Best way to get started with bamboo

[dudemanspecial]

I fish an 8'6" more than any other rod I own. I select my rods based on where I am fishing, though, and I tend to be small stream guy. On April 18th, I will be fishing the Little J, so I will take a 10-footer. Big water, big rod. Sometimes I choose to fish the smaller rod on big water though, too. But I am never taking a 10-footer to a little stream.

As far as rods in general go I will use a 10' 3w or 4w if I know I'm going to be nymphing to catch fish. My 2 go to rods if I think I have a chance of spending most of the time on top are both 8'6", one graphite and one bamboo.

 

[Bamboozle]

Orvis rods have really gone up in price over the last couple years, not the bargin they used to be.

I mentioned "older" Orvis rods in my initial comments but I should have said vintage... 😉

Only a few delusional eBay sellers think that a 1950's - 1970's Orvis rod is worth even 50% of what a new Orvis bamboo rod costs today.

While the majority of rods in that age group probably go for more than the OP's price range, they are still a better value and investment than some rod made with an imported blank by a company that won't be around 160+ years from now like Orvis...

What I like about purchasing an Orvis rod is IF it needs a repair, it is a factory repair...

 

[afishinado]

I'm intrigued with bamboo rods. Only ever cast one, years ago. I keep hearing from old timers, and reading stories, about the mystique of bamboo. How would one go about getting into bamboo without spending a lot of money up front.

I don't mind paying good money once I would be more experienced but even $500 on a lark for a rod to get started seems a lot. Can someone get a useful rod for $250-$300 to get started?

Any other suggestions?

I suggest you link up with a buddy (or maybe even some generous individual from PAFF) to cast a bamboo rod or two before you spend hundreds of dollars for a rod of your own. That will give you an idea if it's something you like and worth investing a decent amount of money to fish a boo rod.

 

[DGC]

The higher swing weight of bamboo is a consideration, and that in turn is a factor of length and taper. In general, the shorter rods, that is 8 ft and shorter, are the most popular and are priced accordingly. I strongly suggest casting different rods in different lengths and line weights. I transitioned from 8.5 ft carbon to 8.5 ft bamboo. In that length, the Wright McGill Granger 8642 is hard to beat for a 5 weight.

Reel balance is key and requires far more weight than a carbon rod.

There are many considerations of maintenance that are not found with carbon rods, with the ferrules, varnish integrity and straightening being just three that come to mind.

I have steered clear of Chinese import rods. Reviews I have seen have not been that favorable.

 

[blitzinstripes]

Shop around flea markets and FB market place. Plenty of cheap bamboo rods out there and some in great condition. Lots of gems for the finding. I bought a pair of very solid condition rods last year on FB, got the pair for $60. Missing a few guides but nothing major. I plan to refinish both of them and new thread wraps and guides, I just haven't found the time yet.

 

[JGR]

I mentioned "older" Orvis rods in my initial comments but I should have said vintage... 😉

Only a few delusional eBay sellers think that a 1950's - 1970's Orvis rod is worth even 50% of what a new Orvis bamboo rod costs today.

While the majority of rods in that age group probably go for more than the OP's price range, they are still a better value and investment than some rod made with an imported blank by a company that won't be around 160+ years from now like Orvis...

What I like about purchasing an Orvis rod is IF it needs a repair, it is a factory repair...

I agree. Orvis bamboo rods made between 1950 and 1980 are the best value in bamboo rods by a wide measure. They bridged the gap between fine low-production rods like H.L. Leonard, Edwards and Paine and mass produced models made by Heddon, South Bend and others.

They were never inexpensive when new even in the lower one-tip grades. However, over 91,000 have been made since 1940 keeping prices low for most models. One-tip models in high condition can be found for less than $500--and sometime much less--without too much searching.

They're very robust and will last a lifetime with reasonably careful use. I've been fishing them almost exclusively for over 40 years for everything from tiny brook trout to steelhead and have never broken one.

 

[gfenlikestolosepasswords]

Headwaters, Teastick, Zhus...all the same guy. Zhus is the newest name. If you notice lots of the cheapest American builders sometimes list they use "Asian blanks," and I am 100% convinced that they're using Zhus.

The classic rod folks are weirdly ambiguous about Zhus rods. Very rarely do you hear something outright positive about them. There are a lot of complaints about ferrules falling off, which is where having someone who knows what their doing use an "Asian blank" and charging me for the privilege comes into play. A shame, I'm smart enough to wrap and probably varnish, but I don't think I'm smart enough to mount my own ferrules.

Coldwater seems to have the most reliably low priced "cheapies" out there. I've looked a few times. Orvis rods are genuinely strongly suggested if you want an antique. As noted. you will pay out the *** for a 4wt vintage rod simply because they weren't common and people want them. 6/7 is more common.

You want a rod that's 7' to 7'6". I own a 9' and after an afternoon it feels like my arm is goign to fall off. You could also buy an old 9', cut a couple feet off the butt, and then re-finish it with modern guide spacing. It will probably start life as a 6wt, and when you're done it'll be the same since most of the action is in the tip.

With face to face sales from Some Guy On the Internet versus a business you're probably gonna end up wtih someone's clapped out floppy rod they found in a barn cleanout. Don't let that ruin your opinion of bamboo.

I own two, both picked up off Craigslist for $115/ea. One is an 8' Hardy Fairy that bends down pretty much into the butt and the other a 9' South Bend 359 that's actually a crisp fantastic dry fly rod.. if you don't mind how much it weighs. That's actually probably a great candiadate to be cut down, but I feel kinda bad doing it so.. I never have...yet.

YMMV, and as advised I highly suggest you find someone to let you try one out. Personally, I never got the spiritual connection that some of these guys talk about but maybe I jsut haven't found the right one.

 

[JoeE]

Nothing wrong with blue collar bamboo, just like any fly rod cast it first as see if it meets the ticket. Most people give a 3 day return policy. My only advice if you’re only going to purchase one get a fly rod that you are going to fish 90% of the time. But if you want to build your own it will cost as mush as a quality rod to start the addiction 😁.

 

[StreamBottom]

Keep an eye out for Art Weiler rods on the 2nd hand market. IMO he's way undervalued builder out of PA.
I have 4 of his rods and love to fish them all. I believe he's pretty much retired from building rods, last time I spoke with him.

https://www.freestonevintagetackle....art-79-2-2-5wt-bamboo-rod-garrison-209e-taper

 

[afishinado]

I own two, both picked up off Craigslist for $115/ea. One is an 8' Hardy Fairy that bends down pretty much into the butt and the other a 9' South Bend 359 that's actually a crisp fantastic dry fly rod.. if you don't mind how much it weighs. That's actually probably a great candiadate to be cut down, but I feel kinda bad doing it so.. I never have...yet.

Hey G.

I cast your boo 9' SB rod one time, I believe. It is a real rocket launcher! I realized at that point some boo rods can be a decent distance caster. Although you aren't kidding about how heavy it is......

 

[gfenlikestolosepasswords]

Hey G.

I cast your boo 9' SB rod one time, I believe. It is a real rocket launcher! I realized at that point some boo rods can be a decent distance caster. Although you aren't kidding about how heavy it is......

That's the one, I believe later Old Lefty was putting it into the backing while I was busy wondering if each cast would be it's last.

Since I've lost my hipster creds and fiberglass is everywhere now I looked briefly into going bamboo full time, and have since learned I won't go longer than about 7'. Then I got lost in tapers, realized I was poor, and bought another Fenwick FF756 and said eff it.