Why Bamboo, Why Now, Why Me??
Garrison, Leonard, Payne, Edwards, Thomas, Wes Jordan, P. H. Young, Powell, Gould.
These are among the legendary names in the annals of legendary bamboo fly rods.
Would any devout fisherman pass up an opportunity to experience first hand what made these names so revered? Who among us wouldn’t like to spend an afternoon on a trout stream field testing a Leonard baby Catskill? 7’ of elegance massaging your #3 line onto the water. I would certainly volunteer. Did Mr. Young really like his 7’-2” #5 weight rod when he named it the Driggs River? My money says that he thought both rod and river were pretty special.
Is a cane rod really that nice to fish? Yes—Yes it is!
If all that you know of bamboo is your grand-dad’s old hardware store rod, with its soft slow action, then the crisp smooth action of a modern bamboo rod will bring an epiphany to your fly fishing life. Efficient in hand, elegant in use, beautiful to the eye, and wonderfully tactile to the hand, a modern version of the classics will have you deferentially bowing your head when the names of Garrison, Leonard, or Payne are invoked.
Although few among us will ever be privileged enough to come in contact with one of the mythical, mystical rods of the masters, this body of work does not exist in a vacuum. Many, if not most, of their rod tapers have been measured by their owners, builders, or collectors, so that a font of information allows that these tapers can be recreated by those that would take the time and share the experience.
The tremendous growth of fly fishing in recent years has spawned interest across the spectrum of the sport. This includes the admiration and collection of quality cane rods. The affluence of the modern day angler has created a shift in the quality of tackle and companies once thought to be in the upper echelon of the sport are now considered middle of the road as far as price and quality. All of this conspires to make bamboo a worthwhile investment. Older rods, including some of the better hardware, and classics from the famous makers are sought after and are increasing in value as you read this. New rods from quality builders, who are driven to create large piles of bamboo shavings on a regular basis, are the target of anglers who are ahead of the trend.
All of this is capitalism at its finest but please remember RULE #1. Fishing rods are made for fishing and a quality angling experience should always be prime consideration.
Why should you choose me to build your next rod? I built my first rod about 40 years ago and I really love the darn things. I’m a fussy guy who wants to get it right, and I really love the darn things. My prices are fairly reasonable, and I really love the darn things. Thanks for giving me this much of your time.
