Author Topic: Bamboo Rods... (Read 1157 times)

Dejon Hamann · « **on:** January 07, 2010, 12:24:35 PM »

Maybe just so we can bring a little levity to all this graphite/competition talk

Do you have and use any Bamboo Rods? Which ones? Have advice on any bargains in the industry?

I know Rob & Adam tout a few, but I can't remember which ones.

Links to builders, manufacturers, and pictures would be great.

(ok, yes, I'm reading a ton of Gierach lately... so what about it!)

Brenton Greubel · « **Reply #1 on:** January 07, 2010, 12:38:20 PM »

I don't have one, but I watched the movie "Trout Grass" over the break and they made me think I need one.

Quote from: Dejon Hamann on January 07, 2010, 12:24:35 PM

(ok, yes, I'm reading a ton of Gierach lately... so what about it!)

Just ordered Trout Bum from amazon the other day, really looking forward to it.

samhall · « **Reply #2 on:** January 07, 2010, 12:59:42 PM »

Get yourself a copy of George Black's book Casting a Spell. Excellent read.

http://books.google.com/books?id=OpjgRlCTMb0C&dq=george+black+bamboo&printsec=frontcover&source=bl&ots=yP1vIpdJog&sig=qt3HDZepYC4IsBAsFtoGS7HIlN4&hl=en&ei=1yBGS8KsOs7hlAfe9cwG&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CBMQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=&f=false

Chris Smorul · « **Reply #3 on:** January 07, 2010, 01:33:15 PM »

A little bamboo trivia for you all. Just across the river in Easton PA is the site where the first split bamboo rods were made in America back in the 1700's. There is one of those historical markers on the site on 3rd street just south of the center square. I'll post a pic of it the next time I'm over there.

EDIT:I was mistaken, it was in the 1800's according to flyfishinghistory.com

http://www.flyfishinghistory.com/phillipe.htm

Adam Wellington · « **Reply #4 on:** January 07, 2010, 01:37:01 PM »

I own one bamboo rod. I picked it up on ebay. It is a "banty" rod that was the top two sections of a longer heavier weight rod, which was probably a mass produced rod.

I really enjoy fishing it on small streams, it seems to fit the situation the best. A nice slow rod for an easy going day.

There are a ton of different makers of nice rods out there, and there are some quality ones coming from overseas now for great prices (they just don't have the desirability of the US made ones).

Chris Smith · « **Reply #5 on:** January 07, 2010, 02:21:32 PM »

These two guys make a wicked stick...

http://www.vandaliarodworks.com/rodworks.html

The wait is long, however. By the time my two years was up, I'd moved on to comp fishing and other expenses.

Jason Baker · « **Reply #6 on:** January 07, 2010, 05:59:07 PM »

Quote from: Dejon Hamann on January 07, 2010, 12:24:35 PM

Maybe just so we can bring a little levity to all this graphite/competition talk

Do you have and use any Bamboo Rods? Which ones? Have advice on any bargains in the industry?

I know Rob & Adam tout a few, but I can't remember which ones.

Links to builders, manufacturers, and pictures would be great.

(ok, yes, I'm reading a ton of Gierach lately... so what about it!)

D-

I've got 3 sticks weights 2/3, 4/5, 5/6. What are you looking for? I may be keen to part ways with one .

Josh Almond · « **Reply #7 on:** January 07, 2010, 08:01:38 PM »

Dejon,

Slip one of us NC guys who are going the charlotte fly fishing show $20 to put in the bamboo raffle. The rod will be built by Gary Jones. He builds top quality rods and has for a long time. If you win he makes it to your specifications. The only downfall...he refuses to sell rods because he doesn't want it to become work. So it's really a once in a lifetime chance

A few of us have seen his work and can vouch

Jamie Philpott · « **Reply #8 on:** January 07, 2010, 08:20:49 PM »

Just my two cents.
I have 4 myself in 2/3 3/4 5/6 5/6 wt's. If you dont want one do not ever cast Buddys rod. I cast a mate's rod and got hooked now the rods i own are not 2500$ rods but they are still precious in my eyes. One day i will get myself a bill oyster rod.
He makes some fine sticks in my eyes.

Dejon Hamann · « **Reply #9 on:** January 07, 2010, 08:34:16 PM »

Jason, could you PM me some prices? Just a warning: I'm stingy deal hunter.

Josh, I'd slip one of you guys a 20 spot, but I'm a little worried about who's name might end up on the tix

Serioulsy though, that sounds tempting. I'll probably start off on ebay or with one of my local builders when I feel the time is right... unless some other deal comes floating around.

Josh Almond · « **Reply #10 on:** January 07, 2010, 08:40:05 PM »

haha dejon completely understandable, just thought I would extend the offer

Jason Baker · « **Reply #11 on:** January 07, 2010, 11:18:51 PM »

Dejon:

I'll get them out and take some pics and email you them this weekend. JB

I am always open to trade offers as well.

Robert Jordan · « **Reply #12 on:** January 10, 2010, 09:16:49 AM »

oh no the Boo bug has bitten another one! There really is no cure now! Ahhhh it brings back bitter sweet memories of when I was bitten. A friend of mine from the Southern FF Forum died between Christmas and New Years a couple years ago. All of us that could make it up to VA were pallbearers for him. He was a great fisherman and a real southern gentleman and is still missed greatly by many many people. We had just laid him to rest and we were kind of kickin stones and talking in the church parking lot when one of the guys said something about having his sons new bamboo stick in the truck we took it out and I we messed with it some in the grass dressed in suits and ties... I was bitten ... it was all over for me! I started babbling about prices and tapers and new vs. used when one of the guys said "You know? Brent would be really happy with this." I am sure he was.

So on the ride back to Greensboro I came up with a plan of what I would sell to buy some bamboo rods. 2 Orvis Superfines (6 foot 2wt and 7 1/2 foot 3wt) a Sage DS2 8 1/2 foot 5 weight. As well as a couple reels that I didn't use any more. So a couple weeks later I picked up a Mike Brooks midge ~6 and marked for a 3wt line... I like a WF4 line on it though. It was a demo and only cast at shows but I got it for 600 (discounted from 800) AWESOME rod! Then I picked up a banty ... the same one that Adam posted earlier. That one was very reasonable I think it was just over 200 slightly used with 2 tips and a really nice rod tube.

I remember the first fish I got on each of them! Boo is a state of mind. I don't get skunked very often but I don't catch 25 fish every time I am out either. When I am fishing either of those rods it truly is the journey and not the destination.

D... I can lend you a couple books that you will like I am sure... and out of print Gierach "Fishing Bamboo" and Ed Engle's "Splitting Cane"... after reading them you may really have it bad I know I did. But somehow I feel there is an invisible hand guiding me on my bamboo odyssey...

Jason Baker · « **Reply #13 on:** January 10, 2010, 02:12:59 PM »

Lots not get into this bamboo stuff....

This site is a great vestige from the "normal" fly sites where you get bashed for nymphing, fancy graphite, and actually catching a fish.

Please no tweed, swinging wet flies, dry only, and the feel of bamboo talks...

:-)

I kid, I kid...

Joe Pacacha · « **Reply #14 on:** January 12, 2010, 04:37:08 PM »

Quote from: Dejon Hamann on January 07, 2010, 12:24:35 PM

Maybe just so we can bring a little levity to all this graphite/competition talk

Do you have and use any Bamboo Rods? Which ones? Have advice on any bargains in the industry?

I know Rob & Adam tout a few, but I can't remember which ones.

Links to builders, manufacturers, and pictures would be great.

(ok, yes, I'm reading a ton of Gierach lately... so what about it!)

Brandy new to this board guys, but I've been fishing cane for 17 yrs. now after selling off all graphite rods my 3 sons and I owned.... Just fell in love with the responsive nature of cane! I've bought them out of fly shops and catalogs, repaired or restored them to as original as possible, then took them out to fish w/o reservations. I'd say we own 22 cane rods now between all of us....... All but 1 are between 60-100 yrs. old and still fish as new! I traveled over to Slovakia this past summer and caught trout there as well with my 7' Leonard that I packed in the suitcase along with my gear.

My sons have fished with cane since they were 9 yrs. old when I started teaching them fly fishing. They're 28, 24 and 16 now. As they were growing up, their own inventory improved as they had to give up a rod to get a rod that I bought. They'd trade a South Bend or a Horrocks Ibbotson for a Granger, Leonard, F.E Thomas, etc...... I never wanted a 9 yr. old ruining a quality rod from neglect, but as they got older, they better understood the value differential and they were more responsible with their equipment....

We're not "stuffed shirts" at all, but just really enjoy relaxing while astream with cane and offer advice/insight to others who may be interested in them as well......I professionally restore and repair cane rods and welcome questions from board members.......

Tight lines,
Joe

Dejon Hamann · « **Reply #15 on:** January 12, 2010, 07:31:17 PM »

Joe,

That's fantastic! What a great story. Nice to hear of a family growing up on "cane" in this day and age. I own more graphite rods than my wife cares to think about... and am considering getting a cane rod as a sort occasional "vacation on the stream" from my competitive side. I really don't know if it's possible but I'd like to find an entry rod for under 2bills. Something slow and lazy to sling a limited box of dries while meandering a stream.

Looking forward to your posts. Welcome to the forum!

Joe Pacacha · « **Reply #16 on:** January 12, 2010, 09:12:58 PM »

Thank you, Dejon.....

I've watched rods on Ebay also and there are good deals there too, but the main thing is to know what you're looking for and what you're looking AT on ebay... Sometimes, sellers will put a rod together whose tapers don't even match, but there's a butt, mid and tip section "just waitin" for you" to fish with!! hehe Mostly all my rods needed some level of repair when I purchased them as I don't have the cash to buy new. But honestly, I love the old classics so much more and sometimes wonder what stories they could tell about their previous owner/s and their fish stories........

Shoot me a reply or a PM and give me an idea what length and line wt. you're looking for....... I will warn you to get accustomed to your cane rod before switching back to graphite, as the casting stroke and actions will be different. My suggestion: take a whole summer and "vacation" with your cane rod!! You may not go back to the "dark side"....

Joe

Kalvin Kaloz · « **Reply #17 on:** January 12, 2010, 09:57:39 PM »

Hey D... Joe left out a few things from his family story. He also had an adopted boy now 32 years old. He not only taught him to fly fish but also gave him 2 cane rods and helped repair/modify another!

Thanks Joe!!!

D or any of the guys for that matter if you are interested in cane Joe knows his boo!!!

Mark Hanes · « **Reply #18 on:** January 19, 2010, 07:43:50 PM »

All this Bamboo talk has me thinking about getting one now. Thanks guys just what i need another rod.

Mark Hanes · « **Reply #19 on:** March 10, 2010, 11:45:04 AM »

I thought I would bump this up. I am looking into geting my hands on a Vintage Bamboo rod to have refinished. Anyone know of what companies are decent rods at a reasonable price. From what I have noticed there is a lot of junk that is out there.

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Author Topic: Bamboo Rods... (Read 1157 times)

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