Anybody gotten a sneak peak at Trout Grass yet? [url=http://www.troutgrass.com/:d4749]http://www.troutgrass.com/[/url:d4749] I don’t expect it to be the next “River Runs Through It” but considering the cast of characters it sounds pretty cool. I hope they do a nice job on it.
Bill O.
[url=http://www.oysterbamboo.com:d4749]www.oysterbamboo.com[/url:d4749]
Hi,
We showed a pre-release copy at the Penobscot Cane Rodmakers Gathering, and it is wonderful. Its reminisent in feel to the Winston Waters tape in many ways. The opening footage of Andy Royer’s cane procurring trip really updates all of the old 70s pics that are around. Its amazing to see that the acreage has doubled, and the discarded ends at the sorting/storage building would make nodeless roads for years. Its a nice touch to have Hoagy Carmichael, Jr, there. We just saw him a few weeks ago, and he is as nice and as enamoured with cane as the movie suggests. The Glen Bracket/Winston setting is used as a symbol for rodmakers, not to highlight a single shop, and its fun to see David Duncan and Tom McGuane fishing, especially with Duncan’s warm sense of humor.
Well done, and, in my opinion, a must have/ great gift.
Kat
Sound great!pity we here in deepset,darkest Africa have to wait ages to get it!
I saw it recently at the Port Townsend film festival in Washington. Both my wife and I and all the non fishers loved it. It one best short documentary there.
Randy Knapp
how does one see it outside of the wild west?
(crooks–i’ll bootleg a copy and mail it to you…)
Outside the West? grin… Maine?
We just asked for a preview copy for bamboo fly rod makers to view at a gathering. Even so, we’ll buy another one to support Andy as soon as they’re available, either directly or from Golden Witch (as well a purchase copies for presents). I’d suggest contacting Golden Witch or Andy Royer. Like any creative endeavor which also relies on the publishing system for mulitple copies, costs, I’m sure, were high and delays are inevitable … and patience will be well rewarded.
Kat
I think Golden Witch has it now.
[url=http://www.native-waters.com:6b315]http://www.native-waters.com[/url:6b315]
Actually I think Golden Witch is just taking “pre-orders” (taking payment but not yet ready to deliver). I know it says they hoped to have it in Sept. or Oct. but their site still refers to it as a pre-order. I actually contacted the guys at Trout Grass about selling it on my site as well after hearing so many good things and they said the DVD release has been pushed back until Nov 15. I won’t post it on my site until I actually have the copies in hand, feel free to contact me if anyone wants an update.
Bill O.
[url=http://www.oysterbamboo.com:f33e8]www.oysterbamboo.com[/url:f33e8]
Here’s a twist to the tale. Glenn Brackett (all the bamboo guys, in fact) have resigned at Winston. Hopefully, we’ll see them continue on their own.
Kat
I spent the day at the fly fishing symposium in Somerset, NJ – and among the things I came home with was a copy of “Trout Grass”.
I just finished watching it. It’s well done with some great photography, and I really enjoyed it. There are little trivia provided – like an estimate of the number of operations required to build a bamboo fly rod (~4000 according to the dialogue). Plenty of great scenery in China, and interesting shots of Glenn Brackett and co-workers in their shop.
One thing I got out of it is that there seems to be a lot of specialized equipment used in making bamboo fly rods. Some of that equipment might be individually designed one-of-a-kind type devices – mostly in planing the strips. (Of course, I speak in almost complete ignorance of the process.)
But I wonder how much the Glenn Brackett four lose by leaving that stuff behind at the Winston rod company?
Nothing actually. A planner can be built for much less than one might expect. Ron Qusse has one which can be computer driven, and he certainly didn’t have Winstons bankroll.
Most fine cane rod builders design and/or build their own equipment, and frankly people like Glenn have more in their heads than the owners of Winston ever did.
LadyFisher, Publisher of
FAOL
LF LOL
LF, I could not agree more. One does not need much in the way of smarts to work hard, earn a lot of money and then purchase a company such as Winston. Another shining example of the evils of capitalism and a free market economy.
RoyC
The fact that McGuane is in it just peaks my curiosity.
Finally got Trout Grass in and just finished watching it for the first time… awesome! Yes I’m carrying them on my website, no I’m not spamming (I don’t think the few bucks I make on a tape qualifies!) They can also be had from Golden Witch and I’m sure others, just make sure you get a copy if you love cane.
Bill
[url=http://www.oysterbamboo.com:91e94]www.oysterbamboo.com[/url:91e94]
It’s excellent. Our fly club was given a copy by Chet Croco of Bellinger and I got to watch it (several times) a few weeks ago. If you ever wanted to see where cane rods start from and the opinions of fishing and making bamboo rods from some of the greats this is the chance. Beautiful film.
Bill
Pretty hefty comparison there. My question is, is this film worth anything to folks NOT interested in bamboo fly rods?
“My question is, is this film worth anything to folks NOT interested in bamboo fly rods?”
Impossible question to answer, but there’s more in the film than just bamboo fly rods, like:
Interesting mingling of Eastern and Western culture.
Beautiful photography of far off places.
Good writing. (I like Duncan’s term for flies, “bug puppets”).
Philisophoical ideas about fly fishing. (Something to think about).
Personalities that share the passions of fly fishing art, craftsmanship, and just fishing.
It’s in a documentary format, and of course, not for everyone, but then fly fishing isn’t for everyone either. 
Bill
Thanks Bill.
I just read through the “Press Kit” from the Trout Grass web site. Interesting and funny stuff in there about the history of the film and bamboo fly rods. Has anyone read that?