Welcome

The L.H. Design bamboo fly rods programme that was started some thirty years ago originated in a childhood interest. In a part of Holland where lakes and canals abound and where a young boy is fortunate enough to be able to go fishing after school almost every day it is easy to see how this interest was roused.

Every person who loves fishing is bound to come under the spell of tackle and methods sooner or later, and so did I. How I longed in those childhood days to become the owner of a real fly rod and reel!

This interest became a passion, and before the actual L.H. Design rod-building programme started many years of experimenting with bamboo poles, greenheart and glassfibre went by. Building bamboo fly rods is a complicated affair in which finding the appropriate background literature, tools, planing forms and of course, the right materials takes years.

My passion for fly fishing does not only involve rod building, but also the designing and building of fly reels. After some experiments with different designs and materials a number of models in titanium were developed. These models are still being produced in their original form today. Working with titanium is a wonderful experience; with every reel one marvels at the beautifully clear and perfect finish of the material.

The L.H. Design programme is based on two principles. On the one hand there is the firm belief that "a thing of beauty is a joy forever", and L.H. Design fly rods and fly reels are trying to prove that saying true. On the other hand it goes without saying that the functional aspects of the design should certainly not be forgotten. Every craftsman knows that perfection is always one step away, yet the L.H. Design program is continuously striving for perfection. Now, and in the future, L.H. Design will be a guarantee for balanced design and craftsmanship.

Leen Huisman
Leen Huisman

Stocklist 2024

8 new items!

In stock: Item #1
In stock: Item #2
In stock: Item #3
In stock: Item #4
In stock: Item #7


Important note

Discontinued reel models, no stock anymore:

  1. The Silver Shadow
  2. The Highland Reel
  3. The Amber Salmon
  4. The Saltwater Series



Custom freehand engravings by Mrs. Den Braven and Mrs. Ryall

Engraving by Mrs. Den Braven
Engraving by Mrs. Den Braven
Engraving by Mrs. Joanne Ryall
Engraving by Mrs. Joanne Ryall

Dear friends,

For more than four decades, it has been an absolute pleasure for Ella and me to make Titanium fly reels and bamboo fly rods to meet the wishes of anglers all over the world. It is, however, now necessary to let you know the following:

We are both 75 now and personal circumstances have dictated that we move L.H. Design into a new direction. With immediate effect (October 2021), it will no longer be possible to order bespoke rods and/or reels directly at our firm.

But... Ella and I will continue making some of our very favourite rods and reels, but, in future, at our own pace. These rods and reels will appear from time-to-time on our website and, when they do, they will be available immediately.

Putting the brake on bespoke commissions was a very tough decision of course as we've loved creating your very special rods and reels. But, at the same time, but we both knew that this moment would eventually arrive.

We hope to continue on this new path in the future and certainly intend to spend more time with our six grandchildren and also not forgetting some time to go fishing!!

Thank you for all your interest and friendship over so many years and for your warm attention, especially your visits to see us and for your suggestions to create milestone rods and reels.

With love to all of you!!

Leen Huisman
Ella and Leen Huisman
Owners and founders of L.H. Design