Bamboo & graphite rods: when & where?
- This topic has 22 replies, 12 voices, and was last updated Nov 14, 2006 at 11:45 pm by
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I own one bamboo rod (and one on order) and many graphite rods.
I tend to use bamboo only on occasions. Mostly when the stream I’m fishing is small enough.
Most bamboo rods are short (7-7.5ft) so it’s not a ‘do it all’ rod in my view. But they sure are fun if the conidtions aren’t too challenging.When do you guys fish bamboo? How about you Zach? You own a new Thramer rod don’t you?
Jay
I started an almost identical thread on UMFF yesterday. I, too, am new to cane, picking up two cane rods in 2006 (a Winston and an Oyster). I expect to fish cane more in 2007. I find that adapting to cane has made me a better caster and cane works well on the spring creeks that I fish. Even though I have a good number of graphite rods, I enjoy cane with dries, soft hackles, and single nymphs on the slower spring creeks. I expect to use cane rods most of the time when I am not on larger freestones or during the day after July 4th when I am likely to using hoppers, streamers or double nymphs. Although one of our cane rods is an 8′ 5 wt and it handles larger flies just fine.
– David
P.S. – we have two cane rods budgeted for 2007.
Here’s my twist on it, which some might call crazy. I fish warmwater only on the Louisiana gulf coast, bass and ‘gills mostly. But my goal right now is a bull redfish on this rod, built by Harry Boyd of Winnsboro, Louisiana. It’s an 8’ 7-wt based on a Dickerson 8014 Guide taper:
So far, I haven’t done it, but I did hook into a bull south of Morgan City, La., a few months ago that fought me hard for 20 minutes until the hook let go. I turned his head three times with this rod, it’s powerful but light and will cast a country mile.
Other than that, I have a Granger 9050 Victory and an 8 1/2 Monty Rapidan. I turn to graphite when I’m in boats with people I don’t know well yet, when I need a short rod (just don’t have a short bamboo yet!) and sometimes, I’m just in the mood for one or the other!
Zach can I ask what you think of your Teastick bamboo? I’m really interested in a boo rod for certain conditions/occasions and just because it sounds like fun. I do know they are imported. But I just can’t shell out $1000 or more for one with a kid in college.
thanks,
Greg
The bamboo world is a very confusing for most beginners. Rather than just buying a rod I would advise anyone to read and ask lots of questions.
Also if you have the chance to cast different rods, do cast as many as you can. And do try to avoid ‘falling in love’ too fast because there are so many different tapers (and between the same taper even different ‘feel’) so there might be another rod that fits your action preference even better.
Otherwise it will cost you lots of money: buy-try-don’t like-sell-buy-try-don’t like-sell-etc.
Jay
Most of the limits anglers experience while fishing bamboo are self-imposed; most are buying tapers for small flies and small water, but expect them to fish like a larger rod when needed. To that end, when it comes time to order make sure you’ve done your homework, ask the builder lots of questions, and explain to him exactly what you want. You will probably never feel motivated to fish cane on a regular basis if you are limited to a 7′ 4wt.
I can’t match the knowledge of most of the fly fishermen on the Classic Fly Rod Forum, but I’ve been fishing bamboo for over a decade on rivers as broad as the Yellowstone and as small and remote as some of the back country streams of the Smoky Mountains. The rods I use the most will cast #4 streamers as well as they will a #20 emerger, and are perfectly capable of landing 20″ fish.
The only place I am reluctant to fish cane is out of a boat.
Bryan
Teastick makes a solid bamboo rod that is well worth the $500 price of entry; the only problem with them is perception, and that is a real problem indeed.
Zach thanks for your input as well as the others. I did in fact read your article on bamboo rods last week. Unfortunately if I get one (bamboo rod) $500 is about my budget at this time. At some point my kids will graduate and I could afford what I want. But for now……
So the teastick may serve me well. I’m really leery of used rods. I’ve been burned a time or 2 there.
glm38…you might want to check out this company…I’ve heard some really great things about these Asian made rods…and you can’t beat the price.
Why not try a used but well known brand or maker rather than a new rod?
Pretty sure you will get a better rod for the same price?Ha, no, the F was always going to be mine, it was just going to free up the St. Croix Legened Ultra 3 weight for her to use.
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