Has anyone finished any of their blanks. I know its not the American made stuff. How do they fish etc.
don’t go there brother. you know someone who can hook you up.
Oh, come on! Fireman asked a simple question … seems a simple answer could be given without a bunch of angst!!
H&H has two different bamboo blanks, one made “off shore” one made here in the States. The lesser costing of the two would be a super rod for someone who wants the feel of boo, and envisions it for fun fishing; trouts, bluegills, etc. It’s a ground floor, get your toes wet fly rod. It’s a great primer for learning to finish a bamboo rod without a lot of major expense. The one made here in the States, is a very fine starter rod blank. Definitely a step up from the “off shore” blank. Again, a nifty little rod to get you started with bamboo. You have to know, at those prices, that they’re not the top of the line, heritage (other than to your own family) bamboo fly rods. Their lasting value will be in the fun you have completing and fishing these rods.
I think , If asked, most of us know “someone” who builds bamboo fly rods, from scratch. Prices and quality will vary by builder. If you want to have a rod to impress others, maybe one of those builders is what you want. If you want a rod that makes you smile when it catches the sunlight “just so” while stripping in a trout … go for it! Life’s too short to get your panties in a wad.
I’m always watching these kind of threads because I want to try one someday. I’m nowhere near ambitious enough to even think about starting from a raw culm. I like the idea of ready made blanks for a ‘starter’, and think those are a great idea for a first timer. I’m not even sure for a first, for me, if I want to mess with ferrules. That seems to be the first decision in starting with a pre-made blank. With or without mounted ferrules? But then if you get a blank (most have extra tip) and with no ferrules, are ferrules sold as a 3 piece set for a two piece rod or do you you have to buy 2 sets of ferrules?
BB … the blanks from H&H , unless you specify otherwise, will have the ferrules included. They can be purchased as a two piece blank, or a two piece with extra tip. I haven’t purchased ferrules from any other source, but would imagine, at a quick glance, that you’e probably have to get two set of ferrules. <but what do I know!!! :roll:> If you can line stuff up straight, and take your time, I don’t see that you’d have any problem setting ferrules. I think, somewhere in my files, I still have the ferules setting instruction John Scott sent to me. If you decide (when you decide??) to order the blank, I’ll find them (instructions) and send them on to you.
Betty:
AMEN!
aged sage
Ferrules come in half sets(2 piece, 1 male and one female) and full sets(3 piece, 2 male and one female). Most places that sell bamboo rod making supplies list them this way. I know Golden Witch does. Ferrules can be purchased in several models, GW lists something like 5 different types, all in nickle silver. Most of the different types have pros and cons, but mostly the choice is up to you as to what look you are going for. I only list GW because it’s the only one I can think of off the top of my head, I’m sure that there are lots of sites out there that sell ferrules for bamboo rod making. Since your buying your blank from H&H you might as well get your ferrules from them as well.
Black_Co
I have a H&H bamboo blank. The ferrules came installed on the blank. The only thing that I had to do was taper the ferrule tabs. As to the rod, so far, I like it. My blank is the imported one. I will be giving it a good workout at the Michigan Fish In and will let you all know how it goes.
Brad
I’ll toss my .02 in on the subject since I own/built a number of cane rods as well as have a best friend whom has run a bamboo blank building business for the past number of years here in Michigan.
My thoughts based on what I have seen first hand and know from my friend that splits his own cane for blanks is this…Betty is just about dead on with what she said above.
I’ve seen some of the blanks from China that H&H sells, Sevier also use to sell the same blanks as well. Far as casting they are a okay blank, the big difference between them and a hand split blank made by a known builder is the finish/cosmetic aspect of the blank. Some of the China blanks I have seen have had spots where they had a node where they just left the spot on the blank, some I have seen have had some glue lines, and the finish is just not on par with a real nice cane by a builder that takes pride in his work. Doesn’t mean its not worth the price H&H asks for them though so don;t get me wrong.
If all you want is to own a cane rod and have the feel of a cane rod and your not worried about impressing friends with a perfect looking blank then you’ll be happy with one of the H&H blanks. If you are looking to get a cane though because you want something that is really perfect looking and something to pass down to your kids or such, then I’d say to look for a cane builder that will build you one himself just for you. You don’t have to shell out $500-$700 for a blank from a well known builder either as many people think. I can get you in touch with a guy that builds some beautiful hand split cane blanks for about half of that if you want.
Steve
first off there was no angst in my reply. just my opinion (don’t go there)and a simple fact (you know someone).
furthermore if yer gonna buy a rod to impress yer buddies, yer a damn fool. why would anyone buy a fishing rod to impress someone else? you buy it to fish and because you suspect it’ll be a fine implement for doing so. the pack mentality here is tiresome to say the least.
fwiw since I know seege, I’ll build him a blank for whatever he can afford.
I hope you don’t take this as giving you a hard time or anything mr.blur because that’s not my intent at all so please don’t take it that way. But…
furthermore if yer gonna buy a rod to impress yer buddies, yer a damn fool. why would anyone buy a fishing rod to impress someone else? you buy it to fish and because you suspect it’ll be a fine implement for doing so. the pack mentality here is tiresome to say the least.
I don’t think there’s any “pack mentality” here at all. Honestly I don’t think there’s a custom rod builder out there that doesn’t build his/her rods to be impressive to others to be honest. Why else do we builders use things like exotic burl corks, agate stone stripper guides, anodized rings on guides, knurled winding checks, butt weaves and spiral wraps. None of that stuff really adds to the performance of a rod. But if your gonna take the time to build a rod rather than buy one off the rack then you might as well make it look impressive to people, wouldn’t you agree?
Not being a smart-alec or anything just being honest. If any custom builder says they don’t try to make their rods impressive to other people then I don’t think they are being completely honest.
of course you’re going to make it look as impressive as possible , because that is yer responsibility to the buyer and as the builder. I’ll put an agate stripper on a rod but all that other stuff you mentioned I don’t care for. that is neither here nor there. and yes I want you to be impressed by the rod I built and I also emphasize that it fishes better than it looks. or at least as good.
that’s a different issue than buying a rod to impress your friend. that’s misguided.
I think we are looking at it from different perspectives.
that’s a different issue than buying a rod to impress your friend.
Okay I got ya now. I was taking it differently then you meant it when I first read it.
Steve
mr. blur:
RE; your question, “…why would people buy a fishing rod to impress someone else?” The answer is as plain as the nose on your face! For the same reason they buy mega-McMansions, buy cars that cost well into seven figures, collect works of art that cost well into the millions. It used to be called “one-upman-ship”; which clearly conveys the concept of ‘trying to impress’, also known in the vernacular as being a “showoff”. Ever heard of “Trophy Wives”?
aged sage
As a very novice rod builder(just building for myself), my goal in each rod is to make it better than the previous one. I learn from my mistakes, add new techniques, and try to impress myself. Being MY rod, I’m the one that has to be happy with it. Same with fly tying. If others like my work, great, but I’m my biggest critic.
Take the latest rod that Yonks posted. We all agree it 's a really great looking rod, but I’m sure Yonks will say there’s some (minor) flaw somewhere that Yonks knows is there that most of us would never find. THATS the mentality that keeps us all striving to be better and better. Incidentally that’s the whats a perfectionist is. NOT someone who is perfect, but someone STRIVING for perfection. And the truth is none of will ever get there but most of us will still never quit trying.
I’m sure we all enjoy the feeling when others say they are impressed with our work, but I don’t think there are many, if any, that only build JUST for what others think.
This thread has taken a strange, not so kind, turn! I will only add … for those who think that what they do isn’t to impress others … the middle aged guy, standing on the dock at a Missouri State park, with hatchery trouts in front of him, in top of the line waders, boots, vest, hat, high end Sage rod, Able reel, snakeskin line, thousands of dollars of gear on him. Obviously he was pleased with his outfit, and showing his “wonderful expensive taste” to all the other fishers … who were lobbing glo balls at the trout. Some people are like that … they get what they want to impress others.
I agree with aged-sage.
The whole thing about fishing, and tying, and building is to have fun! Use, tye, build what ever it is that will delight YOU.
For what I am to say, I do not ask for any forgiveness.
The “pack mentality” I have seen on this forum and others is more “if it isn’t something I would use, it’s junk”. The other “pack mentality” is negativity. “It is junk, it doesn’t work, don’t bother,etc…”
These comments are the types that provoke 35 more posts that get the thread so far off topic that you can’t even find out whether the original question has been answered or if there is any information to help the person asking the question. And those who stick their noses up so high that they think that their item is the best in the world, feel free to do that, just don’t make everyone else feel like they are inferior because don’t have the same or they are trying to do something without spending tens of thousands of dollars to do something similar.
As to the original poster, I ran into a fellow who had the Hook and Hackle 4 WT made into a nice rod. It appeared to me to cast it rather smoothly and well on the river we were fishing. I did notice some extra wraps on his rod, probably ornamental, but he swore that the blank was one of his favorite rods to cast. I can not comment on the quality as I did not get to fully look at the rod or cast it personally.
If you do buy the blank, keep us posted as to how well it works for you.
I know this post has gotten a little off topic but I do have a comment to the original question. I’ve often wondered about the Hook and Hackle bamboo as well as the blanks from Anglers Roost. There dont seem to be too many people who have them that are willing to comment. I can offer this though. I bought a really old foreign made bamboo rod at a garage sale years ago from a guy (who is now a great friend) and I must say that I just loved how that rod cast. I know it was no high end rod and I’m sure any bamboo rod maker would probably laugh at the site of it, but it was sure fun to fish with. I doubt that the quality of the rods coming out of China and Japan have gotten any worse than what they were when this rod was built, and that rod was absolutely a blast to fish with.
I say go for it.
Yonks
Not to get too far off topic again, I did buy a imported 3/2 blank from Anglers Roost when they first started selling them on eBay. The only problems I saw with this particular blank was the tips had too much finish on them, like they varnished them as they leaned up against a wall. The other thing is no ferrules, so you need to turn the ends down to fit a set of ferrules on. Nice color and the node spacing was great, the spine was not easy to find without putting ferrules on but still findable with patience. I’ve got the blank waiting to be built up into a rod, just haven’t had much motivation to work on this blank yet (and fighting over the “rod building space” in a 2 bedroom apartment with a girlfriend and kids sort of puts a hamper on rod work lately)
I say this, look at the blank, check the node spacing and the fit. If it works for you, by all means go for it.
OK, I have been interested in building a boo for quite awhile now. My rods are usually not as gorgeous as some I’ve seen on this board but my expertise is in taking inexpensive blanks and building to get the maximum performance from the blank. I have built rods for under $80 slipped them on to a sales rack loaded with $500+ rods and watched people try the rod out and swear it was the best on the rack.
All this discussion (sense and nonsense) around and about these blanks peaked my interest. I decided to purchase the H&H kit 7’ 4wt to build for myself. I will report the facts when I have them. 