Proctor only made the move to crafting fly-fishing rods in recent years. He was previously engaged in craftingWestern saddles.
Proctor only made the move to crafting fly-fishing rods in recent years. He was previously engaged in crafting Western saddles. (Andy Cross, The Denver Post)

Flat feet kept Kevin Proctor out of the military. But they didn't keep him from taking up the sport of fly-fishing.

So when the 59-year-old son of a Marine wanted to demonstrate his admiration for those who served our nation in his absence, he did it the best way he knew how: by building custom fly rods.

The owner of Colorado Custom Fly Rods in Littleton has crafted a unique niche in the fly-fishing world by designing and building rods tailored to the military accomplishments of veterans.

The ornate rods recognize the branch of service with an Army, Navy, Air Force or Marine insignia stamped onto the butt end and corresponding colors — Army black and gold, for example — used to thread the guides in place. A more personal touch is offered just above the rod grip, where multi-colored "ribbons" are wound to represent the various commendations presented and worn on a soldier's uniform.

"The first one I built was for my older half-brother, who served in Vietnam," Proctor said. "It was an idea I had rolling around in my head for months, putting the ribbons on a rod. I just didn't have a reason to do so until my brother told me he wanted to take up fly-fishing when he retired. It was a perfect opportunity to do it."

Proctor, a natural craftsman with a prior career building custom Western saddles, only began building fly-rods shortly after he took up fly-fishing five years ago. The hobby turned into a new career after he was downsized from his job in the technology industry two years ago and he opened a small shop.

"Crafty stuff has always come pretty easy to me," Proctor said. "I enjoyed tying flies and it seemed like a natural next step. So I built a couple rods and people seemed to like what I was doing."

Now building in excess of 40 rods a year, the few military rods Proctor has built have caught the attention of fly- fishermen around the nation.

An example of his military-inspired work
An example of his military-inspired work (Andy Cross, The Denver Post)

"I spent 23 years in the Army National Guard, so I kind of recognized them for what they were, commemorating someone's service to the country," said Jesse Denton of Atlanta, who discovered Proctor's work at "I've tried to build a few rods myself, but that's kind of like comparing an average golfer to Tiger Woods. He does some amazing stuff."

Proctor's designs (starting at $250) are seemingly without limit, ranging from the artistic and commemorative to tailor-fitting hand grips and rod specs. Mostly built from graphite blanks and occasionally refurbished bamboo, the rods might contain reel seats built from ponderosa pine or cottonwood, handles carved from bark instead of cork, feather inlays and, in one instance, even a moose antler worked into the design.

The moose antler was part of another passionate project for Proctor, a Boy Scout-themed rod he built for the Tahosa Alumni Association that's being used to raise funds to help restock the trout pond at the scout camp near Ward where he volunteers. A family of moose lives on camp property.

"When I get a rod order, I try to learn something about the customer to make the rod that much more special to him or her," Proctor said. "I built a Scout-themed rod for a ranger from another camp down by Elbert, since it was such a big part of his life. And I recently did some rods from pink blanks specifically made for a breast cancer support group called Casting for Recovery."

An example of his military-inspired work

All the rods Proctor builds hold some personal sentiment, he says, but none so much as the military rods he was inspired to build in large part due to his father's service in World War II.

"I'm anxious to do one in the Marine scarlet and gold, as much to commemorate dad's service in the South Pacific as anything," Proctor said. "I didn't do lots of fishing with dad, but I remember fishing trips that we went on when I was little. He was a fly-fisherman, and I imagine there were times he wanted to kill me for things I did with his fly line."

Due to his "4-F" status, Proctor missed the Vietnam War where his brother and other peers served, but he has witnessed first-hand the effect combat has had on his family and friends, both mental and physical.


As a result, he and his wife both volunteer at the local VFW chapter, and he's also involved with Project Healing Waters, a group dedicated to help returning vets alleviate anxiety through fishing time on the water.

The military rods serve as a complement to his volunteer efforts, and Proctor willingly pours his heart into each one through unpaid overtime. The return on his effort is evident, he says.

"I enjoy doing the military rods an awful lot. And while I know that the other rods are appreciated, I know that these are loved," said Proctor, joking that his brother probably slept with his rod for a week. "People enjoy them and have fun fishing with all of them. I've gotten that feedback. But people don't cheer up over the other rods like they do with these. When I see that, I know I've done good."

Scott Willoughby: 303-954-1993 or