Rolf Jacobsen
Forum Replies Created
-
Posts
-
If this doesn’t move soon, you might want to try posting it here. http://clarksclassicflyrodforum.yuku.com/ I say that only because this is a board devoted to nothing but bamboo rods. Good Luck!
Rolf
Micah I have a hunch we may have walked the same earth at some point. If it’s the one I’m thinking of, it’s one of our favorite places to visit each time we get out west. A friend of mine introduced me to this water some years ago and I was fortunate enough to introduce my wife to it last year. She had never caught grayling in a stream before, only lakes. Now it’s one of her favorite waters and insists we visit it every year. One of my fondest memories is last year a storm came up and the temperature dropped from the 70’s to the low 40’s. It hailed hard and large! We both sat it out in the back of a wagon we rented, rear door up, eating crackers and drinking a beer.
Thanks,
Rolf
Welcome to the dark side Abe! Sounds like you picked a good maker and your choice of rods seems perfect for what you were looking for. I envy you on your choice. Take advantage of Dave’s offer to try some of his rods and he’ll tailor your new one just for you. Despite popular opinion, bamboo is not fragile and other than drying it off after you fish it, the best thing you can do for your rod is fish it! Keep us up to date with this and obviously we want pictures.
Rolf
I wrote the piece below a few years ago in response to the same question on another board. It’s fairly general in nature but may be of some help. If you let us know where you’re located, I can probably turn you on to someone local that can let you try a few rods out and hopefully explain more about the slippery slope you may be headed down. Zach’s advice about visiting the Classic Fly Rod Board is sound and will allow you to ask questions to people who live and breathe bamboo. In closing, I humbly suggest looking in the 7-1/2’ to 8’ 4 to 5 weight range. Good Luck and let us know how you make out.
Rolf
So You Want To Buy A Bamboo Rod….
Yep. You may have read Gierach’s books and see yourself standing there in the middle of the stream with your rod and canvas waders. You might have seen Flykuni’s profile, crawling over the rocks in the backcountry sneaking up on that small stream. You may have even read Fishnbanjo’s accounts of the magical powers only possible from a Dickerson. You think it’s cool…. don’t laugh, I’ve done dumber things in the name of cool. DON’T DO IT! These are not good reasons to throw perfectly good money away on something you may not even like! I AM NOT EVEN CLOSE TO BEING AN EXPERT BUT…
Try a few out first. The old excuse of there is none around just doesn’t cut it anymore. Flyshops often have at least one or two. There are people on this Board who fish cane and probably live within driving distance. Trust me, they would love nothing more than to show, show off, bend your ear, coach, help and provide as much as they can towards answering your questions. Attend the shows. I know, you want it now. You’ve gone all these years without one, a few more months isn’t going to make that much difference. Try a few out first! Even if it’s not the weight or length you think you may want, it still gives you an idea about the feel of bamboo. Try a few out first! Try a few out first!
After all this, if you still feel like it may be for you, decide what you’re going to do with it. Like graphite, there is no “all things to all people”, rod. Trout, bass, salt? Be aware. Cane is heavier. Nine-foot rods weigh a ton compared to their graphite cousins. Be also aware, the shorter rods, whether older “classics” or those from contemporary makers, can be more expensive than the longer rods. Feeling strong? People also say cane is slower. While this is somewhat true, some surprisingly “fast” rods, especially from the contemporary makers are available. Eight to nine feet is a good place to start for an older vintage rod. I.E it won’t break your bank account. There has been a trend lately with the contemporary makers to offer rods in the seven to seven and a half-foot range. I have a hunch this is where the new demand is going and why not offer something you know you can sell.
Buy from a dealer, especially if this is your first rod. The good ones have been in business for years. They got that way by working with people like you. Call them up tell them what you think you may be interested in. Try to be as specific as you can; action, length, what you plan on doing with it. If this is your first rod, don’t worry about specifying tapers. Tell them what you like to fish. They’ll do the rest. They actually enjoy walking you through this. Good ones give you at least a three-day trial period, no questions asked. Bargains…. you just got one. Someone put you into a rod you’re almost certain to be happy with. Used rods from contemporary makers can often be had cheaper than those brand new. Another plus is there is no waiting period. “Classic” rods can also be had at a good price, especially in the longer lengths. You don’t need a Leonard your first time out. Older production rods, South Bends, Heddons, Grangers, Orvis, can all be had for a price equal too or less than a premium graphite rod. Avoid those with more than an inch off a tip. The action just isn’t the same as originally intended. Contemporary builders can be found at a dealer as they often carry an offering from many of the better or well-known ones. Action? The older production rods tend to be slower with South Bend and Heddon being slow to medium, Orvis medium and Granger a little on the fast side for bamboo. The newer makers tend to be medium to faster. These are general terms though. Montagues, Kingfishers, and rods in a box, AKA, Japan, I tend to stay away from as a rule.
There may be some good ones out there but usually it may be the equivalent of a Wal-Mart graphite. Some work, some don’t. Price? Realistically figure on spending $350.00 to $700.00. Price does not necessarily equal quality.Fish it! This is your first bamboo. You’re not collecting… yet. Don’t buy something you’ll be afraid to use. One of the nice things about bamboo is if you break it, it can usually be fixed. Nice to have two tips though when this happens. Figure on another reel. Bamboo tends to be heavier and there is a good chance your existing reel may be too light. Figure on new line and backing too. You just bought this older Pflueger Medalist 1495 for $45.00 and chances are, it’s the only one you have. It can be a drag swapping lines from reel to reel. Lines are a crapshoot. Many cane owners like double taper lines. Keep in mind the older rods were built with smaller guides so this may be the reason. Chances are, if you own one or two lines around your favorite weight, you’ll find something that fits.
Dealers. Here are only a very few. To my knowledge, they have been around quite awhile and are worth talking too.
Carmine Lisella
I pick up my new Simms Convertibles this weekend. They have been back ordered for about a month. Zach! You’re scarin’ the hell out of me now…you know that right?
Thank you Mike. that was REALLY good. We donate to already CFR and it looks like it will be an honor to support Healing Waters too.
Rolf
…. and here I was feeling good about the 16″ Brown I caught this morning. Seriously, awesome fish and nice photo.
Rolf
Adrienne my wife began fly fishing about one year after I took it up. Suffice to say, she is my best fishing buddy. While I enjoy fishing with others and also alone, I enjoy it more when she is with me. There was no forcing the issue, she just flat out enjoyed it from the start. If you check the photo archives, you’ll even find some shots Zach took of her a few years ago in Tennessee. Regarding other women in our sport, we don’t see nearly enough although it seems to be changing but slowly. Nancy belongs to a club dedicated especially for women, http://www.dvwffa.org/index2.htm. There are a little over a hundred of them. As for good experiences or bad ones, only once have we come across another angler who had a problem. He actually greeted me warmly and walked in the stream where Nancy was casting. Looking back, he was lucky as she was just short of planting her fly in his head. [ch61514] Other women I have spoke too, seem to favor traveling in pairs and not fishing alone. On the positive side, Nancy has introduced a lot of ladies into the sport once she talks with them. Typically we’ll be staying some place, they’ll see her come in from the stream and begin asking questions. Next thing you know, its lawn casting and then off to the stream. I hope this helps.
Rolf
North central Pa for the Sulphurs and anything else that comes off. Pulled pork and good beer is also on the menu. 🙂
Rolf
Brent, you touched a soft spot as I was fortunate enough to be one of the original sponsors. The club was started a few years ago and Joel, the guy who started it, is an incredibly nice guy. When he began corresponding with a couple of guys about his idea, the call went out for equipment. A bunch of us got together and donated what we could privately, (stuff we really didn’t need or use anymore), and contacted some manufacturers. In return for doing what little we could, we each received a “Baghdad Fly Fishers” hat and a nice thank you letter from the members at the time, (I don’t think I could ever part with the hat or the letter). Bottom line is it’s a pretty nice program offering a little relaxation in a place where I’m sure it’s sorely needed.
Thanks,
RolfJim you may want to check out the Fiberglass Forum listed in the small stream thread. Lot’s of good folks there. http://fiberglassflyrodders.yuku.com/
Rolf
The only two weight I own is a 6’9” Digger Degere bamboo. Actually my wife does and she likes it for small streams. By small, we’re talking a foot to 10 feet wide, and often with canopy. While I fish a couple of bamboo rods in shorter lengths, they are three weights and you asked about a two weight. For sure, they are nice. BUT, if I had to pick one rod for small streams, it would be a McFarland glass rod. I own a 7’, 3/1 three weight that is great for in close as well as up to 40 to 50 feet. It loads very well with a TT #3. The other advantage is it’s great for bushwhacking and very durable. Mike makes a great rod.
We fish a spring creek here in S.E. Pa, all year and the winter is our favorite time. We started January 2nd and as of the first of March, the BWO’s have been on.
Bob you already sound like me on a good day! Congrats! Sounds to me like you’re doing just fine. Keep at it and for what it’s worth, you’re in my thoughts.
Rolf
John I am the LAST person around to critique a photo but #2 imparts “COLD” like nothing I have ever looked at before. Nice & thank you.
Rolf
Since he[Lefty] makes a lot of money by licensing out his name to the TFO brand, I wonder how he reconciles the issue.
Not trying to be a stickler but no one in the fly fishing business makes a lot of money.
I am sure the Becks, Lefty, and the other Pros arent paying the big bucks that your regular joe shmoe is for a memebership at the SRC. In fact, I would bet the pay nothing. Donnie B is just using them as pawns to try to convince us that what he is doing is not wrong. DB is the enemy here, not Lefty or the other pros.
Tim I agree with you 100%! Unfortunately I’m 60 and still naïve enough to believe in folks doing the right thing. As Zack has mentioned, this is probably not even on Lefty’s screen but it has to be on the Becks, it’s in their backyard. It’s certainly not my place to judge as I’m not privy to all the facts. It’s hard however for me to “understand” what the situation is there.
The bottom line I think is a as community of fishers, we have to not only be aware of these clubs but not allow ourselves to be apathetic in our actions. As has been demonstrated by discussions and sometimes arguments on this and other forums, at some point these may be in the backyard of many. Frankly, I’m looking forward to the upcoming article by Zach. Regardless of how it is slanted, (remember he’s a lawyer :)), it should serve to heighten the awareness of many others.
Thanks,
Rolf
