Handmade Fly Fishing Rods And The World’s Largest Tea Pot, Inside Appalachia

This week, we visit with a West Virginia man who shows his love for fishing by building exquisite, handmade fly rods. It’s a long process, but he shares his knowledge with others.

We also spill the tea on a classic roadside attraction in Chester, West Virginia.

And punk music photographer Chelse Warren takes us into the pit for stories and observations. 

You’ll hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia.

In This Episode:

• Passing On The Craft Of Making Fly Fishing Rods
• Among The Bees Of The Mountain State
• Spilling The Tea On An Appalachian Roadside Attraction
• Open Head Takes Photos

Passing On The Craft Of Making Fly Fishing Rods

Most athletes welcome technical innovations in sports equipment, but fly fishing is different. Some fishermen prefer the old-fashioned way, with fishing flies and wooden rods made by hand.

Folkways Reporter Zack Harold took us to the Elk River to learn more.

Among The Bees Of The Mountain State

Honeybees have been at work since the first days of spring.

In 2022, Folkways Reporter Margaret McCloud Leef brought us a report from a community of West Virginia beekeepers. 

Spilling The Tea On An Appalachian Roadside Attraction

Summer is a good time to take a road trip. Out on the roads of Appalachia, you never know what you’ll see.

Last year, Inside Appalachia’s Zander Aloi took a trip to Chester, West Virginia, to learn the story behind a classic roadside attraction there – a souvenir stand known as the World’s Largest Teapot.

Openhead Takes Photos

Last summer, Mason Adams visited a two-day DIY music festival called The Floor is Gone.

In the middle of it all was photographer Chelse Warren, who goes by Openhead Takes Photos online.

Mason reached out to talk music and more.

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Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Mary Hott, John Blissard, Town Mountain and Sean Watkins.

Bill Lynch is our producer. Zander Aloi is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. We had help this week from folkways editor Chris Julin.

You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.

You can find us on Instagram, Threads and Twitter @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.

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Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.