I’m a little stuck as to what "boo"rod to buy.I fish small heavily bushed streams that require short,accurate casts.I was thinking along the lines of a 7 ft for a # 4 line.I’ve heard good things about John Channers rods,anyone used them?Any help with length/weight?
I think you’re on the right track. I fish similar venues with a 7’ 2/2 4wt quad, and with a 6’6" 3/2 4/5wt. Both work fine.
Hi,
The length and weight sound good to me. I’ve used a Garrison taper (193) 6ft 9 inch 3/4 wt.
Kat
Thanks Guys!
Two words…
Mike Clark
If you can wait, and have a bunch of money in about 3 years, you will NOT be disapointed.
Ken
“The memory of a fisherman is more like fiction than journalism, that is, it doesn’t ignore the facts, but it is not entirely bound by them, either.”
John Gierach
I was in the same pickle about a year ago and decided to go with the 7’ 4-wt. After talking to a bunch of folks and trying a lot of different rods I finally came to the realization that if you only can get on cane trout rod, the 7’ 4-wt is a good all-around model. Would be perfect for the fishing you described.
On the subject of makers, I talked to Ed Engle (author of splitting cane) and he turned me on to his favorite maker, Homer Jennings. You can get a Homer Jennings rod for about $1,100 and only have to wait a little over a year for delivery (as of last year). You can buy 3 Jennings rods for the cost of a Clark, Morgan, or high-end Kusse rod. Homer is one of the most under-rated rod makers around. I’m expecting delivery on a 7’ 4-wt in the next couple months, I have checked out this model and it’s really nice. The rods have a progressive feel them, fishing tools meant to be used and not hung on the wall. Cosmetics are gorgeous, he makes his own wood spacers, and the varnish is perfect. He is one of the nicest guys I have ever met to boot, very humble - although he could charge 3 times as much as he gets, he doesn’t because he doesn’t think it would be ethical. Homer is in Colorado Springs, if you need his contact information let me know I can send it. I have a feeling that when I get my rod from him I’ll be sending a deposit for another one!
Good luck no matter which way you go,
-John
[This message has been edited by ktokj (edited 21 October 2005).]
One of the finest 7’ 4wts is the Payne 97. Cost about the same as a car new, but there are many contemporary makers that produce excellent clones. I have owned a Mike Brooks Payne 97 for the last two years and it is outstanding. It is also impregnated so it requires very little TLC.
David
Mr Channer is a fine man to deal with. I have 3 of his rods, all are flawlessly finished - he is a fine craftsman. Any problems John and I have had and there have been few and if I must say, my fault, were handled cheerfully.
personally, I’d love a winston 'boo.
$1800 is not a bad price to pay for something you’ll own and enjoy the rest of your life.
and it’s a winston.
mgj
[This message has been edited by mikeytwoshoes (edited 21 October 2005).]
I don’t know guys, a rod made from dried up old grass? No one in his (or her) right mind would spend all that money on such a thing. It’s just silly. And besides, I can’t afford one.
Bob
I talked to Mike Brooks twice this week. He is making two rods for me. I know he is taking orders. Check out his website at [url=http://www.brooksbamboo.com.:77a08]www.brooksbamboo.com.[/url:77a08] I also exchanged emails with Kathy at South Creek LTD looking for a nice reel seat ~~ they are great people to work with as well.
Another vote for Channer. I have one of his rods, and it is superb. Nice guy to deal with, too.
email me for more info
I’m still searching for an objective evaluation of bamboo rods. I bought a couple a few years back, fished with them for a while, and failed to see wnat the fuss was about. I’m very tempted to try again, but any info I can find reminds me of the Dutch Tulip frenzy.
Are these rods really better than top-end graphite, or are we trying to relive something from ages past?
[This message has been edited by josko (edited 23 October 2005).]
Bamboo rods are like anything else. You can buy a dining room table at Wally World for $100 and it will work just fine for many years. If you don’t like formica though you could pay $1,000 for real wood and many thousands for a quality table. But if you insist on a 200 year old antique – well now it is not a table – it is a collectable and the price will reflect that. All are functional working tables and your mac and cheese will taste the same on all of them.
Same with shotguns, cars, cameras and all the other toys we buy.
As for bamboo – bamboo fly rods cast and fish totally different from graphite. Are they better? Only if you like the way they cast better, totally subjective. Under $1000 there are many choices, used or new. Used I would probably buy from a dealer who will allow a three day return. New, I would probably buy from any one of the many makers who are now producing rods either professionally or semi professionally. I might keep away from those who, like me, are just starting out and really are just hobby makers. ( Some hobby makers are making incredibly wonderful sticks but untill you own a few bamboo rods it is hard to tell the good from the not-so-good).
One big difference between bamboo and graphite is resale value. Your graphite rod is not likely to ever be worth the purchase price ever again, but a good bamboo rod, providing you didn’t pay more than market value for it, will likely hold it’s value and may even increase over time.
Should you buy bamboo? Well – if you have the $$$ and that is what you want to spend it on – why not? I do caution you tho, If you are one of us who likes the way bamboo fishes then you may become one of those poor unfortunates who become obsessed and just have to have another one ( or two or more). Soon you will be looking at silk line. It can be a dangerous thing. Fortunatly we are a danger only to ourselves.
AgMD
Adam, I think you’re approaching this bamboo question correctly.
My only advice, and I hope you listen up, is to somehow get hold of the actual model of rod you’ll be buying and cast it. Don’t ever, EVER, buy with “assumptions” of liking it by what you hear, read or the best fisherman you know tells you!
And I can’t stress enough to try as many as you can before buying. They’re all different in the tapers. Listen to this, I’ve just been there…and didn’t listen.
I’m new (3yrs) to this bamboo.
JC said it perfectly, it’s “different”. W/O repeating what’s been said a gazzilion times on as many threads, …it’s different.
Don’t expect the heavens to open up. They won’t.
But take one out and do some casts and forget graphites and tight loops for awhile. Do some close…20-30 ft, good presentations and watch your tippet turnover w/o tailing. If you can’t do that practice until you can. Don’t skimp here. You’ll be screwing yourself out of tasting the ice cream! And soon you’ll notice that with your sudden stops, you’ll be getting some nice loops too!
Be gentle and feel the rod load. Don’t lose contact with the line …and I’m doing exactly what I said I wasn’t going to do…
That’s the way with bamboo. It either “hits ya or it don’t!”. But if it does, (and you won’t know it right off but you’ll keep wanting to go back out to cast again for some ‘odd’ reason -G)…if it does, you’ll be a happier man.
Don’t worry I doubted that too!! (another Grin)
And I wasn’t going to answer this post…it’s like that!
Then go look again at the craftsmanship in that rod butt, the wraps, that finish, the “pop” in disassembling the ferrules, the beauty of the wood reel spacer…
Cast one for a season, like over the winter then go back to your best graphite. You’ll see what’s meant. Not better just different.
I still like my light-line Sages but they seem really fast to me now…those whimpy soft rods of before. Still love them…but I cast the bamboo more now.
Dunno exactly why, I really don’t. Maybe it’s that craftsmanship because I’m also a serious woodworker. Nah, that just adds to it tho!
I doubted too! Have FUN, for that’s where it’s really at.
And bamboo’s fun!
Be careful…
Jeremy.
[This message has been edited by Jeremy (edited 23 October 2005).]
[This message has been edited by Jeremy (edited 23 October 2005).]
Adam…one other thing. Get into the chat room most Thurs. eves. You’ll get the tab straight from the horses mouth as Ron Kusse (QC) often hosts the bamboo chat.
You’ll get your answers immediately. Good source for everything informational along with Clark’s bamboo board, devoted entirely to cane. Google it for the addy.
Jeremy.
I gotta admit to being a romantic and say that I want a bamboo rod largely because I just love doing things in different ways.I’ll always own and fish graphites but I gotta get me a boo!I chose a 7ft #4 to suit my favourite fishing.(I cast a fly at anything that swims!)The small bushy streams just make me feel like I’m “FLY FISHING”,so I figured I’d use the bamboo for that.More emotional than anything else.I do appreciate the technical aspects as well though.A friend of mine has a Channer rod on the way that I will cast first.Thats kinda why I chose him!I find that casting boo suits my style when on the small secluded waters and I can’t wait to get my grubby little paws on my very own!
Thanks for the responses guys,I laughed a lot and loved them all.
Adam