Zachary Pryor grew up in Central Pennsylvania's Cumberland Valley, home to many of the world's most revered trout waters.  From a very early age, he was introduced to fly fishing and fly tying by his father, the holder of a Pennsylvania State Record Rainbow Trout taken on a fly in the Yellow Breeches Creek.  The trout was probably the largest WILD Rainbow Trout ever taken in the state at nearly 11lbs.

     The area was home to many of the most famous names in fly fishing including:  Koch, Fox, Shenk, Marinaro, Clouser, Bashline and Utech, among many others.  By the age of 8, Zach was taken under wing by many of these fly fishing "Greats" and taught the art of fly tying and fly fishing and, in short order, became a 9 time fly tying champion.  All available time was spent on stream resulting in an intimate knowledge of the area's waterways such as the Yellow Breeches, Big Spring, LeTort, Mountain Creek, Old Town Run, Falling Spring, and Susquehanna and Junieta Rivers.  By age 13, he was tying flies professionally and began guiding on local streams and rivers.

     Thankfully, Zach's primary mentor, Gene Utech was deeply rooted in the history of fly tying and fly fishing, as well as it's equipment.  Being a classic salmon and wet fly fisherman and fly tier, Utech was partial to the strict English methods of tying and fishing and used them as the basis for his teachings.  The knowledge and experience gained from tradition never faded and became the foundation for which every Pryor Custom Fly Rod is made.



                                           Pryor Custom Fly Rods 
                                                                Handcrafted Fly Rods For The Discriminating Angler
                                                                                       2642 South 11th Street
                                                                                      Philadelphia, PA., 19148
                                                                                          Tel: (215)280-6414
                                                                                 email:  PryorRods@yahoo.com
                                                                                www.pryorcustomflyrods.com