I am considering doing a first time bamboo rod building project.

Where can I get information and components? What would be the best blanks to consider. What books ,etc. would you advise? How much time do I need to invest?

From your vast experience out there, how would you suggest one get's started?

Thanking you in advance for your help.

Joe T.

We have been running a complete bamboo rod making series in RodMaker for over a year now. Russ Gooding (Golden Witch) and Bernard Elser have compiled this series for us. It is quite good.

There are many books available on this subject that will give you the entire process under one roof, so to speak. Bernard Elser and George Maurer worked together on a book named "Fundamentals of Building a Bamboo Fly Rod" which is excellent. The much praised work from Hoagy Carmichael and Everett Garison is excellent as well, but might put you in over your head. Still, you will hear of it whenever you ask about information on building your own bamboo rod.

A fellow named Stan Smartt was at the first Rod Builder's Guild Conclave. He mentioned that he offers week-long classes where the participants build their own rod, start to finish, under his watchful eye. I seem to recall that Ron Barch (The Planing Form editor) also offers similar classes. Obviously, such a class would be the quickest and safest way to embark on such an endeavor.

Look to the left and click on the Golden Witch link. You will find that propriator Russ Gooding will be most helpful in getting you started, no matter what particular path you choose to follow.

Tom Kirkman
RodMaker Magazine
www.rodmakermagazine.com

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Tom,

Thanks for the advise. I just subscribed to your magazine earlier today.

Tom was correct in what he offered but i picked up on the fact that you were interested in a blank. There are numerous rod blanks on the market. I have built a couple from blanks. I fish a lot of small streams so the first bambo that I did was to take an old bambo and use the tip and mid sections and it built a beautiful 3wt. It is also a way to not get much in your first attempt.
I if can help e-mail me and I will do ahat I can to help

tom