It’s in the UK around the second half of the 19th century that the actual modern bamboo rod was born. In the ’70s, fiber-glass rods started to appear followed by graphite rods which were less expensive and more resistant, and above all, more “modern” than bamboo rods. As a consequence, bamboo rods begun to decline and for many years virtually disappeared from the market. However, in the latest years we have been witnessing a so called “bamboo Renaissance” as more and more fly anglers not only go back to bamboo, but also make their own cane rods. In the recent First European Bamboo Rod Makers Gathering held in Sansepolcro, Tuscany (Italy) in May 2008, for instance, more than 100 rod makers from all over Europe met to share their methods, views and rods. In the USA, an even longer tradition is annually carried out at the Catskill Fly Fishing Center and Museum, New York, and usually in Fall.

Building a graphite fishing rod can be done by using a DIY kit as I did. A kit usually comes with all necessary rod parts, wrapping threads, glue and, above all, assembling instructions.

The necessary rod parts included in the kit are:

* rod blanks
* reel seat
* cork (or synthetic) handle
* snake guides
* stripping guides
* tip-top

The exercise of making a fishing rod on my own not only made my fishing experience much more enjoyable, but also created in me that necessary self-confidence to start building a bamboo fly fishing rod.

The craft in itself is not too difficult to learn.Basically, you need the same rod parts as above, but you need to make the bamboo blanks on your own, which is in itself enough stuff to write books. However, with the help of master rodsmiths and, today, the internet, you can find all information about how to make your own bamboo rod.

Firstly, you need a bamboo culm of the right type: “Tonkin” cane from China is the best. Then you need to make bamboo strips of finer and finer sizes and glue them together to form a “blank”. Traditionally, the bamboo strips are shaped in the form of a triangle so that by joining six strips together you make an “hexagonal” rod. Variations exists: “quad-” and “penta-” bamboo fly fishing rod rod are more rare.

Tempering (i.d. exposing at high temperature for a set time) the bamboo strips in a simple, often self-built oven, and so modifying the inner properties of the wood is what makes a bamboo rod what it is, eventually : a unique, wonderful tool which both enthralls the angler and the collector alike.

The craft is today explained by a dozen of excellent books which give you step-by.step instructions, starting from the legendary (1976) book by Hoagy Carmichael and Everett Garrison “A Master Guide To Building A Bamboo Fly Rod”.



By: Alessandro Brunelli

About the Author:

As the popularity of fly fishing has grown, so has the availability, and choice, of

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If you are going to fish, your rod is critical. Bamboo rods are unique and excellent. Of course, identifying bamboo fishing rods is another issue.

In today’s world, the fishing rod is constructed from a variety of composite materials such as graphite. Chemistry has given us materials to make light weight, but very tough rods that can stand up to just about anything an angry and desperate fish can throw at it. In the past, however, before we had the benefit of science, the bamboo fishing rod was the mainstay for the serious angler. The bamboo rod was most often a fly fishing rod, but many casting rods were also made.

In recent years, the collection and restoration of these classic bamboo rods has become a hobby with many fishing gear fanatics. Classic and restored rods can be seen in fishing gear shows selling for upwards of $600. Many people are taking grandfather’s old bamboo fishing rod and attempting to restore it to a useful condition. The bamboo fishing rod hobby has been growing and there are now several groups devoted to spreading information about antique rods and offering help in identifying bamboo fishing rods and their value.

Like many other hobbies today, the bamboo fishing rod fan is able to use the internet to locate and communicate with other hobbyist. There are several sites devoted to identifying bamboo fishing rods and giving advice on how to restore them. Most of the sites will be able to give you the names of some of the classic books on the subject. Sadly, many of these books are as expensive and as rare as the bamboo rods they discuss, and this is why it is important to make sure that you are purchasing the best ones.

The popularity of bamboo rods has resulted in resurgence in their production. Many of the rods being made today are based on the designs of the past. This has made the identifying of classic bamboo rods a bit more important as the possibility that a replica might be mistaken for a true vintage rod. There are ways to determine the real oldies, however, as most replicas will use materials in the guides and other parts of the rods that were not available until recently.

Regardless of the rod’s age or its value, the bamboo fishing rod is still useful for the purpose they were intended to fulfill. They still can be used for fishing. It is the age old question in many hobbies, have we really improved so much on the past. There will always be those who contend that the classic ways were the better ways. The fans of the bamboo fishing rod are among those who swear that all of our modern science has been wasted on trying to make a better fishing rod. They swear we got it right when we realized the flexibility and strength of bamboo as a fishing rod material.

By: Richard Chapo

About the Author:

sifarone asked:

Fly fishing for brown trout with grasshopper dry flies and hand planed bamboo fly rods in the wild west’s rattlesnake infested waters.

sifarone asked:

The initial steps to making a bamboo fly rod. by Matt Schliske. fly fishing with dries and split cane to rising trout.

sifarone asked:

Fly fishing for brown trout with grasshopper dry flies and hand planed bamboo fly rods in the wild west’s rattlesnake infested waters.

sifarone asked:

The initial steps to making a bamboo fly rod. by Matt Schliske. fly fishing with dries and split cane to rising trout.

sifarone asked:

The initial steps to making a bamboo fly rod. by Matt Schliske. fly fishing with dries and split cane to rising trout. … fly fishing bamboo trout dry flies split cane silk agate nickel silver