fly fishing with split bamboo rods?
- Thread starter ZooJunkie
- Start date
7wt
Expedition Leader
I have fished a couple of nice ones and a few pieces if junk. I don't own one but will some day due to the style of fishing I do. I mostly fish salt and bass so bamboo and it's ever so soft action is out of the question until I live somewhere that I can fish for trout.
I actually prefer glass rods when it comes to trout but I do like the slower action of the grass rods. What are you looking for and what will you be fishing for? That plays a huge role in the cost of the rods. For example, you can pick up a 9ft 8wt for less than you can get a nice graphite rod. If you want a light and short trout rod though, prepare to lay out some money although there are some great rods like a AJ Thramer that will only set you back about $750 or so for a nice 7ft 4wt.
I actually prefer glass rods when it comes to trout but I do like the slower action of the grass rods. What are you looking for and what will you be fishing for? That plays a huge role in the cost of the rods. For example, you can pick up a 9ft 8wt for less than you can get a nice graphite rod. If you want a light and short trout rod though, prepare to lay out some money although there are some great rods like a AJ Thramer that will only set you back about $750 or so for a nice 7ft 4wt.
crawler#976
Expedition Leader
I've got a Japanese made bamboo rod...never been assembled as far as I know. My Mom bought it for her father while she was attending the American University of Japan in 1952 , and he passed away before he had a chance to use it. Always wondered if it had any value.
flywgn
Explorer
I have several and fish with all of them. A couple are old Wes Jordan (old Orvis) rods. "Duckie" Corkran, who bought Orvis from Charles Orvis, hired Wes. They're great rods. Both are 4wt (different lengths). Great line control on the 9-footer.
I also have a 5wt Phillipson. It, too, dates from the 1950s.
There are a couple of South Bend cane rods. By their wraps I'm pretty certain that they are also Jordan's work, but I'm not certain. Anyway, I enjoy using them.
Fishing with a cane rod can be tiresome if you're on the water all day. Generally speaking they are a bit heavier than glass or graphite, but I'm stuck on tradition. Casting a dry fly to a rising trout with a sixty-year-old rod (and reel, I might add) can be a Zen experience.
Allen R
I also have a 5wt Phillipson. It, too, dates from the 1950s.
There are a couple of South Bend cane rods. By their wraps I'm pretty certain that they are also Jordan's work, but I'm not certain. Anyway, I enjoy using them.
Fishing with a cane rod can be tiresome if you're on the water all day. Generally speaking they are a bit heavier than glass or graphite, but I'm stuck on tradition. Casting a dry fly to a rising trout with a sixty-year-old rod (and reel, I might add) can be a Zen experience.
Allen R
crawler#976
Expedition Leader
yup, bought in '52, boxed in a wood case. I don't know how to translate the maker - guess I can try to translate the stuff online if I can pick out the charactors.
Watched a guy fishing off a tube with a short 2 or 3W bamboo rod a few years ago. I twas kinda like seeing an artist perform - the dude was really smooth.
Watched a guy fishing off a tube with a short 2 or 3W bamboo rod a few years ago. I twas kinda like seeing an artist perform - the dude was really smooth.
crawler#976
Expedition Leader
The main lable on the case is gone! Dunno where it went either. I haven't taken the rod out of storage in years...we last moved in 1994, and that's probably the last time I looked at it.
I did a little research on the lable on the rod itself. It reads EAGLE as you can see in the pic attached. This leads me to believe it was one of the mass produced rods made while Japan was under U.S. occupation. The rod has two fly tips and a spinning rod tip. Assembled length is 8'.
Mark
I did a little research on the lable on the rod itself. It reads EAGLE as you can see in the pic attached. This leads me to believe it was one of the mass produced rods made while Japan was under U.S. occupation. The rod has two fly tips and a spinning rod tip. Assembled length is 8'.
Mark
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jeffryscott
2006 Rally Course Champion: Expedition Trophy
It's been a long time, but I found an old cane rod somewhere and refinished it , new hardware, wraps, etc .... and fished it. There is something truly magical about cane - it's slow, deliberate and smooth. A very nice experience.
Bamboo Rods
ZooJunkie-Im in the Adirondacks and just recently went to bamboo from graphite. Just like old school fishing used to be, no high modulus this, and Z-axis that, the rods just "are." You gotta slow down your casts, way slower, like old fiberglass, and weighted nymphs or streamers REALLY load the rod, and you will need to relearn how to set the hook when nymphing but man, they are blast, especially for smallmouth bass and bluegills.
You might want to start with the Classic Fly ROd Forum, all bamboo, all the time. Also, not sure if you are into David James Duncan (River Why) but he and Tom McGuane did a DVD about bamboo rods called TroutGrass that traces one of Winstons's last Bamboo rods from raw bamboo through completion.
Out here, old Orvis Battenkill rods are the best "beginner rods" but we also have a lot of cottage builders down in the catskills and over in vermont. You will find what you need though on the Classic Rod Forum, there are collectors, fishers, builders, story tellers, for sale, etc.
ZooJunkie-Im in the Adirondacks and just recently went to bamboo from graphite. Just like old school fishing used to be, no high modulus this, and Z-axis that, the rods just "are." You gotta slow down your casts, way slower, like old fiberglass, and weighted nymphs or streamers REALLY load the rod, and you will need to relearn how to set the hook when nymphing but man, they are blast, especially for smallmouth bass and bluegills.
You might want to start with the Classic Fly ROd Forum, all bamboo, all the time. Also, not sure if you are into David James Duncan (River Why) but he and Tom McGuane did a DVD about bamboo rods called TroutGrass that traces one of Winstons's last Bamboo rods from raw bamboo through completion.
Out here, old Orvis Battenkill rods are the best "beginner rods" but we also have a lot of cottage builders down in the catskills and over in vermont. You will find what you need though on the Classic Rod Forum, there are collectors, fishers, builders, story tellers, for sale, etc.
crawler#976 said:
I was researching the same rod today and found a link to this thread. I hav a 5 piece rod, can be put together as a 2 piece 5'8" or 3 piece 8' with 2 different wt. tip's to chose from. It has the same box with sliding door in top for fly's. My father passed away last month and I got it. It was his uncle's and was handed down to him. I am in South Fl. and fish the ocean. From what I read on this thread it is for Trout. They lived in N. Georgia so I dont think I will try for Tarpon with it. I dont think I will use it at all.
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