Article: Bamboo rod and some small streams

[trout-nut]

Nice rod and pictures. Ever since I started building bamboo fly rods its the only rods that I fish anywhere for about 4 or 5 years now. Keep the fish stories and pictures coming.

[fdavis]

Those trout can easily be described as sexy...

[Creek]

Nice job on the rod, and I like your creeks too. I was worried when I started to read the rod was 6'3". I worried that you were going to say it was too short. Happy to see you like it.

I'm having a 6'6" 3wt cane rod being built, and will get in June. I haven't had a rod that short before, and was wondering if I was going to like it. It made me smile when you liked yours. Hopefully, i'll feel the same way. I just bought a little 1492 Medalist for it. June can't come soon enough.

[Brooktrout]

VERY nice.

[heathcote]

Satoshi San,
Making your own split cane rod and fishing with it is the ultimate experience for any angler. Well done!
Last winter I made from scratch a 2 piece 4# as I found a lovely length of tonkin cane in a very old fishing tackle shop. Just in case you make another or refurbish an old rod here are some tips that I was given many years ago. Varnish: A good quality yacht varnish is best, it is very slow drying so allow 48 hrs between coats: thin to water like consistency and apply with your fingertip the first 2 coats. Apply a further two coats at normal consistency, also with fingertips, then continue coats over bindings until a uniform glossy finish is obtained, This will last for to my personal knowledge fifty years on a hard used rod.

[Satoshi]

Thank you for your words, guys.

Creek,
I was also surprised at the fact that such a short rod like this worked pretty well. Short rods certainly have their niche in fly fishing.

heathcote,
I should have asked people for advice here about rod building.
Well, I will at least follow your suggestion next time.

[grayling]

Thank you for wonderful narrative and photos . . . we finally have snow that is not thawing here in Alaska . . . an extra snow free month of fishing and riding . . . winter is here . . . -5F and dropping . . . time to tie flies and surf the net till spring . . . hopefully a month earlier . . . (8->)

[Alpinefly]

Beautiful pictures !!! Love that Bamboo Rod. I am still in the midst of refinishing my Rod Blank I received from Mike Shay as a prize for short story a few years ago. It has wet my appetite to build some when I get the money. With my Mom passing away, and my Dad not too far behind, it makes me realize how short this time is on Earth. I would like to leave some of my family some things made with my two hands that they can pass down. A good box of Flies and a Custom made Split Bamboo Fly Rod is a perfect to leave your family members !!!