I cast a bamboo rod for the first time this past weekend and really liked it. I am now considering purchasing one. I have no idea where to start?

Where should I start to look, what types of things should I look for?

What is the price range for an average (middle of the road) rod, ie not made by some "famous" builder?

If you are a skilled builder you can buy a blank for around $400 to $500 and build a credible fly rod. two builders come to mind. jeff fultz of fultz rod company in denver. mark fritch sells his blanks on @#$%& and his workmanship is outstanding. both of these folks sell completed rods and i think you are looking at $1000 range. there are numerous other comtemporary builders. golden witch makes blanks and rods and represents a few builders as well. bamboo is not cheap because about 40 hours goes into the handcrafting of them. i would suggest you look for about 7'6" in a four wt for starters. when you get around 8'6" they start to get heavy and not as pleasant to cast. when a fish is on a four wt feels more like a 2 or 3wt in terms of flexibility. this may seem like a contradiction but some of the casting energy when casting bamboo comes from its mass.

RodMaker Magazine did a complete series on building bamboo rods a few years back. Since then, the book by George Mauer and Bernie Elser is also an excellent reference guide, maybe the only one you need. "Fundamentals of Building a Bamboo Fly Rod" is the title to look for.

Also, you may be interested in the new Bamboo Rod Makers Association. Try this, www.goabra.org

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nix that thought in the bud!!!! do not think of bamboo any longer. old world ideas that'll hit your pocketbook like crazy. you can't have just one... and incredibly more addictive than rodbuilding itself it appears ;-)

eric
fresno, ca.

Rons rods, Clarks Classic Fly Rod Forum. Check out the links to fishingBanjoes site. 2 good souces of information. Lots of information posted.
Cost from a modern maker depends upon his reputation. Good rods for 700, same maker will be selling them for 1500 after he gets enough name recognition. I would say 700 - 1000 is a good price. Beware the cheaper new imported bamboo rods. Some of them are good. But some are pretty bad. The maker has to pay a lot of attention to how he cuts the splints in relation to the "power fibers" . That means that 2 rods can have the same taper, but one can be lousy and the other great. You are gonna have a bamboo rod for a long time. Resist the urge to get a real bargin. (I have 4 or 5 bamboo " bargins" sitting in the closet and a nice one that I fish a lot. I could have saved $1500 or so just buy buying a good one first. I will admit I had fun!) Their are pobably bargins out there, but it takes a experienced bamboo person to identify them.
Lots of good used rods but you need to know a lot to buy one.
Orvis battenkils are a safe buy used.
Look at the forums above, read some of the back stuff.

one other option. LL BEAN is now selling a bamboo rod. it is being built by gary lacey who builds the new "grangers" for wright and mcgill. reports i have seen are the rods are very nice and LL BEAN stands behind them. about $1200.00

If you need a class try www.wagnerrods.com He sells complete rods and parts plus has a week long class with fishing.




Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/02/2006 03:22PM by Paul S. Blanch.

Gary. You can get some great buys off @#$%& for under $300 from a couple of re-builders that I would recommend. Unfortunately, used bamboo is a pig in a poke proposition and can get very pricey. Clark's is a good site for quality rods and good people. There are also a couple of quality blank makers that sell on @#$%&, Mark Fitch for instance. I have a couple of rods I re-rebuilt from @#$%& purchases that you can have for $100 or less. Notice that I said rebuilt rebuilts. They weren't up to snuff when I got them. You can contact me off-site if you want one. Welcome to the darkside young Jedi. Don

Gary--You can not go wrong with a blank from Mark Fitch,his work is excellent

Don't start , less you got deep pockets !!!!!!!!!! You ain't gonna stop with one.... and then you will start with the "collectable names" , then your on your way to the High end collectables... next it's the 2nd and 3rd mortgage on the homestead..... BUT -- -- you will have some really nice fishing instruments to look at !!!!!!!!!! Beleive me when I tell ya.

Tight lines ~~

Thanks everybody, now I'm wishing I never cast the damn thing! I already have the bug for building graphites!

i hear ya gary. this is the fly fishing expo season. see if you can catch one nearby. often bamboo makers may have a showing with rods to test cast at a pond on the facility. it was the beginning of the end for me last year. look for the ISE offerings, or one called The Flyfishing Show. turn to google for your needs...

tim zeitak also sells his blanks on @#$%&.

e