[indieangler]

Sorry to flood with a million questions today.....can anyone explain bamboo fly rods to me? I just don't know anything about them. I've seen lots of online companies that handcraft them at prices anywhere from $1200 USD and way up. I've also seen them for sale on eBay for as cheap as $70-$80. I obviously understand they aren't of the same quality.

But what's the deal with a bamboo rod? I think trying to hand craft one might be a very fun little project, I just don't know much about bamboo rods in general and why people fish them. Thanks!

[cowboy]

First, if you are finding $70/$80 bamboo fly rods on E-bay, they are the equivlent of $10 K-mart special glass rods, most likely. A quality bamboo rod will set you back $1000 or more. Even good used bamboo on E-bay should cost $500 or more and that is for one that does not neet much in the way of refurbishment. I am certain someone else on the forum will disagree with me, but I have had bamboo rods for over 50 years and I would not seel any of mine for less than $500. As for building a bamboo rod, McClane's New Standard Fishing Encyclopedia has a basic description of bamboo rod building techniques. And if you want to get that involved in rod building, have at it. I investigated building rods several years ago and decided that building grafite rods to be easier and more satisfying. The best bamboo, from what I have read, is Hainan bamboo from China.

[atlaw]

The real deal is they are nice to look at, nice to contemplate and nice to fish. They also last forever-I have my grandfathers Hardy rod and reel from around 1900 and I fish it occasionally.

[Kai]

Here are three books you might like:

Casting a Spell: The Bamboo Fly Rod and the American Pursuit of Perfection
(tells the history of bamboo rods and rod makers in America)

Amazon.com: Casting a Spell: The Bamboo Fly Rod and the American Pursuit of Perfection: Books: George Black

Fishing Bamboo
(John Geirach's book on the subject.)

Amazon.com: Fishing Bamboo: Books: John Gierach


Fundamentals of Building a Bamboo Fly-Rod
(how to book by Pennsylvania master builder George Maurer)

Amazon.com: Fundamentals of Building a Bamboo Fly-Rod: Books: George E. Maurer,Bernard P. Elser

[Joni]

The older Bamboo's that are very inexpensive are usually H.I.'s , Montegue, ex. and they were in the heavier weight classes like 7wt and up. Cheap Sears specials, but they did the trick back then with not much choice. To cast them was like trying to cast a CB radio antenna.
They are also TIP heavy, because you were suppose to counter balance them with a heavy reel.
They didn't have a real big choice in tapers either like now. Lee Wulff kinda set the spark for bamboo.
There is the Dickerson taper that is a good transitional taper for graphite to bamboo. but Payne is a great taper also.
Here is a chart that helps: Carlin Bamboo Fly Rods - Far North Rodsmiths

The newer rods are so much lighter and easier to cast it is CRAZY! the older rods also had very tiny guides for the SILK line and they do not cast the new stuff very well at all.
I agree with the fact that you will be looking at more $ for a good bamboo, but I will start at around $800. and up.
The favorites I have is the T & T and Oyster's are beautiful, plus any SWEETWATER Grass. I have the Orvis Penns Creek and the three piece
Battenkill that are fantastic. Bamboo just cast so beautifully, there is nothing like it with Glass being about as close as you can get. You are required to stop and smell the flowers with a boo. and in my opinion, makes you a better caster.
Plus they are the STRONGEST material you can have.
The Asian mades (like Elkhorn) are a lot less money but you do sacrifise the sweet tapers and feel of a true BAMBOO rod.

I did however just buy a TEA STICK, Asian made and flamed....beautiful and feels and cast like the Battenkill. A two piece with an extra tip. Warranty for manufactor defect only. I can get these for $400. each but I have to purchase 3 at a time. Very NICE!

[BigCliff]

I think the "deal" with using a bamboo rod goes to the idea of fishing with a handcrafted tool, as opposed to one that is manufactured. The feel and look of a bamboo rod simply cannot be duplicated with graphite/Carbon Fiber, and still wouldn't be the same if it were possible.

To me, its similar to the appeal of hunting with a wooden longbow instead of a compound made of synthetics, hunting with a muzzleloader, or other approaches to hobbies that use older technology.

All that said, I don't think i'll ever be forkin out the dough needed to acquire a good bamboo rod. I'll take my light "plastic" sticks with great warranties over rods made from an edible grass any day. (please only take that as spark for lighthearted banter, i'm a baptized believer in different strokes for different folks)

[Joni]

Cliff, you are right on the hand made, but then again most of my rods (Glass and Graphite) are hand made also.
I am a bass player and for years I wanted the traditional Ampeg amp and the Rickenbacker bass. THE BEATLES used them, so they are the TRADITIONAL...right. Well I got both and sweetest sound to be had. The down side is the bass lacked in the pickups, but again it was good enough for the Beatles. Forget the fact that strings have come a long way along with sound!
Alas, I so both because they weighed a TON, and I could get a great sound out of lighter gear. But, I had to try.

Bamboo....well a tradition or a statis, whatever. Like I said I have my Grandfathers and now I have mine. BIG DIFFERENCE. I love the action of boo and NOTHING is like it, but there is a lot that come real close.
I make my living playing music and fishing so I HAVE to try the traditional. It puts things in perspective for me.

[BigCliff]

Joni I realize that some of your graphite and glass rods may actually be handmade, but most that are called "handmade" out there really arent. Putting artful guides, wraps, handles and reel seats on a factory tapered tube really isn't the same as making 6 tapered triangles from a hollow grass using medieval tools and gluing them together.

Kinda like hollowing out a log and stretching calf skin over it to make a drum. Last I checked, Brian Setzer's drummer still played calf heads, but there sure aren't many left.

[Joni]

Brian Setzer! Cliff, you are my hero!
Good point that bamboo is a hand made front to rear rod. You can buy the blanks, just like the graphite and the glass, and make them yours. But one name comes to mind...Mike McFarland. He makes his own blanks, reel seats, and hardware. The guy is awesome. He is in the proccess of making a WOOD rod. I mean real wood, not bamboo.
So Mikes rods along with bamboo are cherished because of the pain staking time put into one. Got the video of the Boo Boy's building one, and holy crap, there is a lot involved, Winston's big time LOSS!

[BigCliff]

Joni, u ever see the episode of Fly Fish America with the guy who lives in a non touristy part of CO and makes his own bamboo rods start to finish? I don't think he was dabbling in actual wood, but makes some of his bamboo rods where the grip is totally connected to the blank. The six pieces form the corners of the hexagon (picturing a cross section of the rod) with tapered pieces of wood made up the core/rest of the grip.