over the last 2 yrs I've fished nothing but older bamboo: an 8.5ft 6wt montague, an 8ft 5wt heddon, and now a 7.5ft 3/4wt H&I. each over 40yrs old.
these are not world class extraordinary works of art, but rather extraordinary working/fishing rods that can be found in the $250 - $450 range. I have adored these rods... and, of course, the fish I've caught with them. I've taken them hiking into remote areas for multi-day trips, have banged them up crawling over stream boulders, in short they've seen a great deal of use and a variety of action and they've performed very well. I did have some delam. issues in the montague tip, but the repair was $40. well worth it. there is just something about the supple strength and action of bamboo that I prefer over graphite. and too, while it may occur as merely elitist to some, there is something about connecting to an earlier age of flyfishing with older bamboo. I often wonder what kind of adventures these rods have seen before I found them. )( sean -----Original Message----- From: Warner, Paul W [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Monday, December 10, 2001 2:38 PM To: '[EMAIL PROTECTED]' Subject: RE: I don't have the patience for bamboo and silk line. Kent, Last I saw them, Peter was selling them for $725-775 US. I think that was just last year. Bill W > ---------- > From: Kent Lufkin[SMTP:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] > Reply To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Monday, December 10, 2001 2:29 PM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: RE: I don't have the patience for bamboo and silk line. > > Gary, > > I'm intrigued about the description of your McVey rod. But having > recently seen bamboo rod prices exceeding $2,500, I'm curious to know > how much 'a song' might be in real dollars. > > I'd love to try a bamboo rod but not at that kind of price. Is it > possible to find a good quality new bamboo rod for the price of a > mid-range graphite? > > I've also seen some older bamboo rods whose various sections have > become warped, presumably due to poor storage, heat, or humidity. Is > it possible to have them repaired at an economical price? > > Thanks, > > Kent Lufkin > > >Mike, > > > >I don't quite understand your comment about having to have patience > >for Bamboo. I couldn't care less about using silk line but a good > >bamboo rod > is > >something else entirely. I have a 7 1/2' 4 weight made by Peter McVey > >(Of Corbett Lake, BC) that is probably the nicest casting rod I have > >ever > cast. > >I got it for a song at the Seattle Sportsmen's show a few years ago > >from Peter. I wish I had bought all of the ones he had with him! When > >I > purchased > >the rod I had intended to get a Winston 3 weight. After casting > >Peters bamboo it was no contest. The rod simply wants to cast by > >itself and > leads > >you to do it right. If you try to push it too hard it will simply say > >"RELAX, I'll take care of it" and simply dump the line at your feet > >:) However if you let it guide you into its rhythm then the line will > >fly > out > >of the guides and shoot exactly where you want it to go. I have cast > other > >reeds since I got this one and they will all do this to some extent > >(I > also > >have an OLD Wright McGill Granger I got at a garage sale for $20 > >several years ago that casts like this). With a graphite rod you > >don't get this wonderful feeling. When ever I can I will always opt > >for a reed over graphite. It is just more relaxing to fish with. :) > > > >Gary Johnson > >Sr. Software Engineer > >NetUpdate, Inc. > >www.NetUpdate.Com > >www.LoanUpdate.Com >
