Larry Donahe

[Everybody's Friend]

Larry Donahe has recently completed a rod for me.

I will post pics shortly...

Until then, check out his Facebook page, if you have any interest in the process of building a fine bamboo rod!

L. P. Donahe Split Cane Rods

 

[Lonewolve]

so what did you have built Beetle? Length? How many pieces? flamed? Blued hardware? Reel Spacer? come with a sock? tube? what did you name it? Is he local ?

 

[Everybody's Friend]

so what did you have built Beetle? Length? How many pieces? flamed? Blued hardware? Reel Spacer? come with a sock? tube? what did you name it? Is he local ?

LW, you ask good questions!!!

The rod is an 8' 5 weight.

Hollow built.

Payne 102 taper.

The wraps are green with black tipping.

And black intermediates.

LW, lets fish the D this year!

You can fish this rod if you'd like!!!

 

[Lonewolve]

Beetle, thats a real nice taper.I can't wait to see your pics. Was there a tube and custom sock included? as well as papers to hold its value?
My preference is for a Paul Young Perfectionist 7' 6" 2pc 2 tip . I also am in love with Gary Hawes 8' 4 weight. these two seem to just meet my casting abilities.

 

[Trouser Trout]

Beetle, thats a real nice taper.I can't wait to see your pics. Was there a tube and custom sock included? as well as papers to hold its value?
My preference is for a Paul Young Perfectionist 7' 6" 2pc 2 tip . I also am in love with Gary Hawes 8' 4 weight. these two seem to just meet my casting abilities.

No, he packed it in an old Christmas wrapping paper tube and pair of long johns he sharted in.

 

[Lonewolve]

You serious?

 

[Everybody's Friend]

Beetle, thats a real nice taper.I can't wait to see your pics. Was there a tube and custom sock included? as well as papers to hold its value?
My preference is for a Paul Young Perfectionist 7' 6" 2pc 2 tip . I also am in love with Gary Hawes 8' 4 weight. these two seem to just meet my casting abilities.

I'm having a Perfectionist built by the same maker for this spring...

 

[Trouser Trout]

You serious?

Very, thats how Larry rolls.

 

[Everybody's Friend]

These pics are a start.

I'll try to post more later.

 

[tomfly]

These pics are a start.

I'll try to post more later.

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That is a sweet rod GB. Buy a blank at the show and wrapp and finish you on your own. Trust me you will appreciate it way more then one you would have commissioned.

 

[Everybody's Friend]

That is a sweet rod GB. Buy a blank at the show and wrapp and finish you on your own. Trust me you will appreciate it way more then one you would have commissioned.

Larry Donahe teaches a class and I will take my son out there in a few years to learn.

I have family out his way in Minnesota, although if that doesn't happen, perhaps I'll look a little closer to home. L.J. Downes is a quality maker who teaches a rod building class out of PA, on the banks of Penns Creek.

 

[Future Fanatic]

. L.J. Downes is a quality maker who teaches a rod building class out of PA, on the banks of Penns Creek.

Does the weather ever interfere? And what do you do if there's a flash flood? Seems risky...

 

[Barleywine]

Congratulations on your new boo GB. Hope you have many years of enjoyment with it.

As per tomfly's suggestion; I like the idea of building a bamboo from a blank since I don't have the time to split cane until I retire.

Does anyone know about the quality of bamboo blanks available?

 

[Everybody's Friend]

Larry pretty much documents the whole build for his clients...

 

[Everybody's Friend]

Congratulations on your new boo GB. Hope you have many years of enjoyment with it.

As per tomfly's suggestion; I like the idea of building a bamboo from a blank since I don't have the time to split cane until I retire.

Does anyone know about the quality of bamboo blanks available?

J.D. Wagner sells high quality blanks at very reasonable prices.

He'll be at Somerset for sure.

 

[Lonewolve]

For what you pay to have a custom handmade Bamboo Flyrod made. You should always get a quality rod sock and Tube as well as documentation on paper signed by the rodmaker. Beetle I reallly like the green/black thread wraps.Not so sure about Green Agate stripper. But this rod is very attractive. Since it is a hollow built, is it also a parabolic action? What are you going to line it with? getting a new reel for it?

 

[Everybody's Friend]

For what you pay to have a custom handmade Bamboo Flyrod made. You should always get a quality rod sock and Tube as well as documentation on paper signed by the rodmaker. Beetle I reallly like the green/black thread wraps.Not so sure about Green Agate stripper. But this rod is very attractive. Since it is a hollow built, is it also a parabolic action? What are you going to line it with? getting a new reel for it?

The rod sock is custom embroidered and absolutely beautiful, and it does come in a rod tube of course.

As to the action of the rod, I plan to fish it on the Swift next weekend, weather permitting, and I'll post a report!!!

You seem to know your fair share about boo rods!

I've cast a few "parabolics," and can't honestly distinguish that class of rod from others.

The idea behind hollow building is to remove the core fibers, which are pith and don't provide the power to the rod.

Power fibers are not removed during the hollowing process...

So the strength to weight ratio is improved...

As to line - no idea!

But I may get an Ari Hart reel to match it!!!

 

[Lonewolve]

Ari Hart? How about a nice Saracione , Peerless, or a Hardy St Aidan,maybe a Bougle.IMHO click n pawl is the way to go on most fly rods. Drags are not necessary unless you fish the bigger rivers like: Delaware and it branches,Lehigh,West Branch of the Penobscot,Kennebec,Androscoggin.

Recently I have become a big fan of the Wulff Triangle taper, also I understand alot guys like the Cortland Sylk lines on their boo as well as the Triangle taper.

 

[Everybody's Friend]

Ari Hart? How about a nice Saracione , Peerless, or a Hardy St Aidan,maybe a Bougle.IMHO click n pawl is the way to go on most fly rods. Drags are not necessary unless you fish the bigger rivers like: Delaware and it branches,Lehigh,West Branch of the Penobscot,Kennebec,Androscoggin.

Recently I have become a big fan of the Wulff Triangle taper, also I understand alot guys like the Cortland Sylk lines on their boo as well as the Triangle taper.

I don't like click and pawl reels unless I'm fishing for the smallest brookies.

The Donahe bamboo is an 8' 5 weight, and I plan to fish it on the D.

Classic click n pawl reels are not my thing!

I prefer fishing bamboo, and that's why I buy it.

Disc drag for me on any reel designed for 4 wt line and above.

 

[Everybody's Friend]

LW, here's the Ari Hart reel I'm thinking about...


It has a sealed disc drag.

 

[Zonk]

Congrats on the new boo, looks great. Love the agate stripers on bamboo rods.

I've never casted a bamboo rod. Afraid I might like them too much and go bankrupt buying a few.

 

[Drossi]

Nice rod, love the green wraps. Good luck with it, post some fish pics with the rod.

 

[Everybody's Friend]

Congrats on the new boo, looks great. Love the agate stripers on bamboo rods.

I've never casted a bamboo rod. Afraid I might like them too much and go bankrupt buying a few.

Check out Larry Donahe's Facebook.

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