Where in the world would a person go to buy a mid priced bamboo fly rod and what should he expect to pay?
P.S. I’ve looked on ebay, but since I don’t know which brand rods are good and witch are bad I have no idea it the price is reasonable>
Jargo432
If your in the market for a Boo rod I would take a look at Ron Kusse Rods. I here thier one of the best. The price for a good Boo Rod is something not to think about if you take care of you Boo rod it can become a family heirloom to pass on to you kid and they are beautiful piece of art to have. Ron is a sponsor here.
Ghost
I’m certainly no expert, but there are plenty on this board who are , and I’m sure they’ll chime in as well, but in the mean time…
Are you looking for a “modern” rod, or a “classic”? Modern rods can range anywhere from $4-500 from an unknown maker (like me) to upwards of $1500-2000 from someone like Daryll Whitehead or Ron Kusse. A classic rod can range anywhere from $50 for a “production” rod that needs some refurbishing to $2000+ for something from one of the “greats” (Garrisson, Leonard, Payne, Gillum, etc…). My first suggestion would be to find a local rodmaker and talk to them about this. They’ll be able to give you a better idea of what you should be looking for in a rod, and what sort of price you’re going to be looking at. You can check on [url=http://www.goabra.com:13486]www.goabra.com[/url:13486] for a listing of some rod builders in your state, and I’m sure there are plenty of folks here who know of some builders near you that you could talk to. I wouldn’t recommend just going on ebay and bidding on a rod unless you really know what you’re looking for. Sometimes you can get lucky, but there’s a whole lotta junk on there as well. Hope this helps, and be sure to let us know how this turns out.
Joe Martin
Salem, OR
jargo,
First, what is your price range? I have an article in the old Warmwater Flyfishing Magazine by John Gierach where he writes about vintage “production” bamboos. He said Heddon, Phillipson, & Granger were the top of the line; Shakespeare, Montague, Bristol, H&I were at the bottom & SouthBend in the middle. I was given a 1942 SouthBend 291 (7 1/2’ 4 pc) which Dleo6446 restored & I love it! Those rods can be had for the price of a good new graphite & they are something special.
If you are looking for new bamboo, Bill Taylor is a sponsor here on FAOL & his work draws high praise. Check his site out.
Mike
You can call me Mike & you can call me Mikey…Just remember that this site’s about sharing!
jargo,
Seeing as your profile says you live in Oregon it would be in your best interest to go the the Camp Sherman Rod Fair billed as the 2006 Metolius Bamboo Rod Fair held at Camp Sherman in the Sisters area. You will get the opportunity to meet rod makers Daryl Whitehead, Chet Croco, Steve Kiley, Mike Brooks, AJ Thramer, Jeff Fultz and Chris McDowel and others I may have missed.
You will have the opportunity to not only talk with these fine folks but to cast rods brought to the gathering for the purpose of being cast and some will be for sale as well. There will also be vintage rods from many of the classic makers and production companies available, in other words this is the best thing for you to get an overall feel for bamboo without spending a penny. I went last year from Maine and brought 25 rods from my collection 8 of which had their tapers taken by a few of the makers and are being made today. The amount of great rods being built today is staggering and one only needs to take a look to find a place to try one. The fair runs July 15th & 16th. Regards…
Oct Woods
Visit my website:
[url=http://mysite.verizon.net/vze2h7gi/fishnbanjossliceoflifeincyberspacecopy/index.html:45cf9]Fishnbanjos Place[/url:45cf9]
What is the saying? “You can’t hardly throw a dead cat anymore without hitting a bamboo rod builder” 
There are a bunch of builders out there with even more rod tapers and designs to pick from. I think Banjo had a good idea for you…go to a conclave and wave a few to get an idea of what action and design (whether quad or hex) best suits you. Once you know what feels good to you then the price range you are willing to tolerate today may may change.
WARNING: Fondling a bamboo rod may be hazardous to your mental and physical health. It is highly addictive and disruptive to your wallet and relationships with others outside the bamboo world.
I have the 2 piece version of OhioTuber’s rod – a South Bend 290. It’s a 7’6" 2 piece 5 weight. Gierach discusses that rod in “Fishing Bamboo” as one that South Bend did a good job on. That opinion is shared by others who also know what they’re talking about, OhioTuber being one.
A South Bend 290 in good condition is worth about $300, and, indeed they sell on ebay for about that. I’ve seen them listed on ebay quite a few times.
To give you an idea of value, the previous owner of my rod sanded the grip into a cigar shape and added a snake guide as a hook keeper. That makes my rod worth about $250. But it does have both tips and they are the original length.
It is a rod that needs to be fished!
Maybe it would be worthwhile mentioning that the South Bend 290 was originally recommended by one of Banjo’s colleagues. A guy who fishes a Granger Victory around Eastern PA. (I know it’s a Granger Victory because he identified it as such.) Then I subsequently recognized that same gentleman from some pictures on Banjo’s website.
Now I’m starting to want a Heddon Black Beauty . . . . . . . . . . . I think I need help.
[This message has been edited by BigFlatBrook (edited 08 April 2006).]
Jargo432,
You have traveled this road for some years and have come to enjoy the journey thus far. But now, you find yourself at a fork in the road. You decide to take the road somewhat forgotten and less traveled- a road which will cause you to move at an unhurriedly pace understanding why others have traveled this road before but concerned as to why few choose this road today. You asses your option and realize that though both roads, will ultimately lead you to the same destination, you choose the one that will bring you the ultimate journey’s experience. The sign pointing to that road reads “Bamboo Fly Anglers - Enter Here.”
Welcome.
PostScript:
You may want to consider refinishing production rods (South Bend, Horrocks Ibotson, Montagues 7-8’ range being my favorite) as I have done in the last few years. Makes the journey that much more satisfying and keeps it within manageable budgets.
God Blesses!
A wing & a Prayer! ----*<(((><~ ~ ~ ~
Quinn
[This message has been edited by Wednesday Caster (edited 08 April 2006).]
If the term “cast before you buy” applies to anything it is bamboo fly rods. It is, for me anyway, an expencive proposition.
Cast as many rods as you can then find a good maker to make you one.
We have 3 Sponsors who are selling bamboo rods. These are ‘new’ rods, not refurbished.
Check out: Diamondback, Royal Wulff and Elkhorn. I have not cast the Diamondback, but have cast the Royal Wulff ‘Classic’ and
the Elkhorn. In fact, Ron Eagle Elk purchased the Elkhorn at a show here and wrote a glowing report on it. All of the rods I mention are around $500 or under.
LadyFisher, Publisher of
FAOL
This may be crossing over the line between this board and the for sale board ~~ if a moderator sees it that way please let me know and I will remove this post.
I had posted on the for sale section of the board an excellent rod for a first time bamboo user. It is a Salem Rod made my a well known American maker bought from Ron Shanaver at [url=http://www.ronrods.com.:7eadb]www.ronrods.com.[/url:7eadb] The rod is a 7’9" 4 wt with two tips in near mint (lawn cast only) condition. I was selling the rod for $450 including shipping. After several days of no takers I removed the post. You won’t find a better rod at that price point. I still have the rod available.
Also ~~ listen to October Woods ~~ the man knows his bamboo and then some.
My previous post should read [url=http://www.ronsrods.com.:f8461]www.ronsrods.com.[/url:f8461] My bad.
And once agian I would have to say that for what Rev Bob is asking for that rod…a great deal!!
Some of the best advice that has been given is what Banjo offered above. I sell a lot of bamboo rods to folks that are introducing themselves into bamboo without ever having cast one of them. Most all of them are happy with what they get but I like to interview (to a degree) the person and find out about their fishing habits, what they like and dislike in a rod etc., and if they could ONLY go to a conclave and see a lot of bamboo rods it would help them with their buying decision.
Oregon???
Not me brother, I’m a full blooded TEXAN!!!
In fact here in texas our short rods start at 15’. 
Thanks for all the info, I’m finding out that a good bamboo may be a little more than I’m willing to pay. I was thinking about $200 tops.
I would not consider $200 tops a middle of the road rod. For $200 you can only buy an old production rod, hopefully refurbished. With your budget I would try to find a Tonka Prince. You should be able to get a nice one within your price range.
Jargo,
I emailed you a lead on a Tonka Prince. It’s right at your price point. Sorry, can’t vouch for it myself.
Well, $200 is about what I pay just for the materials for building a rod. That doesn’t take into account the hours of labor and skill involved (very little in my case), or the cost of the tools (planing form, planes, files, etc…) used. So, $200 is pretty unreasonable, at least for a new rod. There’s one rod company (either Headwaters Bamboo or The Sierra Rod Co., can’t remember which) that sells theirs for something like $375, but as I understand it, they have their blanks made overseas for REAL cheap, and then assemble the rods here in the states. Nothing wrong with that (pretty smart buisness move, actually), and from what I’ve heard, some of those rods are pretty decent casting tools, but there’s no way I could ever match that price for one of my rods, just wouldn’t be worth it for me to sell a rod at that price.
Joe Martin
Salem, OR
PS, I’M the one from Oregon, and YES, I’m planning to be at the bamboo rod gathering in Sisters in July.