I have been building bamboo fly rods since 1932 and split planed and finished rods until arthritis caught up with my rods about 20 years ago. If I work slow and for brief periods I can still assemble and finish rods but love bamboo the most as it is a solid, not hollow material. It is beautiful and no two are exactly alike.
Recently I became familiar with some bamboo blanks made in China and marketed by Angler’s Roost. I have completed 3 rods on their Presidential Series and sold all three to the first client that cast them.
They have an exceptional appearance and are very straight with superior joint lines. They are available in a large selection of popular builders tapers and all have 2 tips. They come in heat treated tan with selected models available flamed.
The first one I built was a 2pc 8’ Leonard Taper 5-weight. It casts very well and I can apply lots of power. I was able to cast a very tight loop to 50 feet.
The next I built was a 7’ Winston 3 wt which finished out at 2-5/8 oz. and cast a 2 and 3 DT very nice. 40 to 50 feet. It went to a customer who has a dozen of my glass, graphite and cane rods. He was very pleased with this delicate spring creek rod.
My most recent was a Paul Young 7’6†Perfectionist taper for 4 wt. I was immediately taken with its power and accuracy over 50’ . I immediately went back and ordered another as I want to keep one of these for myself.
Once a rod builder tries one of these they will be wanting to build a few. It saves me 40 hours or so in building the blank and allows me to create a nice cane rod that I can sell at a reasonable price and still make as much as I do when using graphite.
Joy Dunlap
J. Dunlap Enterprises
papajoyflys@yahoo.com
PS I try to put 2 and sometimes 4 hours on the bench several days a week but at age 86 don’t plan real far ahead. Hope to see you in High Point at the Rod Builders Expo.
