The bamboo rods I used to fish with ( they now collect dust in rod racks ) are a whole lot heavier than todays graphite or fiberglass. Add an old big heavy fly reel to counter balance the bamboo & you've got something 12 ounce curls won't help with ! Fish for hours with a heavier bamboo & quart curls might seem insignificant ! Great to cast to get in shape for the #10 thru #13 weight saltwater fly rods. Modern technology has outfits, rod & reel at 6 ounces or less & bamboo rods from 8' - 9' are about 6 oz just for the bamboo strips without weighing the rest. Probably why it means less than what it used to.