Alaska Rod Co

Alaska Rod Co. is what happens when a lifelong fisherman gets fed up with waiting weeks for out-of-state warranty repairs and decides to build something better. Meet the man who turned a garage operation into Alaska’s own fly rod company.

This month’s “Alaska Focus” installment features Alaska Rod Co. It’s an entrepreneurial tale, and a good example of what’s possible with some ingenuity, determination and the right attitude. Matt Crowe grew up living the outdoor lifestyle in northern Minnesota on Rainy Lake, near the Canadian border and Voyageurs National Park. Hunting and fishing were a way of life. He remembers cleaning out minnow buckets as a young kid at his parent’s fishing lodge and driving dad’s boat with a Mercury Verado 225 hp engine, at 12 years old. His parents ran a guiding business out of a cabin on Rainy Lake. He spent time as a bear-hunting guide, chased waterfowl and deer, and caught walleyes and smallmouth bass. A good life in the woods.

After attending college in Wisconsin, he followed a woman he had been dating to Alaska. She had graduated prior to him and was back home on the Kenai Peninsula and posted a picture of a huge coho. Matt was, as they say, hooked. After scouring Craigslist for a job in the fishing industry, he landed a spot with O’Fish’ial Charters in Homer. After scrapping together a vehicle, some food, a few belongings, and not much else, he headed north to Alaska.

An Idea That Wouldn’t Let Go

After working in the charter business, he went back to school to learn about respiratory therapy, so he could settle into a steady job. He likes spending time with people and is empathetic to their struggles. But like a song that won’t get out of your head, the call of the fishing and hunting lifestyle wouldn’t leave his thoughts. Near the end of 2019 into 2020, with COVID at our doorstep, and with the strong and unwavering support from his wife, this proved to be the turning point and the inception of Alaska Rod Co.

Looking to build an American-made rod in Alaska, at a fair price compared to the high-end rods on the market, with a bulletproof warranty and dedication to exceptional customer service, Matt started out rolling rods in his garage. From Day 1, he’s felt the support of Alaskans and he continues to recognize that serving Alaskans and being part of the community brings him great satisfaction.

The Birth of Alaska Rod Co.

Fish Alaska magazine: Tell us about yourself and why you started this business?

Alaska Rod Co.: I grew up in a fishing family. My grandparents owned a small fishing resort, and my parents ran a guide outfit, so fishing was just part of everyday life. When I turned 18, I earned my USCG captain’s license and started guiding. A few years later, I made my way to Homer, AK, where I worked on a halibut charter and spent as much time on the water as I could. I graduated from UAS with a degree in Fisheries Technology a few years later.

The idea for Alaska Rod Co. came from a bit of frustration. Every time a rod needed warranty work, it meant out-of-state shipping and waiting weeks—or longer—to get it back. I started looking for an Alaska-based rod manufacturer that could handle everything in-state, and that’s when I realized there wasn’t one. I started to kick the idea around for a while until my wife finally sat me down and told me this could be a game changer for so many folks, and she encouraged me to hit the ground running. Alaska holds a special place in the hearts of so many folks. I wanted to give anglers a company that was deserving of the mighty name “Alaska.”

Fish Alaska magazine: What types of rods do you make?

Alaska Rod Co.: We primarily focus on fly rods for the bulk of our production, and carry a full lineup of 9’ and 10’ fly rods with weights ranging from 5wt to 8wt. We are also in the process of redesigning our spey blanks and will finalize them and get them into production soon. Additionally, there are gear rods available on our website that cover most conventional applications. We also offer a rod specifically designed for sockeye fishing on the Kenai River.

The Values That Define Every Rod

Fish Alaska magazine: What are your core business values?

Alaska Rod Co.: A primary aspect of our business is treating Alaska with the utmost respect. Many brands come here to advertise and promote, and we never wanted Alaska to turn into a “cash cow” to push rods. So we are very careful with how we represent the state in the industry. If we post content, there must always be careful consideration of fish handling, photo angles to prevent spot burning, and extremely quick pictures taken if a rod is to be placed next to the fish for a product shot. We want the core focus of what we do to be on that special connection between the angler and what fishing means to them. Many anglers come to the water for various reasons, and we aim to give them the best customer experience to keep that connection uniquely theirs.

Another core value we take very seriously is American-made manufacturing and setting up our anglers for the long-term investment in their gear. We want to make sure we aren’t putting out new models every few years and making warranty claims a pain. That was the driving force to design and manufacture our own blanks in the USA, so folks can purchase a quality product that will hold a meaningful warranty for years to come, with little to no wait times on section replacements. We take great pride in having a warranty service second to none, no matter where you are located.

From the Garage to the Globe

Fish Alaska magazine: Where do you see the business going over the next 10 years?

Alaska Rod Co.: We started out building rods out of my garage, and after two short years, we were able to build a beautiful rod shop. Shortly after that, we started designing our own blanks and now have a full lineup of our blanks proudly rolled in the USA. Our projected 10-year plan is to keep designing more fly- and spey blanks and add additional employees to further expand the business to all 50 states and the European markets. We are fortunate enough to have rods from Alaska to South America, and we aim to slowly expand our reach with the driving focus on the quality the Alaska name brings, and the commitment to keep production in Alaska and help contribute to our local economy.

A Rod That Carries More Than a Line

Fish Alaska magazine: Share a story of someone using your rods.

Alaska Rod Co.: One of the most memorable stories about a rod is one that holds a good amount of reverence for me. I took a phone call one late afternoon after I had gotten out of the shop. It was an angler asking if I would be able to meet them in a few hours so they could purchase a rod. They requested a 9’, 5wt, and luckily I had one left in stock. I packed it up and headed to meet the client. Upon arrival, I learned that the angler had a family member who was terminally ill and wanted a rod they could bring to them to hold and form a connection with, so the angler could carry their memory on the water with them.

I was honored beyond words that one of our rods could serve as such a meaningful tribute. This happened early in the company’s journey and really solidified in my mind the importance of always making every rod we produce the best it possibly can be. You truly never know what kind of memories that rod may end up holding for someone. Anyone who holds an Alaska Rod Co. stick will always hold something crafted with an extreme commitment to keeping you on the water to make those memories.

Alaskan Fishing Community Stands out

Fish Alaska magazine: What connections have you made with other Alaskan businesses while running Alaska Rod Co.?

Alaska Rod Co.: I’ve said this many times, but the Alaskan fishing community has been nothing but supportive. Shops have called me out of the blue to ask if they could carry our rods, guides wanting to switch to us, and professional photographers getting shots of the rods in action. There are so many great businesses in our state that all want to help each other. One person who sticks out in particular is Tyler Schwab. Being a retired Air Force veteran, he was invited on a service-member float and reached out to me asking if he could borrow a rod to take on the trip so he could take action shots with it. I had never met him before, but I agreed to meet up and drop off the rod.

Tyler was the first person to ever ask for a rod to shoot a promo out of the kindness of his heart and then give the rod back, which I thought was rare since I field a lot of requests for free rods to keep in exchange for something. We quickly became fishing buddies, and our families became great friends over the years.

This is just one example of the many friendships I have made since starting Alaska Rod Co. At the end of the day, it’s important to stay focused on the things that truly matter, and I feel that making connections with anglers, friends, and family are the fuel that keeps Alaska Rod Co. producing a stand-alone product.

Marcus Weiner

About the Author Marcus Weiner

Marcus Weiner is the founder and Publisher of Fish Alaska and Hunt Alaska magazines. Marcus has decades of experience fishing and hunting all over Alaska. In addition to managing the editorial departments for both publications, Marcus is a regular feature writer for the magazines and content provider for the websites. Check out Marcus’s YouTube Series “The Jig Life” on the Fish Alaska YouTube Channel.

For Marcus Weiner’s full bio, read more.