A new Series of bamboo fly rods.

Posted on August 28, 2024 by Dave Dozer

For the past 1 1/2 years I have been working at developing a new series of bamboo fly rods…a Fast Action Series. I’ve designed these rods with a fast action for windy conditions, casting especially large flies, or for those anglers who just like fast action rods. They also do great with smaller flies as well. I’m pleased to now offer these rods to my clients as another option and offer them in 4 wt, 5wt, 6 wt, and 7 wt, configurations. I build these rods with Custom Rosewood reel seats with engraved hardware, and dark claret, straw, and black thread wraps.

5 wt Fast Action Series

5 wt Fast Action Series #2

5 wt Fast Action Series #3

5 wt Fast Action Series #4

Getting Out Fishing Today With Our Bamboo Rods!

Posted on August 13, 2024 by Dave Dozer

I was able to get out fly fishing today with my good friend, Joe, on Whychus Creek, the small creek in the canyon below my house. Whychus creek is one of my favorite spots here in Central Oregon…beautiful water and no other anglers around. I took out my 6′ 8″ 3 wt. Fast Action Series Bamboo Rod and Joe took out his 7′ 0″ 4 wt bamboo rod he built with me in my workshop. After a bug sampling that showed a lot of stonefly nymphs, I started with a #10 black rubber legged black stonefly nymph. Joe started with a #16 Tan X-Caddis pattern. We both were successful and caught several nice rainbows. After an hour, I wanted some dry fly action so I changed over to a #12 Yellow Stimulator pattern…Joe stayed with his X-Caddis. For the next 2 hours, we both raised a lot of feisty native rainbows, and by the end of the day, we each caught about 15 fish. What a fun day with our bamboo rods on one of our small creeks here.

A Big, Black Stonefly Nymph

6′ 8 3 wt rod

Joe with a great Bow And Arrow cast.

One of the beautiful native rainbows we caught.

Why do each of us prefer different bambo rod tapers?

Posted on August 3, 2024 by Dave Dozer

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!!!

New Video

Posted on December 4, 2023 by Dave Dozer

After 14 years, I finally updated the video that is in the right hand column of my WEB Page. The old video was done in my old workshop. Finally, I’ve updated to a much more interesting video showcasing my rod building process. Thank you Olivia Elia so much for helping with the filming and editing of this video. I’m very happy with how it came out. Click on the link, and enjoy.

More Summer Fly Fishing in Idaho

Posted on October 14, 2023 by Dave Dozer

We got the chance to fish Big Creek in Central Idaho this summer with a group of friends….fly in by small plane to a dirt runway…and pack horses to a wilderness camp. Fishing was excellent for cutthroats in the 10″ to 15″ range with large dry flies. Mary Ann and I fished our 8′ 0″ 5 wt bamboo fly rods the entire trip. Here are a few photos.