Bamboo Question

[ilmbaba]

Hey Folks,

I was given a Bamboo Flyrod. It's a 3 piece and near the handle, it says "Golden" in script, and below that it says Compac. It also has a second top section for a total of four pieces.
My questions are:

1. Is there any way to figure out what weight it is (do bamboo rods even go by weight)?

2. The first guide up from the handle is very small. Is that correct?

Please ask me if you need more info. I can e-mail a picture if you'd like.

Thanks in advance for your help.

[Cracker]

Hi Elliot, I haven't a clue as to who that rod was made by . Maybe someone else will enlighten us. The small stripper guide tells me it was used with silk lines which are smaller in diameter than our modern ones. As to what weight line, if you have them or can borrow from your buddies, you can see what casts best or you can try the common cents method as I did. If you need the link to the Common Cents Method I can dig it out for you.

[Wednesday Caster]

I believe th Golden Compac rods are from Japan and were made post WWII in 50s/60s. I've seen them on ebay around $25-75. I currently have a Japanese fly rod (not same brand). It has caught fish but is now retired to my desk at the office. The ferrules though bright and shiny seem to be of very brittle metal and cracks easily. If I were to fish yours, I'd check for splits in the boo, cracks in the ferrules and guide thread wraps before I loaded it with 5# or 6# line.

[rockymountain_brown]

Right on.
I had a golden. Bamboo is made with inferior Chinese bamboo. These rods tend to be very noodely, and don't cast all that well.
RMB

[Wednesday Caster]

RMB:
LOL!!! Did you ever think you'd include the word "Noodly" in your vocabulary? Bet you wouldn't say that a football game. This FF is something else LOL.

[Harebear]

I think the the noodlitity of any given rod can be traced directly to the makers necitisity which often increases the tortuosity of the noodleness. Don't you agree? Or am I just blowing sunshine up my flugelbinder.

[Betty Hiner]

Ohhh-kaaaaaay ...
I say use that rod!!! Have a ball with it!!! The fish don't care!!!!

[ilmbaba]

Betty!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! How are you feeling?

[dudley]

Nothing wrong with a little sunshine up your flugelbinder.
I redid a Japanese rod last winter.
My father's first fly rod.
Spent less than ten bucks on it incase it was a POS
Turned out to be a little tip heavy, but otherwise a very fishable rod.

[Wednesday Caster]

We need our own dictionary. LOL!!!
Betty, you are very wrong. Fish only know if you're using graphite rods . Please note I have caught plenty of fish with the Japanese rod I have. I chose to retire it because it does look so cool in its wooden case and all the BLING still shines. The other reason why it's been retired is I'm on my 8th bamboo rod rebuild.