Old bamboo rods

[chusha]

Are very old Bamboo rods fit for use if the finish is still good?
I'm looking at one that is about 50 years old.

[ohiotuber]

My SouthBend 291 'boo is a 1941 (makes it 67 years young), beautifully restored by old friend Dleo6446 as wraps & ferrules were loose, and it fishes great!
Mike

[flybinder]

I, also, have a Boo stick that's about the same age as Mikey's and it fishes and casts, like a new one. And, like O-Tuber's, mine was also rebuilt with new wraps and a new finish applied.
If you can find a Boo that's been "well loved" and not abused, it should still be a great stick, no matter it's age!
Heck, even MIKEY is still "fishable" and look how OLD he is! And, Gads, talk about "having a bad finish"!?!

[CM_Stewart]

Don't know how old mine is. Got it second hand (at least) over 40 years ago. Original wraps, but revarnished. Still my "go to" rod. In a recent thread on another board, one member posted that a bamboo rod that old should be hung up on the wall rather than fished. Another agreed, suggesting that if broken, it would be irreplaceable. In my mind, hanging it on the wall would be about the same as breaking it - I'd still have to buy another rod, and I doubt I'd like the new one nearly as much.

[dudley]

No,.. don't listen to these guys
Send it to me and I'll use it to stake up my tomatoes this summer

[saltydancindave]

Use to fish the all original old bamboo rods from the 1930's, '40's & 50's for smallies & trout which caught many a fish ! Now they just collect dust because they're not suitable for saltwater species, but should the occasion present itself they're ready to be catch a few more fish after all these years

[Max]

I fish my Father's favorite rod an Orvis 4wt bamboo one day each spring in remembrance of him. The rod was made in 1947 or 61 years young.

Absolutely nothing wrong with the performance of this rod.

[chusha]

Thank to all!!