Catching ‘Em All: Tyson Chavis Builds the Pokéball Fly Rod

The Fly Box LLC
Sep 13, 2025
3 min read

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

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By Kevin Wolfe | Casts That Care

Earlier this year, Casts That Care featured Idaho angler and creator Tyson Chavis (@Leave_No_Trvce). He is a steelhead-chasing, death-metal-loving fly fisherman who has made a name for blending his personal passions with the sport. Now Tyson is back with his boldest project yet: a fully custom Pokéball Fly Rod that he built by hand and is giving away to one lucky angler.

From Childhood Nostalgia to River Reality

The idea began with a simple observation. Tyson told us, “The idea for the Pokéball fly rod came from staring at fly reels. When I saw the Redington ID Core, it immediately struck me as looking like a Pokéball.”

Pokémon was an important part of his early years. “Pokémon was a huge part of my childhood in the early 2000s. I played the games, collected the cards, and watched the original show religiously. This rod is really a love letter to that era, a reminder of the excitement, exploration, and the chase for something legendary.”

Building the Pokéball Rod

Tyson started with the blank, choosing the Blue Halo Retroflex 3, an 8-foot, 5-weight fiberglass rod. “It excels in tight quarters, and the vibrant red glass was perfect for a Pokéball theme,” he explained. He threaded, wrapped, and epoxied the rod with matching colors before turning his attention to the reel. “I measured and cut the vinyl by hand, then permanently applied it to the ID Core reel with rod-building epoxy. For a finishing touch, I cut out a holographic Magikarp card and set it into the rod with epoxy.”

The build was not without challenges. “The toughest part of the build was a toss-up between epoxying the reel, something I had never tried before, and figuring out how to make the Magikarp card stay on the rod. Since the card was thicker than a standard decal, it took a few attempts to get it right.”

Between building the first rod, filming and editing the video, and then creating a second version for the giveaway, the process stretched over three months. “At the time it was only my second rod build, and I was still learning a ton while relying on very basic hand tools.”

Why a Giveaway?

The decision to part with the rod came after some hesitation. “Originally, I planned to give away the first rod to someone who shared my love for both fly fishing and Pokémon, while also promoting the build video. But I ended up loving it so much that I decided to keep it and build a second one to give away instead, a nearly identical version with a few small improvements.”

What he hopes the winner takes from it goes beyond gear. “What I really hope the winner gets out of the rod is a reminder that fly fishing is supposed to be fun. The challenge and rewards are great, but it is easy to forget the joy of simply being out there — something I am guilty of too.”

Beyond the Pokéball

The Pokéball rod has gained attention far beyond Tyson’s expectations. “The Pokéball fly rod has resonated with more people than I ever expected, especially across the fly fishing and Pokémon communities. It has been amazing to see how well it has connected on Instagram.”

The success has sparked more ideas. “Up next are the Great Ball, Ultra Ball, and Master Ball rods, each one aimed at bigger and rarer fish. I am also still working on catching every trout species in Idaho.”

And the creativity is not stopping there. “As for future builds, I have got plenty of ideas. One that excites me is a katana-inspired rod, I think it could be a really fun project.”

Fly Fishing, Reinvented

For Tyson, the Pokéball Fly Rod is more than just a creative build. “Pokémon is all about exploration and overcoming challenges. The Pokéball fly rod is all about creating something meaningful and having fun on the water. I hope those two ethos play a role in showing the next generation of fly anglers that fly fishing can be whatever they want it to be. It doesn’t have to be what most of social media and corporate marketing show you.”