I just received my first copy of my subscription. Thankyou for a great mag

Great article on Bamboo rod building. I learned alot. I've never even given bamboo a thought because of the cost of some of the blanks but now I findout that they can be built for a reasonable price for good quality.GREAT ARTICLE and VERY INFORMATIVE. Thanks Tom

Don't thank me, thank Michael. All his idea and a good one at that.

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I was shocked to see the article comments from Joy Dunlap. Now theres a blast from the past. I had no idea he was still, as he used to put it, "at the bench". Joy was one of the original Clemens Rodcrafters. He would have to be in his mid 80s by now.

I would strongly suggest you give yourself an education if you are going to sell bamboo rods made on blanks you do not personally know the builder.
There are many sources for "cheap" blanks. There is a reason they are cheap.
You might consider reading this post.
[clarksclassicflyrodforum.yuku.com]

Scott

That was fully covered in the article. I'd have to go back and refresh my memory but I think he mentioned that you couldn't necessarily judge quality by price, or vice versa. I believe there were some tips on how to assure you were getting decent product, particularly mentioning that you should either see it in person, or get some sort of return offer if you weren't satisfied.

I tend to believe that the very best bamboo blanks are still made here in the U.S. and Europe but there are some good ones made in the orient as well, particularly when you consider the price point involved. Keep in mind that rod builders buy oriental graphite blanks every day, never knowing the company or person who made them, and most do a fine job.

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/08/2010 03:23PM by Tom Kirkman.

TOM where is my mag. I am ussually one of th frist to get mine LOL

Good Wraps Bob

Check with your postman ... mine apparently likes my issue as it usually arrives "pre-read" LOL

I'm NOT an accomplished fly angler (novice at best) but after spending some time at the Anglers Roost booth yakking with Johnny I was pretty impressed with him and his products!! After talking to a few bamboo aficionados who's opinion I really respect (Ken Preston for one), I took the plunge and bought a blank and components and just getting around to building it.I had some questions and called Johnny and he spent plenty of time with me on the phone and made sure that I understood! Great service and products.

I have talked to several accomplished fly rod/bamboo guys who have built numerous of his blanks and love them!!!!

Mike (Southgate, MI)
If I don't want to, I don't have to and nobody can make me (except my wife) cuz I'm RETIRED!!

Johnny has spent several years on ensuring that the blanks are top quality. I chatted with him over the course of a year or more when the blanks were first introduced. We talked about taper consistency, glue-lines, internal mating of the surfaces of the bamboo, heat treating the cane, proper finish (if any) to apply. He listened (sometimes very, very patiently) to what I had to say as well as other bamboo freaks and has applied many "lessons learned" to make these as good - and often better than the original classic cane rods by using superior milling, higher quality modern glues and finishes. His flamed cane blanks are simply beautiful - and quite affordable. I've been sort of pestering him to bring a bamboo spinning rod blank onto the market. Maybe when the economy turns around - or more people ask for them.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/09/2010 12:59PM by Ken Preston.