Hi guys:
I know that in tis hole are some Boo fans.
I still never tried with grass rods, but now I am curious. Are all so expensive? I know that they need a hard, artistic work and deep knowledge to make a good one, however, would you give me some advise where to get some not SO EXPENSIVE???
Somehing to fish 4-8 pund trout (6wt would be on graphite).
Are not 9 or 9+ ft long bamboo rods?
Thank you in advance
Rocketfish
Hey, well they take about 80 hours to make. The actual bamboo is like $2. Then you have to splice them into piece and spend about 80 hour glues back, backing them, etc (something like this, I dont know exactly what I am talking about). So if you want a inexpensive one, get one where the labor is inexpensive! Chinese made blanks baby! Also look into anglers roost enterprises on ebay, they have pretender series.
Hola Rocket,
Long time, no hear…
In Argentina there is a maker, Marcelo Caviello who can help answer your questions. His site is here. He is a good guy but as SoCal told you, they take a while to make so you won’t find one that is inexpensive unless you go the Chinese way.
Hows the Patagonia fishing holding up lately now that you’re going into Winter?
Stay well,
Mark
No, not all bamboo rods are expensive. There are many brought back after WW 2 that you could pick up for next to nothing ~~ but that is all they are worth ~~ next to nothing. You can pick a nice 2 tip bamboo rod for under a grand ~~ some well under a grand. There are several dealers that sell new and used rods ~~ and then there is always ebay (but it is buyer beware). There is also a classified section the classic fly rod forum. Check it out.
Thank you guys.
When I said a not so expensive, I didn’t mean the worst stuff…sorry socalsalt and China…I mean not a $10.00 one, nor a $1,000 one. Something in between. Perhaps a $300-400…is it possible?
I know Marcelo Calviello mc…not my friend, but I know he’s is a very good flyfisher and rod maker. I also saw his website and are also “expensive”, high level rods.
Comparing this topic with graphite rods, we have some very good Cabelas rods for $100-170 and expensive $600-700 Sage, Winston, Loomis, Hardy, etc.
So I was wondering if something similar exists in Boo planet.
Rocketfish
Hi Rocketfish,
I am a bamboo rod maker. The next time you think $1000.00 is expensive for a bamboo rod, consider the following.
60 - 80 hours to make multiplied by your personal basic wage. Add the cost of material which is the lowest part of the equation. What do you have? Now how much would that rod cost you if your auto mechanic, your plumber, heven forbid your lawyer made that rod. A $1000.00 bamboo fly rods are a true bargin. There are a few fellows out there making and selling rods for $600.00 to $800.00. Shop around. I don’t think you can beat a modern bamboo rod for performance. You might find an old trade rod for less but if you ever get your hands on a good modern bamboo rod you will never go back.
fishbum
fishbum…I never said tah “$1,000 is expensive for a bamboo rod”…If you read well, I was just wondering about prices, and I was asking if it’s possible to get soem for less than that.
I am not considering the cost according to the boo rods but from my possibilities and asking.
I didn’t know about costs, just from a few websites and that’s because I asked.
I know that are art-work and hard to design and build…and really like them a lot.
Rocketfish
Rocketfish,
If you can finish a fly rod (set guides,wrap and finish)there are some beautiful bamboo blanks available from Elkhorn Rods, for $350. They are two piece with an extra tip, and the ferrules are already set. They are really lovely!
Betty
It might be worthwhile to check out Coldwater Collectibles. I picked up my bamboo rod there, a Mike Brooks blank (8’ 5 wt. 2/2) built by a gentleman in Tennessee and it set me back $500 (The low end for a Mike Brooks rod is around $800–still would be worth it.). also, on that site, he sometimes carries demo rods or a new taper that someone decided to build at a reduced price.
There are some selling (and going unsold) for $29 and $39 on eBay. I assume there’s a catch, but, so far, no one’s saying what it is.
swellcat- that’s the starting bid- it likely has a reserve that’s a fair amount higher. Can’t tell what it is until the bidding gets up there, or you contact the seller. I may have a super repro of a Young Para 15 available. Why not PM me if you want more details?
Chuck
The rod I linked has gone unsold once at $29.99; it’s now relisted. Others of his have sold for the opening bid prices. Collectors don’t seem to be interested – wonder if these things are fishable?
You get what you pay for----If you want something you will be proud of and use for years buy from a well known builder like Fishbum. Why would anyone work for weeks on a rod and sell it for less than $1000? BILL
There are some decent older bamboo production rods on ebay for the prices you mention. You can pick up decent but not braggin’ quality rods for as little as $150. The problem is that most are 9 feet long, which gets heavy at hand and the lightest of old production rods are apt to be 6 weights.
Yes, like Betty said, Elkhorn. Blank or buy the done rod. Worth looking into. I have cast them. 
Take a look at Dougs site I have one of his 7 1/2 4wts. Its my go to rod.
http://www.dborerrods.com/
Rocketfish, I sent you a PM to hopefully help you.
Good luck with your search,
Jeremy.
Thank you for all the answers folks! I appreciate very much your help!!!
I think in short time, I’ll be casting one of those gems. Perhaps I build one (I built several graphite ones and perhaps It helps) or I’ll buy one.
Regards,
Rocketfish
Hello Rocketfish,
Sorry for the late reply. On another site I started a thread dealing with this very topic. In the price range you are describing, there is no doubt that the best way to go is with a vintage rod. Here is just one quote from this previous discussion:
"South Bend - SB made some pretty decent casting rods. You should look for the 8.5 footers with the SB Dry Fly taper (the 9 foot rods are much more prevelant and are also good, just a bit heavier). The model 323, 346, and 359 are all great rods and can usually be found for well under $200 bucks.
Horrocks & Ibbotson - HI made a ton of rods with a ton of different names. I think many shared the same taper, with the names being a marketing thing. The crown jewels of the HI line up have to the the Tonka “royalty” series. This would be the Tonka Queen, Prince and Princess rods. Great little rods to own and can also usually be found for under $300 in very good condition.
Phillipson - although considered a production rod company, Phillipson made some very good fly rods. You cannot go wrong with a Powr Pakt, Pacemaker or any of the other rods that they made. The crown jewel of the Phillipson line is the Peerless impregnated rod. With Phillipson rods, you kind of jump up a bit in price range. To get a nice Phillipson, you are looking at the $400 to $800 range, although bargains do abound if you are willing to pick up a fixer upper.
Orvis - my personal favorite. The Orvis Battenkill line of impregnated rods are built tough as nails and their tapers are some of the best out there. The 7.5 foot 4.0 oz rod and it’s slightly smaller cousin, the 3 7/8 oz rod are two of the best all around trout rods out there, but the price for a nice Orvis 2 tip rod jumps up to the $600 to $800 range. One option on an Orvis rod is to look for a 1 tip rod. You can usually find a 1 tip Battenkill or Madison for under $500 bucks."
Classic rods are a great way to explore bamboo. They don’t have to cost a lot of money, but they are rich in tradition.
Good luck in your search!
Bill O.
Rocketfish,
Check out the Rod building forum to see what an Elkhorn blank can look like completed. Granted, I went a bit overboard with the engraved reel seat, but, hey, who’s counting!!
Betty