Why do you fish bamboo?
I fished graphite only for many years, and enjoyed the experience immensely.
No one guided me to bamboo, I just wanted to give it a try.
I've never looked back.
I now own more bamboo rods than any sane and frugal person would ever contemplate. Admittedly, most of these are of the "blue collar" variety. Heddon, Granger, and South Bend; although these are some of the finest rods I own when it comes to fishability! The Granger and Heddon tapers are some of the very best ever developed, in my opinion. Goodwin Granger was a true genius when it came to developing tapers for fly rods. I do own a few modern makers rods and they are most enjoyable, but different, in a good way.
But back to my question, why do you prefer bamboo?
I have a hard time proffering my reply to that question that I seem to be getting more and more while astream.
I can only say that I like the feel of a hooked trout throbbing down the rods length into my hand. The feel of a rod loading on the backcast. The feel of a rod that seems effortless to cast, if you let the rod do the physical work involved in casting. A rod made of a once living thing, now in an environment of other beautiful and living things, flora and fauna. The beauty inherit in a rod built from Tonkin cane with nickel silver fittings, fine silk windings, Spanish cedar or Circassian walnut reel seat spacers, and a varnished or tung oil finish. A bamboo rod, to me, just seems to belong in the environs where trout reside.
As stated, I'm not very good at expressing my feelings on why I fish bamboo.
That's why I ask this question, why do you fish it?
Kinda rambled on there didn't I?
Bob
When you can arrange your affairs to go fishing, forget all the signs, homilies, advice and folklore. JUST GO.