Thread: Anyone doing fly fishing with vintage cane?

Another huge interest of mine is bamboo fly rods, particularly vintage rods by EW Edwards. Anyone else here at SRP into cane rods?
Pat

I build and fish bamboo rods. Where I am not a huge Edwards fan, I have built a few of his tapers. They cast nicely, but didn't have the backbone in the lower 15" that I like. Gillum, Dickerson, and Leonard tapers are my personal favorites. A buddy and I just finished up a Garrison 212 that is one of the finest casting rods I have used. We modified the butt section by adding a swell of .75 thou over 3 inches instead of the normal 2.5". I almost wanted to keep it!

The interest is there, but the funds have left the building.
I went through some hard times about two years ago and sold it all off. I have even gotten to a point where I own under a dozen rods. Most of what I have left is graphite, but none has seen water in some time.
What I have found is that medical students don't have time. Once things settle (ha) I will go back to wood rods. I started turning wood rods about a year before everything happened and I can tell you that I have had trouble going back. I also like making my own guides.

Plus, I live on the Yakima river. It can be legendary.

Sore subject,I went nuts when graphite hit the scene,sold my 5 wgt leonard,7 wgt paine,still have my 9 wgt greenhart (klamath river steelhead rod)

My father let me try his bamboo rod for a few hours one day last summer and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Since then I've been looking but with all my other hobbies it will be a while before I can afford bamboo. Although I have seen a few builders who do a weekend class and teach/help a fellow (or gal) to make their own rod and you walk out with the rod for not much more, and in a few places a little less, than the rod would otherwise cost. Plus you get the benefit of being able to say that you built, or at least assembled, the rod.
My kids are currently 4.5 yrs, 22mo, and 3 mo. Once they're to the point where the oldest can watch the other two, or perhaps at least all three are in school so I can stop shelling out ridiculous amounts of money for childcare, SWMBO might not kill me for dropping that much $$ on a new rod.

Originally Posted by pcg

Another huge interest of mine is bamboo fly rods, particularly vintage rods by EW Edwards. Anyone else here at SRP into cane rods?
Pat

I used a vintage bamboo rod once years ago - enjoyed it alot. I don't fish nearly enough to justify the expense. Got any pics of yours?

...Ray

Yup, cane rods are quite different, largely, from graphite. And what has always surprised me is how some 1920s rods have the same fast taper found on today's best graphite. It's really important though to cast any bamboo rod--they vary tremendously, with some being slow, noodle-y instruments and some being extremely fast, precise casters. I've never owned a Leonard that I liked; I sold my two Dickersons because the action never pleased me; and have bought and sold well over 50 other cane rods over the last decade. At this point I've narrowed my collection of rods--all of which get fished--down to about 16. It's all personal preference. I also use graphite, as I own a couple CND Spey rods. It's a great and relaxing hobby!

I have a couple of cane rods, although not vintage unless you consider the 80s to be vintage. I have a Tom Moran 4 wt and a Homer Jennings 4 wt. I have sold a couple already, and truthfully, I haven't used the ones I have for years. Maybe this fall.

Hm, I own a T&T (Tom Moran), a 2010 Tim Abbott (what a rod!) and a slew of relatively (to very) rare Edwards rods--all pre-1930. And I have a couple contemporary glass rods that have surprisingly pleasing action. All are just a blast.

The Tom Moran 4 wt should be highly desirable. I'd exercise those rods more frequently!

Originally Posted by pcg

I'd exercise those rods more frequently!

You are so right. Lately I've been spending more time on steelhead and salmon, but I shouldn't ignore the trout. What I really need is more time.......