Built by Hand, Cast with Heart: The Story Behind Clackamas Rod Co.

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This interview was conducted by The Fly Box and featured in Casts That Care, our charity-driven fly fishing newsletter.

Casts That Care brings you real stories, big ideas, and the heart of the fly fishing world—all while donating 50% of subscriber fees to a different fly fishing charity each month.

Subscribe today and use promo code: "Clackamas15" at checkout for 15% off your first month, and we’ll donate 25% more to conservation efforts supported by Claackamas rod co.

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For Eric Berkner, fly fishing isn’t just a passion—it’s a lifestyle, a daily practice, and the foundation of a small but growing garage-based rod company called Clackamas Rod Co.

Berkner doesn’t have a warehouse. He doesn’t have a staff. What he does have is a relentless obsession with fly fishing, a vise-grip work ethic, and a garage in Oregon filled with rod blanks, thread, and a growing list of customers who believe in what he’s building.

Eric Berkner

From East Coast Creeks to Oregon Steelhead

Eric Berkner first picked up a fly rod at 12 years old, cutting his teeth on small creeks along the East Coast. Years later, a move to Oregon for college changed everything. “That opened up a whole new world,” he said. “I started chasing steelhead and salmon, and eventually got into fly fishing filmmaking.”

His passion for filming fly fishing took him all the way to Iceland, where he caught “the biggest Brown trout of [his] life.” That progression—from curious kid to filmmaker to rod builder—wasn’t planned, but it made sense. “Maybe rod building is just an accumulation of all those experiences,” Berkner reflects.

No Breaks, No Lunches, No Half Measures

If there’s one word to describe how Berkner approaches fly fishing, it’s intensity. “My friends say I’m intense—and I guess they’re right... I don’t bring lunch when I fish. I won’t eat it. I don’t want to stop fishing.”

That single-minded focus fuels how he builds rods, too. He only creates rods he personally loves to fish. If a blank doesn’t feel right, it doesn’t get built. “The rod has to look good too,” he added. “The finish, the action—I want it to be something I’m proud to put my name on.”

He’s partial to fast-action rods, which match his aggressive, high-energy fishing style. One of his most memorable builds? A custom 11’3” switch rod that he used to land two 10-pound cutthroat trout at Pyramid Lake. “Landing a fish like that on a rod you built yourself—that was a rush.”

From Garage to Growing Brand

Clackamas Rod Co. is a small-time operation in every sense—each rod is crafted by hand in Berkner’s garage. It’s not his full-time job (yet), but that’s the dream.

“I’d love to get more space than my garage someday,” he says. “Right now, every rod takes a lot of time, and social media is a whole other job. It’s hard to keep up, but it’s worth it.”

Time is the biggest challenge, but also the fuel. Berkner is constantly researching ways to build better—lighter, stronger, smoother. The other side of the business? Building a brand through content.

Viral Rod Building & The Power of TikTok

Eric’s videos—many of them filmed in that same garage—have started to take off online. “I appreciate that,” he says. “Some days I can’t keep up with the DMs and comments. But that connection, that feedback from people—it’s huge.”

Creating content is more than a highlight reel. It’s a job. “You have to look at it that way,” he says. “You post in batches, track what works, refine it, and stay consistent.” He admits it’s tough to put hours into a video that flops, but he keeps going—because that consistency is what builds trust, audience, and eventually, momentum.

And the momentum is real. “I assumed everyone wanted a rod from a big-name brand. But I’m learning that’s not always true. People want that personal connection. That’s what I’m trying to build.”

Fly Shops, Goals & What’s Next

Berkner isn’t in any fly shops—yet. “To get into shops, the brand has to be recognizable enough that customers know what they’re picking up,” he explained. “If they don’t, it’s not worth the shop’s time. But I hope to get there.”

He’s got big dreams. Big enough to go beyond building rods. “In five to ten years, I want this company to do things that haven’t been done before. I want it to help anglers all over the world—help them catch more fish, enjoy the art of casting, and just love the process more.”

Follow Along or Reach Out

You can find Eric Berkner and Clackamas Rod Co. at www.clackamasrodcompany.com or connect with him directly through DMs on Instagram and TikTok @ Clackamasrodco And even if you’re not in the market for a rod?

“Reach out with anything you need help with—even if it doesn’t involve my rods,” he says. “I just love helping people.”

That’s the spirit behind Clackamas Rod Co.—built with heart, cast with purpose, and always one rod at a time.