I just built my Step-Father a custom rod and in his appreciation over it he began to dig through his lifetime accumulation of fishing gear and gave me 6 incredibly old bamboo fly rods along with some old reels, a wicker creel and some hand tied flies. Some of the rods were his Grandfather’s and my Step-Father is 73. My question is does anyone have any suggestions of resources i.e. books, web sites and such that I can use to help me restore them. I was thinking of cleaning them up and by replacing some missing guides and ferrules and then putting them in shadow boxes to hang on the wall, but I really want to do it right. I was also wondering how or who could appraise them. Thank you in advance.

Jeff
Ogden, UT

Michael Sinclair's "Bamboo Rod Restoration Handbook" is a great resource for fixing up old rods. It would be my 1st choice.

Tight Wraps,
Tim

If you don't want to spend $75 to $100 for Mike's book... here is a good site.

[p205.ezboard.com]

If you want to email me privately, I may be able to help you out with the values of the rods, and maybe some tips on the restoration of them.

Art

mrparramoure@yahoo.com

Tight lines ~ ~

WOW! I had no idea that Sinclair's book was out of print & worth that much! I got mine for about $20.00! I guess I better take care of it!

Tim

Like it was a brick of GOLD !!!!!!!!!

All of his books have skyrocketed...

The same with Garrison's book, sometimes it goes to close to $200.00

Tight lines ~ ~ ~

Jeff,

Are you sure that you want to restore those old rods? Unless you are sure that their value is close to nothing, I would check first. One or more might be worth some serious money to collectors if they are in original condition. Of course, if you're not into that, restore away. It's fun! I recently restored a piece of cr*p bamboo rod (if you could call it that) that was in terrible condition: finish halfway gone, missing guides, rotted thread, etc. The finished restored rod was amazing, both in appearance and action. Both the client and I were surprised how well that rod fishes. BTW, I used one of the original tiny guides as a hook keeper.

Jim

Here is a link to a website that gives the history of some of older bamboo rods [home.comcast.net]

I am currently re-doing 5 old, 1930's - 1940's vintage, bamboo rods, not to put on display but to fish.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/22/2006 03:43PM by Bob Crook.

Jeff,looking through the flyer for the rod building show I noticed that a booth will appraise any old bamboo rod for you.If you can make the show bring them with you.The booth will be on the fly fishing side.

Freddwhy (Rapt-Ryte)

Jeff: www.mudhole.com, has a VHF video "How to Refinish Bamboo Rods step by step" , they also have a book "Antique & Collectable Fishing Rods". I hope that this info can be of help.