Meet BRAD SMITH of Walton Rods

Today we’d like to introduce you to BRAD SMITH.

Hi BRAD, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Growing up in Royal Center, Indiana, Mike Malchow and I have been fishing together for as long as I can remember. We were even college roommates, so we’ve shared a lot of memories on the water. After college, our paths went in different directions—Mike joined the Army and served with the 75th Ranger Regiment, while I went into law enforcement. Despite the distance and different careers, fishing was always something that kept us close.

It wasn’t until Mike’s time in the military came to an end, and he moved to Colorado, that we got the chance to fish together again. I’ll never forget the day we were fly fishing there, and out of nowhere, we started talking about creating our own line of fly rods. At first, it was just a passing thought, but as we talked more, the idea started to feel like something real. We reached out to other anglers, shared our thoughts, and the response was overwhelmingly positive. That’s when we realized we were onto something.

The next few years were a blur of hard work, research, and development. By 2015, we finally had our first prototype rods. Mike, who by then had become a full-time fly fishing guide in Colorado, tested every one of them on the water. We were relentless in making sure they met our standards. After all the testing and fine-tuning, we found a design that stood out—and that’s the one we decided to bring to market.

We were getting closer, but we still didn’t have a name for the company. At the time, my son, Walton, was born prematurely. Spent 54 days in the NICU, and Mike and I spent hours brainstorming company names helping keep me sane from the stress in the hospital. That’s when someone suggested we name the company after my son. It just felt right. Walton is now nine years old and growing like a weed.

Looking back, from that moment in Colorado to where we are now, it’s been a wild ride. A lot of hard work, faith, and yes, some luck. But I’m incredibly proud of how far we’ve come with Walton Rods, and I’m excited to see where this journey will take us next.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
When we first launched our production of fly rods, we hit a major setback. We had invested tens of thousands of dollars into the first batch, only to have them all fail on the third piece of the rod due to a build error that no one caught during production. It was devastating—an entire batch ruined. But thanks to a lot of hard work, we were able to fix the issue and roll out a new production run that ultimately saved our business.

After that, we faced another challenge with a line of rods we developed that featured carbon fiber handles. As it turned out, there wasn’t much demand for them, and the rods just sat on the shelves. Fortunately, at the time, we had other fly rod lines that were selling well, so it didn’t impact the business too much.

One ongoing challenge we face is the ever-changing landscape of social media. As a modern company, our customer base is largely built on social media, and when the algorithms constantly shift, it’s an ongoing struggle to keep reaching our audience and grow. We’re always looking ahead to what the next platform will be, trying to stay on the cutting edge and adapt our approach to the latest metrics. With that in mind, we’ve already begun integrating AI into our processes, because it’s clear that this is where everything is headed, and we want to be ready for the future.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
This year, we are very excited to be launching our next line of rods, the RCT traditional fishing line. This is our first step into spinning and casting rods designed for bass fishing, light saltwater, walleye, and panfish. Our RCT line is something we’ve been working on for a long time. It’s the culmination of years of hard work, research, and a real commitment to creating rods that are as functional as they are durable. When we started Walton Rods, we knew we wanted to make a difference in the industry, and with the RCT rods, we’ve finally reached a point where we feel we’ve created something truly special.

The RCT rods aren’t just another fishing rod—they’re a reflection of the craftsmanship, precision, and attention to detail that we’ve poured into everything we do. Every single rod in the RCT line has been tested and refined to meet the highest standards, and we’ve made sure they’re designed for real-world fishing situations. We’ve spent countless hours on the water, working with pro anglers and our community to ensure that these rods perform in a variety of conditions, from smallmouth bass fishing in rivers to targeting big fish in lakes.

What excites us most is that the RCT line truly reflects our philosophy: Real rods. Real roots. We’ve built these rods to stand up to anything the waters throw at them, and they carry the spirit of Indiana with them wherever they go. Walton Rods may be based in Indiana, but we’ve always wanted our products to be seen and used everywhere—and the RCT line is our first step toward bringing that vision to life. These rods are more than just tools; they’re a statement about where we come from and the community we’re proud to be a part of.

How do you think about luck?
When it comes to luck, I believe you make your own. Nobody is going to hand you success or opportunities—you have to work for it. Luck isn’t something that just happens; it’s the result of hard work meeting the right opportunity at the right time. Sure, things may fall into place once in a while, but that only happens because you’ve put yourself in a position to take advantage of those opportunities.

I wouldn’t say I’ve relied on luck to get where I am; rather, I’ve focused on the grind—the endless work, the late nights, the constant learning, and the willingness to adapt and the focus to be ahead of the curve through research and study. And when the opportunities arise, I’ve been ready to seize them because was ready. In a sense, luck is just hard work waiting for the right moment to show up.

The only thing I feel truly lucky about is having my Allie by my side. She’s been a constant source of support and strength throughout this journey. I couldn’t have gotten here without her, and for that, I feel incredibly lucky. But when it comes to Walton Rods, it’s all about creating your own luck—by staying committed, putting in the hours, and never giving up, even when things get tough.

Pricing:

• RCT Spinning and Casting Rods $149
• Avari Fly Rods $249
• C9 Fly Rods $425
• Native Fly Rods $395

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.waltonrods.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/waltonrods/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/waltonrods/
• Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/waltonrods/