Tag Archives: buildling bamboo rods

My Summer Bamboo Rod Shop

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While I’m here in Stanley, Idaho with Mary Ann for the summer, I wasn’t able to bring along my entire rod building shop.  But, with a little planning, I was able to bring enough tools/supplies to continue building bamboo rods…when I’m not on the river fishing!  I prepared bamboo strips for 5 rods ahead of time and brought them with me, along with a planning form and my gluing binder.  So, I can plane bamboo and glue up blanks while I’m here.  In a little corner of our cabin, I’ve set up a planning table and a small plane sharpening station….works pretty well.  I’m currently planning strips for an 8′  0″  6 wt. rod.  Here is a look:

My Stanley Bamboo Rod Shop

My Stanley Bamboo Rod Shop

My Planing Set-Up

My Planing Set-Up

My Plane Sharpening Set-Up

My Plane Sharpening Set-Up, Sharing Space With My Fly Reels

 

Fly Fishing in Stanley, Idaho

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I’m back in Stanley, Idaho with Mary Ann for the majority of the summer.  She works as a fly fishing guide through Silver Creek Outfitters, guiding on the Salmon River near Stanley.  I come along and work on bamboo rods….and fish a lot.  While I was here last year, I wrote a little fly fishing blog about the fishing opportunities around Stanley.  I’ve started it up again this year, and you can read about my fly fishing adventures at www.flyfishingstanleyidaho.com .

Fly Fishing Stanley Idaho (580x243)

 

 

New Bamboo Switch Rods Getting Started

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I got started on two new bamboo switch rods today…it was a day of  taking two long pieces of bamboo and turning them into 72 thin strips.  These will go into making two 10′  6″  hollow-built 5 wt switch rods.

Bamboo Strips for 2 Switch Rods.

Bamboo Strips for 2 Switch Rods.

FIshing on Hat Creek, California

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I got to spend a few days with my “California fishing buddies” this past Memorial Day weekend…an annual trip that we’ve been taking for the past 30 years.  The lower section of Hat Creek is a mostly broken riffles, and doesn’t get much fishing pressure.

A sunny afternoon with a 8' 0" 5 wt bamboo rod on Hat Creek.

A sunny afternoon with a 8′ 0″ 5 wt bamboo rod on Hat Creek.

Fishing was a little slow as we were just coming out of some cold weather.  But the stoneflies were just starting to move around and I picked up a few nice fish on Kauffmans Stonefly Nymphs, using a EuroNymphing technique.  Here is a nice 16″ fish:

A Beautiful 16" Hat Creek Rainbow.

A Beautiful 16″ Hat Creek Rainbow.

 

New Fly Rods Heading Out The Door

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I’ve been working feverishly on several new bamboo fly rods over the past several weeks.  Here are two nice one’s heading out the door this week to customers.  A beautiful 7′  0″  4 wt medium fast action rod built with tiger maple reel seat, classic reel seat hardware, and wrapped with highland green and black wraps.  This rod small stream rod is heading to Idaho.   And, a second 10′  6″  5 wt hollow-built progressive action switch rod.  It’s built with figured English Walnut reel seat and butt cap, a black banded agate stripping guide, and wrapped with black silk thread and straw and claret tipping.  This rod is headed to New Mexico.  Here is a photo of both rods:

7' 0" 4 wt medium-fast action two piece rod and a 10' 6" 5 wt 3 piece hollow-built switch rod.

7′ 0″ 4 wt medium-fast action two piece rod and a 10′ 6″ 5 wt 3 piece hollow-built switch rod.