I'm a bamboo freak and an amatuer rod maker, currently working on rod #12. Thought I'd pass on a few ideas for those interested.
The old production rods are really nice casting rods - particularly the grangers, phillipsons, and heddons. I have a Granger Victory 8-1/2' 5 weight and a South Bend #290 7-1/2' 5 weight that are fantastic. If you find one in good shape, you won't be sorry! If you're looking for a rod under 8 feet long, you can't beat bamboo. Graphite is great for 8'+ rods, but the material is too stiff for short rods. The added weight of bamboo makes very little difference on shorter rods. Of course many people (me included) like the slow parabolic actions of well made long bamboo rods. But if you learned to fish with graphite & want to try bamboo, I'd suggest a short rod. Refinishing a bamboo rod isn't that difficult. Anyone who has built a graphite rod can do it. The only tricky parts are replacing ferrules and varnishing. It's a fun project. Many of the old production rods were built when silk lines were used, and therefore have much smaller guides than we use today. Replacing the guides with larger ones can dramatically improve an old rod. One option for those interested in rod building is to buy a bamboo blank and finish the rod yourself. Golden Witch (www.goldenwitch.com) (No Commercial Interest) in Pennsylvania sells ferruled 2 piece - 1 tip blanks for $325 - about the same price as a GLoomis or Sage blank. The blanks are made by A.J. Thramer in Oregon - a highly respected rodmaker. This would be a great way to try a new bamboo rod without breaking the bank. There are a few rodmakers around who will sell you a rod for a reasonable price. Most bamboo rods today are made by independent craftsmen who build rods part time or on a limited basis. The well established rodmakers with reputations and long order files charge a lot, while the guys just getting started charge less. The rodmakers web site has a good list of makers with web sites. See www.canerod.com/rodmakers/makers.html. Most rodmakers also do refinishing work. A few years ago I heard the going rate was $50 per section. I suppose it depends on a lot of things. Anyway, thought I'd add my 2 cents worth to the discussion. Tom
