Made my first solo split bamboo fly rod

[Badger Matt]

Made my first solo handmade split bamboo fly rod, a whippy little 5wt trout rod.

I'm hoping to retire in the next year or so and need a hobby to keep me busy and, maybe, make a little money on the side.

 

[Fox Mike]

I am not a fly fisherman, but that is one good lookin' rod.

 

[nekvermont]

Beautiful looking fly rod. Hope you post a pic of the first fish you catch with it.

 

[Rick Courtright]

Hi,

Looks good, Matt! Have you fished a bit with bamboo in the past? And "real" fiberglass? I learned to cast with glass, and find myself some times "overlining" one of my graphite rods to make it feel more "glass like." I've always wondered how it (glass) compares to good bamboo.

Rick C

 

[Brules]

Nice looking rod. I've always wanted to try a bamboo rod.
I've fly fished for over 25 years.
What's the length? Did you make 2 tips?

 

[gramps]

How can you tell it is an 5 wt? That is a good looking rod.
gramps

 

[Achigan]

JEALOUS! I really like the detail shot of the wraps.

 

[Pierow]

Looks great. I have been wanting to try fly fishing for a long time. I mostly bass fish.

Pierow

 

[contender]

Matt,, that's a thing of beauty! KUDOS!

We have to see pics of the first fish caught with it,, no matter the size!

 

[Del J]

Wow. Great job. We now need photos of the field test and fish.
Del J

 

[Scout943]

Its a beauty !

 

[JohnBoy]

Very impressive. A fly rod should first be built to catch fish but looking at yours also makes me want to go fishing! Nice workmanship!

 

[Rook]

Nice looking outfit. What did you use to cut, glue and shape the cork with?

 

[Badger Matt]

Thanks for the kind words. I'll try and get a fish on the rod when I get back from a Colorado fly fishing trip with my father and my son.

Hi,

Looks good, Matt! Have you fished a bit with bamboo in the past? And "real" fiberglass? I learned to cast with glass, and find myself some times "overlining" one of my graphite rods to make it feel more "glass like." I've always wondered how it (glass) compares to good bamboo.

Rick C

I don't think I've ever tried fiberglass, just graphite and bamboo. Bamboo almost exclusively over the last five years. It has a bit more controlled action in my hands. This particular rod is a slow action. I tried a guide's graphite rod after fishing bamboo for a few days straight and his rod felt like a sports car on the edge of control to me.

How can you tell it is an 5 wt? That is a good looking rod.
gramps

Thanks. The guy who provided the taper I used described it as such. I cast it yesterday with some 3wt line and 5wt line and it definitely feels better with the heavier line. That said, I'm far from being an expert fly fisherman.

Nice looking rod. I've always wanted to try a bamboo rod.
I've fly fished for over 25 years.
What's the length? Did you make 2 tips?

It's 6'8"...but would've been 7' if I hadn't made some errors. I've never busted a rod tip yet (knock on wood) and can now make my own replacement tips if need be, so I didn't make a second tip. If I ever get around to selling rods, that would be a standard inclusion though.

Nice looking outfit. What did you use to cut, glue and shape the cork with?

I bought the cork handle and reel seat. I don't have a lathe yet, but when I made my first rod at a class in Blue Ridge, GA with Bill Oyster, it was a pretty simple process. Used a press to glue cork discs together then used sandpaper to shape the handle on a lathe. I'd show pictures of that rod, but I mailed it to CO for a fishing trip.

 

[Rook]

I bought the cork handle and reel seat. I don't have a lathe yet, but when I made my first rod at a class in Blue Ridge, GA with Bill Oyster, it was a pretty simple process. Used a press to glue cork discs together then used sandpaper to shape the handle on a lathe. I'd show pictures of that rod, but I mailed it to CO for a fishing trip.

I always thought that part would be really hard to make. I'm amazed at how well the cork handles hold up to many years of use. I have quiet a few old Garcia Conolon spinning rods and the cork still looks like new on most of them.

 

[BearBio]

I have a couple of bamboo roads. My favorite is a '38 Grainger with a Hardy Golden Prince. I have a Perfect but it is left handed and I'm right handed. Want to fish the Madison with it but we got snowed in our last trip to Yellowstone (Right after Labor Day!)

Cane rods are slooowwweerr than graphite!

Looking for an Orvis now!

 

[Badger Matt]

Cane rods are slooowwweerr than graphite!

Yes, sir, it is. I think you nailed it. I fly fish to slow my life down and bamboo helps me do that in an almost romantic way.

 

[Rick Courtright]

I fly fish to slow my life down and bamboo helps me do that in an almost romantic way.

Hi,

For a good read about slowing down and the "zen" (or whatever word works better) of some of this stuff, John Gierach's Standing in a River Waving a Stick is an enjoyable journey into that thought process. Gierach's got a great view of life in this, and several other of his books.

Rick C

 

[Badger Matt]

For a good read about slowing down and the "zen" (or whatever word works better) of some of this stuff, John Gierach's Standing in a River Waving a Stick is an enjoyable journey into that thought process. Gierach's got a great view of life in this, and several other of his books.
Rick C

Rick - I agree. I have almost every book he's written, including his first, a 1977 booklet of poetry. He writes exactly what I need to read when I can't get on some water.

 

[Achigan]

HA! Two other Gierach fans, on a non-fishing forum. Whoda thunk?

 

[BearBio]

Cane rods are slooowwweerr than graphite!

Yes, sir, it is. I think you nailed it. I fly fish to slow my life down and bamboo helps me do that in an almost romantic way.

I describe it as make a forward cast, take out a cigarette and light it, make your back cast and smoke it.

 

[Flyfisher66048]

HA! Two other Gierach fans, on a non-fishing forum. Whoda thunk?

Let’s make it three Gierach fans. I’ve got all his books

 

[Wyandot Jim]

Matt,
Just OUTSTANDING!!! I have always wanted to get one of those wood sticks but haven't yet.
I want to see some Trout pictures
Sorry to say that we didn't make it to CO. this year sooooooo no Trout for me

 

[Badger Matt]

Matt,
Just OUTSTANDING!!! I have always wanted to get one of those wood sticks but haven't yet.
I want to see some Trout pictures
Sorry to say that we didn't make it to CO. this year sooooooo no Trout for me

Jim - Just for you, I'll start a thread with some pics...

 

[Number9]

Patrick(son) stopped last week at Oyster Fine Bamboo Fly Rods in Blue Ridge, Ga.
He said the 6-day class is full up until Oct.2020. The cost of the course is $1,960.
They sell custom rods for $5,760.

https://oysterbamboo.com/bamboo-fly-rods.html

 

[Badger Matt]

My father and I took the Oyster Bamboo class together in 2016 and it was worth every penny...lots of those pennies. We came out with rods that looked like they were made by FAR better craftsmen. Plus, all the coffee and beer you can drink throughout the day 8)

 

[AJGUNNER]

That looks pretty darn nice!!! I am heading to Bozeman in sept in search of some fatties. If you would like it broken in on some premier waters, just send it on out and I'll see if I can work it into the rod rotation to see if it works correctly.