetgrass's new graphite rods. He is honored to be considered a "boo boy" even though his passion is carbon fiber. Sam has designed and built high performance graphite and fiberglass rods for some of the finest names in the industry. He is widely regarded as an important innovator in the field. Building for Sweetgrass allows Sam to integrate all of his finely honed talents as a designer and a craftsman. His discriminating aesthetics, and respect for the traditions of the sport make him a fine complement to our company.