The Split Cane Fly Rod
(Excert from Part III: Research and Technique)
A Fly Fisher's Life (1959)
By Charles Ritz
Our sincere thanks to Crown Publishing Company
September 7th, 1998
Publishers note: Since this
publisher is older than dirt, it occured to me that some may never have
seen many of the older books. From time to time, we hope to
excerpt interesting segments from our personal library to enlighten,
entertain and perhaps amaze our rod building friends. Some things
are older than you might think. Most of these books are long out
of print, and if we spark an interest in you, check out the used
book stores, or one of the mail-order book sellers. Armchair Angler
in Hillburn, NY is one we particularly like. We previously
ran a series on bamboo from Ring of the Rise, (check the archives)
which I understand is now available in reprint. Your suggestions
and comments are always welcome.~DB
The Split Cane Fly Rod, Part Four
(Excerpt from Part III: Research and Technique)
"Malformation, Weakness"
"Since bamboo is a plant, the best processes
of manufacture cannot change its basic texture. Very careful
selection can eliminate wood which has not the appearance of
guaranteeing the good quality of fibre necessary for the
manufacture of split bamboo. But this quality can only finally
be confirmed when, the rod having being completed after being
tested for curve, the fisherman tries it out on the water.
A length of split bamboo is comparable
to the leaf of a steel spring as far as elasticity and the
breaking limit are concerned. To be constantly demanded from
a rod the maximum it can give quickly brings on fatique which
is transformed into permanent and more or less serious
malformations. The same thing happens to a rod after long
service. In spite of all the care lavished on it, it will
show signs of weakness in curvature. There is a decadence in
the stamina of the wood, precisely as there is in that of
the steel of a spring.
The malformation of a rod tip is but
rarely due to a failure of the glue. The glues used today
have the effect of soldering the six strips together. In
general, a failure of this kind is due to a slipping of the
fibres which partially detatch themselves from the material
sealing them together. A super-quality rod will become malformed
if it is kept continuously bent for several hours, even if the
curve is not more than half its maximum flexion. After several
hours in a normal position, it will ultimately straighten out
again and will not revert to its malformation while fishing.
The fibres will have returned to their normal position.
In certain hands, rods will live longer
than their owner, while other people will spoil them
quickly whatever the quality of the rod may be. This is
due to a twist of the wrist while casting or to defective
holding of the rod when endeavouring to bring fish to the
net. Too many rod tips are killed in this way.
Any failure of the glue is generally
owing to shock and torsion either due to the style of casting
(the thumb along the side of the handle instead of on top of
it), or by taking the rod apart by twisting (this applies to
rods not taken apart at night). I always disjoint my rods
after every day's fishing. A slight rod deformation towards
the butt of the rod is normal because the maximum casting
power is applied in the last forward cast."
~Charles Ritz
Next time,"How I began working with split bamboo."
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