Tag Archives: bamboo rod building

I’m now offering Custom Bamboo Wading Staffs

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For the past few years, I’ve been working at designing and building Custom Bamboo Wading Staffs, and I’m excited to announce that I’m now offering them to customers.  I build these Wading Staffs from the same Select Tonkin Bamboo that I build my fly rods with…they aren’t made from engineered bamboo flooring material.  I offer these Staffs in lengths from 48″ to 52″, and build them with a custom Cork grip, an English Walnut end cap, and Pearsalls Cardinal Silk wrapping thread.  I also include a retractor from Gear Keeper.  The cost for these Bamboo Wading Staffs is $600.

Custom Bamboo Wading Staff

Custom Bamboo Wading Staff

Some Thoughts on My Costs of Building Bamboo Fly Rods, Nets, and Wading Staffs.

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I do my best at keeping the prices of my bamboo fly rods, nets, and wading staffs down so they are affordable to many anglers.  Yes, bamboo fly rods cost more than graphite fly rods of today…but really,…when did the cost of high-end graphite rods increase to $1600???   Every couple of years, I do an assessment of my costs for building my bamboo fly rods.  Unfortunately, costs continue to go up. Over the past 3 years, I’m seeing these increases:

  1. Cost of raw Bamboo has risen by 85%
  2. Cost of silk thread has risen by 20%
  3. Cost of ferrules has risen by 35%
  4. Cost of reel seat hardware has risen by 15%
  5. Cost of shipping through FedEx or UPS has risen by 20%
  6. Cost of consumable materials (sand paper, varnish, glue) has risen by 10 to 25%

As a result of these increasing costs, I’m feeling that I need to increase the prices of my fly rods, nets and wading staffs.  Any orders placed over the last days of this year will be at my current prices.  Starting January 1st, 2025, the updated prices will be in place.

All two tip bamboo fly rods will be $2395

All nets will be $600

All wading staffs will be $600

 

Best Regards,

Dave Dozer

Bamboo Fly Rod Fishing in Colorado

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I just got back from 10 days of fishing with my best fishing buddy, Bill, who lives in Fort Collins, Colorado.  Had a fantastic time, and Bill did a great job playing the role of a “local guide” for me on his home waters.  We fished the Big Thompson River, the Pouder River, and the middle Fork of the South Platte River.  Most of the time I fished my 7′  9″  4 wt Signature Series bamboo or my 8′  0″  6 wt Fast Action Series bamboo.  We caught fish on Trico Mayflies, BWO Comparaduns, Ants, and Hoppers.  Here are a few random photos from our trip.

Bill and Dave’s Excellent Colorado Fishing Trip.

Nice little brown from the Big Thompson River.

Rainbow from the Pouder River.

A rare Green Back Cutthroat from the Pouder River.

The Poudre River.

Fishing the middle Fork of the South Platte River.

A big rainbow that took a #24 Trico Mayfly.

 

Why do each of us prefer different bambo rod tapers?

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A few years back I worked with Mary Ann and several other very experienced fly casters to look at how different fly casting styles impact that way a bamboo fly rod bends…i.e. how the motions of your hand/wrist/arm during the cast can bend different rod tapers differently.  My goal was to gain a better understanding of why each of us prefer different actions of bamboo fly rods.  Through extensive stop-action video analysis, we were able to show different rod bending motions which can impact the power and accuracy in your cast depending on what taper fly rod you cast. And if you cast a particular taper well, then it’s probably one you like. I pulled together a presentation that I presented at the 2022 Corbet Lake Bamboo Fly Rod Gathering, and I have also given it at other events.  One of these presentations was recorded and can be found at the following link:  VRG – 20200808 – Dozer – Casting Style Affecting Your Choice of Tapers (bamboorodmaking.com).  Check it out!!!

I’m back in the Bamboo Workshop.

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After 2 months of recovery from Knee Replacement Surgery, I’m finally back in the workshop building bamboo fly rods.  Sure feels good to fondle some bamboo again.  Just started a new 8′  0″  5 wt fast action.

Dave back in workshop.