Having never cast a cane/bamboo rod I have no idea what the attraction is other than history. I have an old glass rod which I really do love the action on, however it is OLD and it was my fathers so I use it sparingly, funny since he tells me all the time " if you like it use it until it breaks it wasn't expensive or anything" I guess despite what my girlfriend says I do have a sentimental bone somewhere . I have a few graphite rods, none of which I am particularly attached to, the new Elkhorn has promise but I haven't used it enough to love it yet...I guess we'll see. So the question is whats so nice about Bamboo/Cane as compared to graphite? I guess glass is somewhat obsolete? or is it just not very common?
Give us a try!
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Bamboo vs. Glass vs. Graphite
- Thread starter njflyguy
- Start date
I too have tried cane through the use of some friends and I did try about 3 different rods. One the that I noticed the most was the weight of the rods. Definately much heavier than the graphite. I fished one that was pretty slow action, but did present a dry fly beautifully. It didn't throw a nymph all that well. I fished a second one that was just the opposite. I guess it depends alot on the taper of the rod. All in all I still will stay with graphite. I actually have a Scott F series rod which is the same as their G Series but in fiberglass. I build my own and I have not yet started this one yet. I did buy it specifically for small streams where I need the rod to load easily with minimal amount of line out. Fiberglass has been advertised with this better capability. Andre does fish a good bit of bamboo and can further give you more of his opinion.
Njflyguy, this discussion is very subjective, however I will describe my experience with Bamboo. Bamboo Rods have a great amount of flex (elasticity). The Cane loads and releases slowly. This slower process provides more time for the cast and enables the experienced Flyfisherman to place the fly with great accuracy. The slow loading also allows a delicate lift of the fly off of the water at the end of the float. Another benefit of Bamboo is less wrist fatigue. The Bamboo requires a more delicate technique during the cast, thus producing greater line speed with less effort. The graceful flexing of the Bamboo is a benefit during strikes. Due to this fact alone, I know Flyfisherman that will only use Cane for nymph fishing. The strikes can be extremely violent and a great deal of flex is needed not to damage the rod. All Bamboo Fly Rods are not created equal. I have found the Napolitano to be light in weight and responsive. With all of the wonderful benefits that Bamboo Rods have to offer, Flyfisherman are re-discovering Cane. Its popularity has resurfaced with great enthusiasm. And Yes, the history, beauty, and the smell of Varnish on a new Cane rod IS magical…. For your interest http://napolitanoflyrods.home.att.net
Be warned, once you own a Cane rod there is no turning back.
Be warned, once you own a Cane rod there is no turning back.
willowhead
~Jedi Dryfly~
Boo
I have three cane rods and my wife has one. I hope soon to have another. They are a way to go back in time.........to a slower time. Very romantic........and perhaps nostalgic. You DO get a sense of being even more in tune with nature simply because you don't have plastic in your hand. That's real and not just a perception. "Try it, you might like it." ..........lol. One might say cork is cork, and THAT'S what's in your hand......but PAlease, think outside the box. Cane is magic.........it has a way of it's own. I can't imagine using it all the time or exclusively, but it is a real joy to fish with. mark..................
I have three cane rods and my wife has one. I hope soon to have another. They are a way to go back in time.........to a slower time. Very romantic........and perhaps nostalgic. You DO get a sense of being even more in tune with nature simply because you don't have plastic in your hand. That's real and not just a perception. "Try it, you might like it." ..........lol. One might say cork is cork, and THAT'S what's in your hand......but PAlease, think outside the box. Cane is magic.........it has a way of it's own. I can't imagine using it all the time or exclusively, but it is a real joy to fish with. mark..................
Andre
The Bamboo Guy!
Ed, WB and Mark did a good job not sure what I can add. I love bamboo rods and their history. The idea of a lone craftsman working in a basement as Garrison did blows my mind. He made beautiful fishing tools that cast smooth as butter. The history of the bamboo rod can be felt in the Catskills where Theodore Gordan onces traded Ed Paine 17 dozen flies for one of his rods.
WB is right they are not all equal. There are hand planed, machine planed, some made by a single craftsman some made by 5 or 6 different set of hands. Even production rods(made by more the one craftsman) have different levels. Subjectively speaking, Payne, Leonard, FE Thomas, Edwards were the top production rod makers. the second tier were the Grangers, Phillpipsons and Heddons. Rounding out the production rods were the Montagues, Horrock Ibotsons and others. That said some people prefer a Granger or Heddon(faster) over a Leonard(slower) because of their casting style. It all comes down to taper and rod speed.
Tapers are funny thing the newer builders can build the rods based on the tapers of the old masters but can again(subjective) possibly build a better rod. We have better glues and materials to work with today. They can also make the same taper lighter today.
The best way I know to try to compare graphite and bamboo is to compare it to cars.
Think about a 63 Corvette and a 76 El Dorado.(short and long rod) These were beautiful cars with great lines and you could feel the power, smell the interior and you would sleep in them if you could. Great cars with great utility at the time and still a lot of fun today.
Now think about a new Corvette and a new Cadillac. Performance wise they are quiter, quicker and are designed to last longer, but are they as beautiful and as much fun to drive? Depends on your taste. I do need to say that new bamboo rods as well as some of the old ones perform as well as our graphite rods of today.
The best part of the experience for me is not casting the rod but catching the fish. I can't tell you what it ifeels like to have a live fish on the end of a rod that is alive and transmits every head shake every run through out your whole body.
This post is in no way intended to disparage graphite or glass rods or the people that use them. I still use graphite but find myself using it less and less. Again, just preference.
Bamboo rods are not for everyone but if you want to try some different models let me know. Hope this helps. Andre
WB is right they are not all equal. There are hand planed, machine planed, some made by a single craftsman some made by 5 or 6 different set of hands. Even production rods(made by more the one craftsman) have different levels. Subjectively speaking, Payne, Leonard, FE Thomas, Edwards were the top production rod makers. the second tier were the Grangers, Phillpipsons and Heddons. Rounding out the production rods were the Montagues, Horrock Ibotsons and others. That said some people prefer a Granger or Heddon(faster) over a Leonard(slower) because of their casting style. It all comes down to taper and rod speed.
Tapers are funny thing the newer builders can build the rods based on the tapers of the old masters but can again(subjective) possibly build a better rod. We have better glues and materials to work with today. They can also make the same taper lighter today.
The best way I know to try to compare graphite and bamboo is to compare it to cars.
Think about a 63 Corvette and a 76 El Dorado.(short and long rod) These were beautiful cars with great lines and you could feel the power, smell the interior and you would sleep in them if you could. Great cars with great utility at the time and still a lot of fun today.
Now think about a new Corvette and a new Cadillac. Performance wise they are quiter, quicker and are designed to last longer, but are they as beautiful and as much fun to drive? Depends on your taste. I do need to say that new bamboo rods as well as some of the old ones perform as well as our graphite rods of today.
The best part of the experience for me is not casting the rod but catching the fish. I can't tell you what it ifeels like to have a live fish on the end of a rod that is alive and transmits every head shake every run through out your whole body.
This post is in no way intended to disparage graphite or glass rods or the people that use them. I still use graphite but find myself using it less and less. Again, just preference.
Bamboo rods are not for everyone but if you want to try some different models let me know. Hope this helps. Andre
srvrocks
Blues and Browns nothing Finer
Great post Andre,
njflyguy, the other option is to try some glass rods or slower graphite. There are two small makers that I have been looking at Steffen Brothers and McFarland (google search for web pages). Both Orvis and Wintson have slower action rods, both are graphite, but a completely different action from their newer rods. The Orvis rods were labeled Superfine with a recent change to Trout Bum, the Winstons are the WT.
If you want more info check out Fishing Bamboo by John Gierach or The Lovely Reed by Jack Howell.
Cheers,
njflyguy, the other option is to try some glass rods or slower graphite. There are two small makers that I have been looking at Steffen Brothers and McFarland (google search for web pages). Both Orvis and Wintson have slower action rods, both are graphite, but a completely different action from their newer rods. The Orvis rods were labeled Superfine with a recent change to Trout Bum, the Winstons are the WT.
If you want more info check out Fishing Bamboo by John Gierach or The Lovely Reed by Jack Howell.
Cheers,
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