Author Topic: May as well start some trouble! (Read 1718 times)

Woodbutcher · « **on:** March 05, 2005, 01:13:37 PM »

It's Saturday, I'm at home, I'd rather be out, so hopefully I'll start something. No harm intended, just a little banter.
So the guys was braggin about their split bamboo fly rods, each had his turn over last winter, each one was worth more than the previous. These rods had values of up to $2500, or so it was told. Antiques, 10, 20, or more years old, nice shape, and on and on. Truth is, the rods were impressive, but the oneupmanship was rather tedious. And fish in a creek with a stick worth over a thou, no way, gimme the money! You ain't never seen anything like me when I take a header into the drink. The rod ain't made to stand up to that. Besides, I admit my style was not up to this group.
I did notice that these rods were a little longer than the stuff that used, and I got the idea that a longer rod might help, somehow. The more I thought about it, the worse it got. Well, I was at a local sporting goods place just after Christmas, nosing around, good time to find a deal. They had cane poles marked down to two bucks. You've seen them, Bamboo, 3 piece, big brass ferrels,eye at the end, even come with a bobber. I didn't need a cane pole.
Then the light went off!!! I could see it all! I got me one. Tied on some cheap used snake guides. Found a place that sold winemaking supplies, and got a bunch of corks for a handle. ( by the way, not a bad way to make a handle ) Ten foot long, with a fly reel, it was pretty good, kept a lot of line off the water. Actually I rather like it, but it is a bit heavy compared to graphite. Very nice roll cast. I still use it.
Anyway, I let it be known that I got me a new, brand new....Split Bamboo Fly Rod! "Well where is it, lets see it." So I got it , and slowly removed it from it's cloth. They were....very quiet. Someone said," that's not a split bamboo rod. And I answered, "it is so, look, it split up there near the end, but I glued it and tied it with thread and it's fine now".
Oh well, they didn't like me anyhow, cause I like fishing for bluegills.
Woodbutcher

flatlander · « **Reply #1 on:** March 05, 2005, 02:46:59 PM »

WB,
I think we're going to get along just fine. I also build rods, and refuse to do the brand name game, let alone the split cane competition. And as far as bluegills, you can't get much more fun than a bluegill you can hide your hand under on a 4 weight (or less!)
Plus, I REALLY wish I could have seen the faces of the cane guys when you unveiled your handywork! That is my kind of humor.

sharps4590 · « **Reply #2 on:** March 07, 2005, 02:59:20 PM »

Welll.....I like split bamboo....and I LOVE to fish for bluegill with mine! I didn't pay near as much for mine as you can pay for a Winston, Loomis or Sage graphite rod and while mine isn't a Payne, Phillipson, Leonard or one of those multi-thousand dollar rods it is a very good rod of a respected name brand. I also use a silk line on it. Now, every bit of my using this rod and line is because I dearly love doing things the way they were done by generations past. I hunt with a flintlock rifle using balls I cast, bowhunt with a longbow using cedar arrows I make and the only cartridges I've fired in the last 15 or so years have been loaded with black powder, cast bullets and fired from a Sharps, Ballard or Rolling Block. I am held captive by the history and tradition of each of the above sporting tools!

I agree with you WB.....seems lots of those guys would drown in a good thunderstorm from their noses being stuck so high in the air. I thoroughly enjoyed your ...ummmm.... description....and loved the humor!!! Ain't much finer than a 1/2-3/4 lb. bluegill on a fly rod......just a couple more months and the 'gills will be on their beds here!

Vic

SQUACKS · « **Reply #3 on:** March 07, 2005, 03:01:13 PM »

woodbutcher:

i don't know where in heck i came up with them but i have 3 split cane ice jigging poles that are about 4 ft. long. i suppose i could easily make me up a 4 ft 1 weight rod for close quarters spring creek fishing!

these poles must be pretty cotton pickin old.......

luck!

flatlander · « **Reply #4 on:** March 08, 2005, 02:57:09 AM »

Don't get me wrong. I love the look and feel to the old cane rods, and have even thought of getting one in the past. In fact, if you build up those 4 ft canes into 1 wt flyrods, I'd love to see pictures of them. That sounds like a really cool project. Sorry if I came off as anti-cane or anti-anything else. I don't have any problem with anyone using whatever equipment that they enjoy using. In fact, I would encourage it and am probably a bit jealous because I don't get out enough myself. The area where I have problems is when the guys look down their nose at anyone who isn't using a split cane rod made by their preferred maker fishing for trout with dry flies for native fish on specific stream in a specific state. That sort of elitism just begs to be poked at a bit, ya know? We don't even need to talk about my desire to fish for freshwater bonefish (AKA carp). :shock:
When I started building rods, I learned a lot about the brand names and what they had to offer vs. some of the smaller domestic blank manufacturers and even some of the imports. Yeah, the big money boys make some good blanks, but you can get as good and in some cases better performance from the other guys for a lot less money. The only real difference is $$ spent on advertising and sponsorships. That money has to be recouped somewhere, and that comes back in pricing. I can think of one blank manufacturer in particular that can put his blanks up with anything the big boys make and you can pick them up for 1/3 to 1/2 of the price of them. But, the label patrol wouldn't touch them without the Sage, Winston, T&T, Loomis, Scott, etc. sticker on them.
This is supposed to be a recreational sport, and if you can't get involved economically enough for the average joe to give it a try without spending an entire paycheck something is wrong. This is a fun way to catch fish, and I just have a problem with the guys who tell you if you don't do it their way, you aren't really doing it well, that's all. Ok, I'm off my soapbox now.

Questor · « **Reply #5 on:** March 08, 2005, 10:23:39 AM »

Split bamboo rods are for 60 year old guys that are rewarding themselves with something pretty. The rest of us use graphite. Next time one of those heathens tries to impress you with talk of their bamboo rod, tell him you used to use one but gave it up because it was too heavy and it didn't work as good as your $50 Cortland.

tomaldridge · « **Reply #6 on:** March 08, 2005, 10:44:58 AM »

My first fly rod was split bamboo. It cost $2.99 at Sunny's Surplus, and had 2 tips. I got a reel at Joe the Motorist's Friends for $.99, and some hard green line at Joe's for another $.99. I caught trout, bluegills, and even some catfish (using hemoglobin hackle). The only thing that would have made it more fun was a trip with Gadabout Gaddis. I didn't feel like snob then, but I'd be a happy old codger if I still had that split bamboo rod.

sharps4590 · « **Reply #7 on:** March 08, 2005, 12:52:04 PM »

Well said flatlander.....that elitist attitude you refer to goes all the way back to England......gee, imagine that! This spring I'm gonna have to give the carp a go. Haven't had canned carp in too long.

I read somewhere, written by a person we all have read articles by, (now if I could remember his name!!), that "there are no "bad" rods today. I believe there is a lot of truth in that statement.

Questor, I ain't 60 and I didn't "reward" myself with a cane rod. I wanted to experience what it was like to fly fish with silk and bamboo, (now if I could learn to catch fish on wet flys), as it was done at the turn of the last century. I have done so and am grateful for the opportunity. Funny thing happend on the way to the experience. I found out I like cane! I still own my graphite rods and use them when conditions call for it. But I sure do like that 5 wt. bamboo and more often than not it is my rod of choice. They aren't for everyone as they force you to slow down your cast. That was the hardest part of the transition for me.

Vic

SQUACKS · « **Reply #8 on:** March 08, 2005, 01:42:41 PM »

NOW DON'T GET ME WRONG!
i am not promoting bamboo rods atall. i don't own a flyrod in bamboo. i do own 3 old ice jig poles in split bamboo that i never use and figure it could be interesting making a fooling around rod for funsies.

i remember using some of those old bamboo rods back in the 60's for bluegill. i seem to remember that back then everybody abandoned them for the newest scientific marvel of fiberglass. fiberglass was an improvement. i still have a 7 1/2' 5 wt. in glass by eagle claw. it is still fun to fish with too.

luck!

flatlander · « **Reply #9 on:** March 09, 2005, 05:39:32 AM »

Not at all Squacks. I just wanted to be sure to clear the air just in case I came off wrong. I like our flyfishing forum, but things are slow enough here that I don't want to run anyone off on my account. Especially with the season coming up. I can't wait to see pics and hear stories from everyone as they start getting out this spring.

Woodbutcher · « **Reply #10 on:** March 09, 2005, 02:44:14 PM »

I told you I was gonna start somethin! I'm glad I did now, you guys are a howl!!
"Nose in the air", "soapbox", "60 yr old guys", "old codger", Yup, you're fishermen alright! It's a privledge to share your thoughts.
A fly rod is a wonderful instrument, such beautiful music it makes! Let it lift the heart, not trap the soul. Woodbutcher

SQUACKS · « **Reply #11 on:** March 09, 2005, 03:46:17 PM »

you know:

i can't think of a reason in the world not to string up those split cane poles and try them out this sat. we still have 10" of ice on the lake and the crappie are biting pretty good. i caught quite a bunch of them last weekend. lets see you all do that with a flyrod!!! lol! i suppose a feller could get in a little casting practice trying to land a fly in that 5"in. hole.

actually the most expensive flyrod i own is an old fenwick eagle. i saved money on the cheaper rod (could not afford a better one at the time)and spent the money on getting to good places to fish. i still have not felt the need for a new rod.

i have been lucky enough to have fished in california, alaska, wyoming, colorado, montana, washington, oregon, idaho, missouri, arkansas, wisconsin, and michigan for trout. they are all beautiful places in their own rights. running, cold, pure water and quiet is all it takes for me. better still, it was something that my son and i did together. we went together every since he was big enough to fit into the smallest sized waders i could buy.

i have a picture of him when he was pretty young standing at the edge of the south fork of the flathead river on the west border of glacier nat. park. he has a small cutthroat hooked and a big grin on his face. that picture is a 20x30 and hangs on the wall!

luck!

DakotaElkSlayer · « **Reply #12 on:** March 18, 2005, 02:58:30 AM »

Quote from: SQUACKS

i seem to remember that back then everybody abandoned them for the newest scientific marvel of fiberglass. fiberglass was an improvement.

Before fiberglass, didn't the steel flyrods come out as an improvement over bamboo? I love the looks of a quality "cane" rod...they are gorgeous!

Jim

taxmiser · « **Reply #13 on:** March 18, 2005, 06:32:33 AM »

Yes, steel was tried as a replacement for bamboo since our government suddenly disallowed imports from China. Something had to be found as a substitute but steel was somewhat less than satisfactory and soon abandonded.

The search led to fiberglass which was found to have casting qualities quite similar to bamboo and available in unlimited quanities. As with all things the quest for perfection finally led to graphite.

I fell for the "perfection" of graphite for a time myself. However, I found that after several years of serious use, but not abuse, graphite would shatter while casting. In fifty years of extensive use I have never lost a rod while merely casting with it. After four or five graphites exploded I gave up. I talked to a materials expert who said graphite can and will fatigue with extensive use and I agree.

My first love is cane/bamboo and one can fish with them without spending the retirement funds. The old mid-to high range Montagues and HI's can be found for under a $100.00 and are delightful tools. Little "snob" appeal just great fishing sticks.

Second to cane is glass, nearly undestructable and almost identical in casting quatilites to cane. Both cane and glass allow for much easier delicate presentation than graphite. Graphite is great for covering big water with streamers and weighted nymphs however. If you follow the trends you will see glass is making a big, welcome comeback.

That ought to stir the pot!

Tight lines,

Dale

Woodbutcher · « **Reply #14 on:** March 18, 2005, 02:03:54 PM »

Taxmiser, I'm with you, and you said it better than me. Woodbutcher

SQUACKS · « **Reply #15 on:** March 20, 2005, 08:15:57 AM »

man who stick nose way up in air have better chance to perforate same with fishhook. lol!

squacks

Don Fischer · « **Reply #16 on:** March 23, 2005, 01:07:47 PM »

I tried that fly fishing once. Tell me something, how important is it that the whole hook be concelled with fly's? Maybe I could use a single egg hook? Or better yet, maybe I could put one on a #2 hook with a marshmellow?

Sure does take a big fly doesn't it. Think I'll stick to nightcrawlers and grasshopper's!

Woodbutcher · « **Reply #17 on:** March 24, 2005, 02:25:20 AM »

Grasshoppers is a mite scarce this time of year. Woodbutcher

SQUACKS · « **Reply #18 on:** March 26, 2005, 08:29:10 AM »

woodbutcher:

i spect a fella could try snowfleas.....but they are lots smaller that a #28 hook!

don:

it is an old tale that a fish won't bite if he sees your hook. one of the most deadly things i know of for any fish is a nightcrawler(shudder!) completely impaled one time through the sex band fished with no weight or float. this is not a good idea unless you are after fish meat because the fish inhale the worm deep and are not candidates for release.

in truth, flyfishing is like shooting a stick bow and homemade arrows. it is for people who like to challenge themselves and are not neccesarily interested in making a dent in the local game or fish population. they can be very accoplished fisherman who are looking for another challenge.

luck!

Woodbutcher · « **Reply #19 on:** March 27, 2005, 02:13:03 AM »

Gentlemen:
I better 'fess up here. I really take pleasure in the use of a flyrod cause it's so easy to use. Less machinery to malfunction, I don't have to reel in to recast, and bait is optional. Flys are so convenient, they either don't bite me back, or hide in the dirt, or have to be carried in a container of water and slosh all over me, or kept in the fridge. ( my wife appreciates that ) I spend a little time in the winter, enjoyably, tying them up and I'm set. Necessity is the mother of invention, but the father was lazy.
Woodbutcher

flatlander · « **Reply #20 on:** March 27, 2005, 03:57:20 PM »

I have to admit also that my reliance on flyfishing comes from the fact that it is by far a more effetive method than the others in many of the ways and locations I fish. I fish for bluegills and can do better by far using a fly especially in high pressure areas. I've had the same experience in Colorado a time or 2 on native trout. We caught fish on flies when everyone else couldn't get a second look. I seems fairly common in my experience that when there are a lot of fishermen with spinning and casting equipment, a fly drifted with little or no movement will catch them when nothing else will. Just another weapon in the arsenal. Add to that the fact that the rhythmic casting is so dang relaxing, it is bringing me to the point where I'll use the fly rod first in many situations.