These two boxes are made out of reclaimed old growth White Cedar salvaged from George Griffith's Barbless Hook property on Michigan's Au Sable River. George and 15 others met at the Barbless Hook in July of 1959 and decided to start a cold water conservation organization called, Trout Unlimited. This cedar tree these came from must have been about 800 years old. The growth rings are about 40-50 per inch and the tree was over 36 inches in diameter. It was a stump left by the early loggers which had fallen over into the river, thus saving it from rotting.
The Founders box has an original bronze TU pin George gave me inlaid into the top and I used part of one of George's broken bamboo rods as the thumb catch. Dividers inside are Cherry. Rare earth magnetic catches and hand made Ironwood hinges with bronze bearing pins.
The Grayling box has a hand painted Grayling inlaid into the top, Koa thumb catch. (Hopefully in about two years there will be Grayling once again in some Michigan rivers.)
Both boxes are going to the Schrems West Michigan TU banquet in a couple weeks as donations, as George would have wanted.
As a teaser there are two other boxes, one in extremely curly Koa and the other Quilted Maple. Heading out as orders.
Best,
Carl @ Wanigas Rod Company
