We’ve heading into the deeper reaches of winter when life can start to feel a little like an Ingmar Bergman movie, and it doesn’t help when the phone rings and you find out friend and bamboo rod builder George Maurer just passed away due to a heart attack.
George was a top rod builder, and more importantly, he was a hell of a guy who ended up teaching more bamboo rod building classes than any builder alive.
A whole generation of contemporary rod builders owe a lot to George, and I will miss him.
One can only hope George is finally fishing with his good friend Harry Middleton on a stream where the wind blows small, and the trout run big.
Godspeed, George. I’ll tip one to you next time I’m on the river.
I never met nor spoke to George, but from all accounts he was a special guy and member of the Starlight Creek Angling Society. Sad news indeed.
Don(Quote)
Tom- This is such sad news. I’m still sitting here stunned and a little tearful since reading your post this morning on the Bamboo Rod Forum. 2 years ago I spent 10 days with George at his home with him teaching me and helping make my first(and so far only) rod. He was special and always willing to teach and help. The bamboo rod world has lost a prety unique guy. As you’ve said, here’s hoping he’s sitting with his friend Harry by a mountain stream. I am just so sad right now.
-Steve
Steve Altshuler(Quote)
That’s too bad, I’m sure he’ll be missed
Day Tripper(Quote)
George has been a personal friend for over 15 years. He and I were planning our summer, because “we aren’t getting younger and you never know” I spoke with him just before Christmas. We fished, ate, drank, hung out and laughed a lot. I helped him move several times. We first met in Maxatawney. He came to our cottage with his wife and daughters and dog in tow. He was always invited to our annual “Fishing the Flats event” in July. I am totally incapable of describing how great a personal hole this is for me. George went through some rough patches but always came out on the other side laughing. Now this. I don’t know what to say. He gave so many people so much. Much of the rebirth and enthusiasm for this bamboo resurgence was due to him because he shared his knowledge unhesitatingly. He will not be forgotten. I miss him already, and have regrets already.
Jan Normandale
Jan(Quote)
George and I were brothers. We started as blood brothers, cutting our wrists and sharing blood in a campsite in the Catskills. But more than that we were brothers, together, in our souls. He had an impossibly endearing laugh, and a way of seeing the world in his own way. He was fiercely individual. We weathered some bad times together and had some delightful times up on Slate Run. He was talented with a plane and with a guitar, but most of all, he was talented as a friend. I will miss him more than I can imagine on this sad night, and he will be in my heart whenever I stand in a mountain stream. Guy Gelinas Tamworth, Ontario
Guy Gelinas(Quote)
I am sorry to hear about George. George must be a good name for guys that fly fish, tie great flies and build awesome rods.
I have a place that I fish in New Brunswick Canada where there is an old guy that just keeps on giving. I make sure I stop in every time I see his shack door open, just to say hi and shoot the breeze.
It’s these people that make people like me keep coming back.
May both George’s memories stay fresh in our minds.
James “The Fly Fishing ” Mann(Quote)
I talked to george every month or two. He was going to teach me to build rods this april. He will be missed. I guess I will have to teach myself.It will make me miss him more.
bears choice(Quote)