After almost 30 years of making fly fishing rods in my workshop - where traditional artisanry meets modern techniques and materials - I have gained a wealth of experience with these often difficult combinations.
Before I introduced my products to the public, I spent countless hours and many years in my workshop, simply making rods for myself. Since I couldn’t read the predominantly English rod-making literature, I literally made every mistake that one can make, and simply worked it out on my own. I sought the advice of established rod makers, however, they weren’t much help. They kept their knowledge “secret”. At the point when I knew that what I was doing was right, I was ready to demonstrate my work in public.
I was the first German rod maker who, without ifs and buts, demonstrated how to make fly fishing rods to the wider public at large international events. My approach wasn’t much appreciated by the more established rod makers, however, that didn’t deter me from continuing on my path. I was the first rod maker to instruct workshops in Germany, which were put on by DICK – Fine Tools in Metten, Germany.
I have never built rods for a living.

I took up the practice to ensure that the art of rod making did not die out.

Gerd-Peter Wieditz is one of Germany’s leading fly-fisher, fly-tyer and rod-builder. He lives in Witten, a town idyllically located on the banks of the river Ruhr in mid-west Germany. Every aspect of his fly-fishing - from fly-tying, to fishing and rod making - he taught himself as a true autodidact. At the time he started his career, not a single fly-fishing school-, publication- and/or related organization existed that could have supported young and aspiring fly-fisher.
Gerd-Peter can be seen at many of Europe’s big events where he introduces his style of flies and his own fly-tying techniques to an ever-growing number of fly-tiers in Europe. Many of his flies are successful entries at international competitions, in such countries as Slovenia, Norway, Canada and Japan. His passion for CDC-flies was brought about when Marjan Fratnik of Slovenia introduced him to the benefits and characteristics of CDC flies in 1991. Marjan and Gerd-Peter have still ample contact up until today.
Gerd-Peter’s flies are exhibited in museums around the world, for example in the Hunting and Fishing Museum (Jagd & Fischereimuseum) in Munich, Germany or the Cushner Museum in Florence, USA. His flies can be found in Taff Price’s (1996) Tying & Fishing the Nympth as well as in articles in major European publications, such as Der Fliegenfischer, Fly Only, Flugfiske in Norden.
For the last 26 years, Gerd-Peter spearheaded and organized the only flyfishing exhibition at Europe’s biggest Fishing trade show, the annual Jagd und Hund exhibition in Dortmund, Germany. During this time, he invited many of the international greats who showed their talent in Dortmund to the wider audience. As of 2007, Gerd-Peter moved into the background and passed the organization of this well-established event on to some of his younger colleagues.