Johnny is having a big sale on his Presidential bamboo blanks and rods. Also on his glass spey rods. He said he was going to post here but until then I will mention it.

Do the blanks come with ferrules already installed? Sorry for the stupid question, I've just never ordered a bamboo blank before

Usually no
But ask He may just do it for you

Bill - willierods.com

It seems like some did in the past but lately not. But all you have to do is ask Johnny to send you the correct ferrules for the blank. He has those made especially for his blanks and they are very nice looking and highly functional. They have an expensive look to them.

If you plan to build Bamboo rods This is some thing you SHOULD learn A lot of info on the net on doing them

Bill - willierods.com

Thanks guys, I live down in Florida so most fly rods down here are graphite, but I may be taking a trip up to Montana this summer so I was thinking about making a fly rod when I go. I've researched quite a bit on bamboo fly rods but I just didn't know if the blanks came with a ferrule.

Bill B, what Michael is talking about is assembling a rod on a bamboo blank not actually building one. It is no different that any one of us buying a graphite blank and assembling it with our choice of compents.
When one actually starts from scratch with a clum of bamboo, splits then planes the taper and does all the other steps to make the blank and final rod can we say they are a "Maker".
Granted if one wanted to learn to "build" there is a plethora of info on the net and many makers offer classes. However, the learning curve to assemble a rod on a bamboo blank is not that far from assembling one on a graphite or glass blank.
Having restored/refinished hundreds of vintage bamboo rods and having made several dozen rods from scratch I can say there is a difference in the two processes. What drives me and other makers crazy are when people pass themselves off as makers just because they bought a bamboo blank and threw some guides, grip and seat on it and say it's hand built. You are a builder or assembler. The average time to build a rod is 40 hrs. using one of Johnnys blanks I could have a rod done in less than 8 hrs. Would I charge the same price for both? No but I know some people do.
If someone wanted to try bamboo but didn't want to drop a lot of money I would recommend the blanks from AR. Of all the import blanks out there these are some of the better ones and johnny stand behind them, at least in my peorsonal experience.

Gary, your nit picking Bill's comment! Fitting ferrules to purchased bamboo blanks is universal, and it is part of the "assembly" process. Building/assembly whats it matter?

By the way.................please note the Title of this forum!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/16/2016 06:32PM by Phil Erickson.

Phil, I felt that Bill implied that there was more to building a rod from a blank than there actually is if one were to start with a premade blank and prehaps dissuaded the posters idea of building a babmoo rod.

Thank You Ed,

I just put up a post. You can save up to 35% off your entire order. This is the biggest sale we're going to have this year!

Gary
I was thinking of fitting the two mail and female together for that POP fit Yet there are those already fit

Bill - willierods.com