callum ross
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David,
I have the Vedavoo sling pack on its way. Was also tempted by the day pack and may still look at that in the future. There is some really interesting cottage industry work being done out there. As someone who spends too much time planing bamboo, I like the idea of supporting those who are doing things a little differently.
As mentioned above, Scott was good to deal with. If you want to have a look at it when it arrives just let me know (there are also some glass rods you would probably enjoy having a cast of!).
Cheers,
Callum
6 panel navy please.
If it is easier to post a group shipment to Oz I am happy to sort something out with the guys here.
Cheers,
Callum
Mike,
If you wanted something a little different there is always fibreglass. The Steffen blanks are unsanded.
http://www.steffenbrothersflyrods.com
If you can get hold of some of the translucent glass blanks from Fred Paddock or Kabuto Rods in Japan, they can be wrapped up to look very nice. There are some pics of a Paddock blank on my blog.
Cheers,
Callum
David,
In my opinion, a proper daypack from a known manufacucturer of outdoor gear is the best option. Generally well made and comfortable, you can try different styles etc at the specialist shops rather than taking a punt on ordering online.
In a continual search for the best combination, I combined a daypack with a Goertzen lanyard last summer. I am really happy with the set up and can still take the lanyard by itself if the chance for a short session comes up.
http://www.leatherandcanvas.com/html/lanyard.html
Cheers,
Callum
Some friends and I brought three Tenkara rods into Australia about two years ago. We figured that the rods would be a bit different and something fun to muck around with.
Now while I really like making bamboo rods and fishing short rods, the Tenkaras are great fun and very effective fishing tools. If you sometimes head to the water with way too much gear (guilty), the Tenkara approach really seems to simplify a day out plus they are a great backpacking option. The surprising thing is how well they bow and arrow which overcomes the thought that they may be too long for some waters.
While I am hesitant to post pics after seeing some of the great work shown here, these are a few shots from earlier this summer.
Cheers,
Callum
Bob,
Sorry, are you asking about building up the blank or what you may expect from the Hardy taper?
The Hardys generally have a deeper flexing action which is usually described as parabolic.
There are some interesting opinions so far about bamboo, some of which I don’t necessarily agree with. Each to their own and here come mine…!
The disclaimer: I have been making bamboo rods for over 10 years and am not yet 40, which probably puts me at the younger end of the maker spectrum. I don’t have a prolific output and don’t sell commercially. I do sell off the odd rod or take an order now and then to pay for supplies, but the prices I charge are below the ranges posted earlier by Jay. Personally I think rods should be fished and spend more time on the construction and taper tweaking than on the finishing.
I had not fished with a bamboo rod until I made my first. I only started making them because it seemed like a cool thing to try and price ruled out purchasing one new. In Australia I am a long way from the support network that exists for makers in Nth America and am essentially self taught.
For the type of fishing I primarily do , I think that bamboo is ideally suited. Line weights between 3 and 5 and rod lenghts between 6′ and 8′ for use on small, tight brushy streams to medium trout waters. I don’t fish bamboo exclusively and will match the tool to the job.
I don’t buy into the argument that a rod’s special action should be solely related to price, but rather the maker’s knowlege and skill. Contrary to some opinions posted above, there are makers out there working below the radar producing great rods (and I am not saying that is me :)).
Should you expect a $2500 rod to be impressive? I would hope so and certainly part of what you are paying for is the maker’s experience, but there is then also pressure placed on the maker to produce glass like finishes and use fancy hadware which doesn’t inluence the fishing experience. These extras may however influence the owning experience. Also, remember that some of these makers are reliant on rods for their income and there is only a certain number you can produce each year. How much do you need to earn each year to meet your standard of living?
Rod actions are a personal thing. I have cast a Brackett Winston and didn’t particularly like it (sorry Glenn!). Is that a comment against me, the maker or the powers of the universe? How do people choose their graphite rods? Some certainly have a brand loyalty, but even within that they should be purchasing based upon action and feel.
I think price should be taken out of the equation just for a moment. If you are interested in buying a bamboo rod, it comes down to casting rods and getting a feel for what you like and then speaking to makers about what they can do for you. Actions are personal preferences that don’t start with a $ sign, but the maker’s skills will help in delivering what the customer is after.
If you want that rod to have a particular brand name on it, that is up to you and it is your money. There are some great makers out there who deserve their reputation, but don’t think that they are your only option in getting a rod. Irrespective of who you get the rod from, you will most likely pay more than for graphite, but that comes down to economies of scale and the man hours needed to produce the rod.
I am not sure if all the above actually makes sense, but as a maker who likes his rods, I don’t necessarily agree with some of the sentiments expressed earlier. Unfortunately there is also no easy way to prove it all as it is so subjective. I could offer to send a rod to someone to test and I may think it has a great action but there is never a guarantee that the next angler will agree.
Cheers,
Callum
Karsten,
I was thinking of a possible maker’s gathering in late September/early October. Will let you know if it eventuates.
Cheers,
Callum
Hi Karsten,
Definitely after a 10′ rod. It is just for one of those specialised situations and the amount of times it would get used does not warrant spending top dollar (but of course I want something decent!).
Most of my fishing these days is with bamboo but I do not have any problem picking up the SP+ when the need arises. I generally make rods in the 6′-7’6″ range to suit the waters down in the Snowies so the 10 footer would be a bit of fun. Mind you, I also have a 13′ tenkara rod.
Cheers,
Callum
Thanks Brian.
I currently use Photoshop and have slowly been working to build a better understanding of the software. I will download the beta to have a play.
Cheers,
Callum
Sorry for jumping in on this thread…
What advantages does Lightroom provide? There are a couple of mentions in regards to using Lightroom for a large part of the editing. What does it do well and what still needs to be done in Photoshop?
Cheers,
Callum
The half or modified wells grips can be really comfortable. It is up to the user as to their preference of course.
The key really is their length. To me, the grips on the Fenwick rods above look too long. Kept short and in scale, they can look great on shorter, light line rods. Most people think they need a slim cigar/reverse half wells on a short rod, but may be surprised if they get the chance to try a few other shapes out as well. The Kagerow always look nice as do some of the Wojnicki grips.
Cheers,
Callum
Zach,
I think you do a great job with the podcasts and I really enjoy listening to them. Plenty of interesting topics and guests.
I may plane bamboo, but listening to the graphite rod stuff is always educational. The Gary Loomis interview was fantastic.
Cheers,
Callum
Thanks for the suggestions. I do like the pics that have a more in the field aspect to them.
For some reason I have only ever tried photographing the rod in isolation. Having looked at a few of the above images and reviewing some other sites I will have to try and set up some shots with both reels and various backgrounds included.
Cheers,
Callum.
