1. Troutnut Forum
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2. Fly Fishing Gear
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3. Looking for a Bamboo Rod

I looking for a bamboo fly rod. Problem is, I don't have an indeterminate number of hundred dollar bills laying around. Is there any chance of finding a half-way serviceable bamboo rod for under $250? I'm willing to get a fairly heavily used rod, and I don't need an antique or a rod of excellent quality. I just want a decent looking split cane rod that at least won't cast much worse than my graphite rod. For me it's more of a nostalgia thing-I can cast just fine with my graphite rod, but I guess I've read one too many Gierach stories:)

Go here:

http://clarksclassicflyrodforum.yuku.com/


Do some research before you buy. You'll be really unhappy with the results of just buying on price alone.

I appreciate the link Slate Drake.

I wish I could avoid buying on price along, but I'm unfortunately just not in the position to spend more than $250 on a rod... It's not that I wouldn't be willing to spend more, it's just that I can't.

Motrout,

Another easy solution is to find a bamboo rodmaker in your area (Ozarks?). Let me know when you're from and I will see if I know someone in that region I can refer you to.

Being a bamboo rodmaker, there are lots of options for guys who want a rod under $500, including taking an older rod, cutting it down, and then refinishing it. The taper is now modified and weight is a null issue. Without a doubt, cast the rod a number of times (determine if it has a large or small sweet spot in terms of distance) and see what kinds of casts you're able to make with it. For that money, you'll be buying a single-tip rod, thus ensure you're buying the rod for a particular style of fishing, i.e. dry fly, nymphing, etc.

On a miserable semi-related note, I was fishing with JAD this weekend and blew-up one of my own rods on a nice fish. The rod was a Leonard taper (Catskill), and the first bamboo I had ever made; nice, huh?

TC