It has been about six months since I first fished my Cane and Silk Bamboo fly rod. Never owning or fishing cane before it was a whole new experience. Bamboo is not like other fly rods made of glass or graphite. Instead it is a part of the man fishing it. I had some reservations when I first fished this rod. Thoughts of a fragile piece that required special care and needed a proper cast to make it work. Well in the six months I've fished this rod I can say that a lot of my reservations and concerns were not needed. The rod performed very well. Fishing small streams can be a challenge, this rod handled them all. It casts well and handles most flies with ease. I will say though it does have a fancy for dry flies.
One of my biggest concerns was the fact that the reel seat had a sliding ring to hold the reel. Now I have several rods that have the same sliding ring seat and I have never had the reel fall off. Being bamboo my mind thought different. I'm here to say that the reel always remained secure. I love this rod and it is now a part of my small stream arsenal.
For it's six month anniversary I chose to fish a stream I fish once or twice a year. The stream is located in NW Connecticut. It's waters are dark and tea stained. Access is a problem with lots of hemlock that over the years has fallen to the ground and makes for lots of stepping over. Boulders and slippery flat rock are tough on the knees and they require pain relief when I get home.
Within it's tannin stained waters are these jewels.
"Small Stream Reflections", the cane rod...a quiet stream and wild brook trout. Happy together.
beautiful rod, beautiful brookies and great photos and writing
ReplyDeletethanks for sharing.
Anonymous
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It's my pleasure. I'm glad you find the blog enjoyable.
It may just be the photography, Alan, but that brookie's mouth appears a bit oversized, to me. I always take that feature, as an indication that the fish may have faced near starvation, at some point in its life.
ReplyDeleteJohn Dornik
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John I've heard the same. Other than that he was a spunky little guy.
Perhaps a survivor of the drought we had two years ago.
DeleteGood point Sam.
DeleteHemlocks, mountain laurel, tannin stained waters, lots of granite, gorgeous fish... perfect.
ReplyDeletemike
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It was all there Mike and then some. I failed to mention black bears.
Hi Alan,
ReplyDeleteI built an Orvis kit bamboo rod in 1959 when I was 14. Like most anglers my generation, I went through various fiberglass and later graphite rods over the years. Four years ago I started using bamboo rods exclusively on small streams and larger rivers.
Totally subjective, but I feel like I'm a better fisherman with bamboo. My casts are more deliberate and less rushed. My 7.5 three-weight is an American-made knock-off of the Thomas and Thomas Caenis, perfect for small streams and brooks. It roll casts beautifully, and, when necessary, it is capable of flipping neat leader-only casts.
More recently I started using an 8.5 five-weight 1940s Granger
Champion for landlocks in ME and for our larger trout rivers like the Westfield and Deerfield. It's twice as heavy as an equivalent graphite rod, but it requires fewer false casts and can power long casts effortlessly when necessary. As with my small stream bamboo rod, I feel like I can almost "think the fly" on target.
I'm not a collector of "priceless" antiques; neither of these rods were expensive "museum pieces." I bought the low-end Granger for $250. For another $50, I installed a new grip, reel seat, and larger stripping guide. Bamboo is certainly more fragile than graphite or glass - I broke one of the tips on my 7.5 when I slipped climbing up a slope I shouldn't have been climbing in the first place. Plus, you have to use side-pressure if you hook a good fish in a strong current.
I still use my graphite rods for stripers and blues. And, if I'm spending a day fishing in the rain, I pull out my 20-year-old Loomis 8 X 4 GL3. It's more full-flexing than other Loomis models. I originally built because it reminded me of...bamboo.
Warmest wishes and keep on keepin' on,
John
John Strucker
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John you have had quite a history with bamboo. At 14 I was fishing but I had a Mitchell 300. I think what kept me from going into bamboo was the cost. A very good graphite rod cost 300.00 and a bamboo rod was nearing a 1000.00. I had a Chinese cane rod that was purchased for 300.00 but it was like fishing with a tree branch. This one I have now is so much nicer and I feel so comfortable fishing it. Your mention of climbing a slope made me chuckle, I to have had such encounters.
Hi Alan,
DeleteIn 1959 my Orvis one-tip kit rod cost $44, which I was able to buy with money I made shoveling snow and cutting lawns. I gotta say it was an ugly build on my part, but it fished well. By the way, in those days you could get a top-end fiberglass Shakespeare Wonderod for under twenty bucks. Nowadays you can get a decent new bamboo rod for far less than a top-end graphite rod and a decent older bamboo rod for far less than graphite. By the way, your bamboo rod is a sweet-looking stick. Bamboo and brookies go together naturally like...Italian sausage and San Marzano tomatoes.
You're an inspiration, Alan!
John
John, good points. Just checked some graphite rods from Thomas and Thomas and they are in the 800.00 range and Sage and Winston are a bit higher. These are way outside my range. Yes that Cane and Silk is all that I ever wanted in a bamboo rod, it fits my small streams to perfection.
DeleteNow I would like to know how you knew what my dinner is tonight...Italian sausage and San Marzano tomatoes, some onions and red peppers in that mix also. Now I've got to go to the bakery for some bread.
That is a great way to enjoy the Rod's six month anniversary!
ReplyDeleteHibernation
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Will it was better than I had expected. I've got to spend a little more time on that stream in the future.
Jewels, indeed. Bamboo was perfect for them.
ReplyDeleteMark Kautz
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Mark the two of them went together as sweet as ice cream and apple pie.
I have a few bamboo rods and I treasure them all. I only fish them during the late Spring into early Fall because real cold weather will stress the tips. Bamboo is part of our legacy and everyone should own one if they can!
ReplyDeletemillerbrown
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I have been told exactly as you have said, fish bamboo only in warmer times. I agree with you that if one can afford it bamboo should be in your hand.
Nice fish Allen, and set up. There's a reason why old cane and fiberglass builders used downlocking reelseats too. Alot of modern cane & glass rods have uplocking reelseats and are pitifully tip-heavy. So much that you have to counter-balance with a disproportionately sized up reel. And if you have a fancy ultra-light reel you're in even bigger trouble.
ReplyDeleteMatt Harding
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Matt it makes sense. My concern was the ring would loosen and the reel would drop off, but this has never happened. Maybe I should keep quiet about it, don't want to jinx myself.
Just beautiful same as always, the brook trout living in those small ribbons of water. When I retire and have more time to myself I hope I have your energy to explore and hike that brings you to these slices of heaven where those beauties swim. I am glad that bamboo rod is serving you well.
ReplyDeleteSam
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Sam the energy level is through the roof at first. Then after your fishing some of those not so friendly streams the energy soon departs. It is great to be able to enjoy what nature gives us. Heaven is out there, we only need to open our eyes.
Great post Alan. I see you were using the Bombers you tied. Dead drift of skated?
ReplyDeleteDid a face plant while coming down a steep narrow canyon yesterday. Face looks like a pound of hamburger!
billp
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Bill those bombers did the trick now on several outings. I fished them in both of the ways you mentioned. They float better then the other bombers I tie.
Wow that fall has got to hurt. Be well buddy.
Good post Alan, I congratulate you for that new bamboo cane, excellent and very good cover painting of the art book Mr. Warren Smith ..
ReplyDeleteArmando Milosevic
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Armando the rod is a wonderful tool for those little brookies I pursue. Yes the cover is nice, but you should read the book.
...and a bomber! They all seem so right together!
ReplyDeleteMarkW
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Mark you could place the bomber and brookie together in most instances. They were made for each other. Thanks Fran....
Alan
ReplyDeleteThe Bamboo Fly Rod belongs to the seasoned fly fisherman, and it's found a treasured home with you!! Beautiful brook trout taken with it. Thanks for sharing
Bill Trussell
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Bill I love that rod, and plan on fishing it for many years. The brookies are really getting their colors.
Hello Alan,
ReplyDeleteWelcome to the wonderful and very interesting world of Bamboo Fly Rods!
But, be careful! ..., you could become an addict to them !!! I tell you from my own experience.
Be well and good fishing!
Humberto (achalabrookies)
Anonymous
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Hello Humberto. I never thought there could be such a difference in the feel and action of bamboo. I do love it.
I try to comment on your blog but for some reason it won't allow me to do so. I do read it ans as always it's nicely done.
Thanks Alan,
ReplyDeleteI was checking and everything seems to be fine in my blog, if you want and you can, I would appreciate it if you try to comment something.
Thank you very much again
Humberto
Humberto I tried the comment section and it worked....thanks.
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