wanting the best they can get their hands on in tackle. But also well healed too, if you know what I mean. My reels are not cheap. Our customers range from the average Joe like me that just likes good stuff, to very experienced professionals like yourself, guides all over the world and yes the very wealthy and famous. We have made reels for rock stars, heads of state and billionaires worldwide. Doelores and I enjoy long time friendships with a lot of our customers, many people we would have never met if I was doing something else for a living.
My craft is what they discovered and wanted at first, then a friendship grows. They share family photos and vacation stories with us, mostly with Doelores, and we love it. But we don't expose or share those names, photos or stories outside our home and shop because most of them treat us as their friend and family as we treat them. It's something personal, their down time, their vacation off the job, not for advertising; it's private. We would not want to publicly use or drop famous names to help sell or promote our product. Their friendship is far more valued than selling another reel. You and I have talked about certain people over the years, but you and I are friends too. We do that in private talking about our day at work. It's not marketing or name dropping at that level.
work at that level of quality day in and day out. Every reel we make goes through my hands for final inspection. It makes me nuts and anyone and everyone under me nuts. I have found only one guy that can do that. One guy that can deliver his best and strive to be better tomorrow and that is Steve Whitlock who is working with me now. He is a reel maker now, not just a machinist or assembler. He has- along with his own previous experience learned my methods of machining, my polishing, anodizing and assembly. And he is also a fisherman that can competently adjust a reel drag that will work, that you will like. He can stand alone and do it all now. So together we do the best that we can. Hopefully you like the results. As I said- I, we have never made a perfect reel. I have never been absolutely satisfied by my own work. That is my biggest challenge. The second is business in general. What started out as a career-skill applied to a hobby and love of a sport evolved into a business. That's another world of skills to learn and earn...
I work hard and spend many days on the water. Over the last month (August 2014) Ron has been going just as strong if not harder than myself while chasing steelhead. These are long days. All the while he is scouting his Mule Deer and for his friends Big Horn Sheep hunts coming up later this fall. He is slowing down a little and as he does, but have no doubt, most blokes will still have trouble keeping up. No doubt, with Ron on your team, success always follows.