I found a bamboo rod at a local antique shop. It’s a South Bend number 59, and is a 9’ rod. According to the line cross reference charts, it’s a 7/8 weight rod. It’s in excellent condition with original sock, tube, and both tips. Wraps are perfect and finish is good. The full wells grip has a thumb indent, and there’s a sticker present in the indent - although the writing is rubbed out.
So anyway, I don’t own any bamboo, and know nothing about them, but my question is what is a fair price for this rod? It looks barely used and has no set whatsoever. The dealer wants $125 for it. Too much to pay? I have googled it and can’t really find any suitable information telling me if this is a good deal or not.
You will see lots of South Bend bamboo rods on e-bay. I saw severral this morning. I would make sure when you put it together you are comfortable with the fit and when you false cast you do not hear any clicks. Other than that, you have to like it and if you do then it is a good value. Remember, fish don’t care what your using or what you paid for it. Good luck, Jonezee
I learn more about the world while talking to myself when fishing alone
Lots of interest in cane of late, perhaps
sparked by the great Elkhorn Cane give away
here recently.G Lots of opinions out
there I’m sure and I’ll share mine with you
now.G
Cane is beautiful. It has character.
It has warmth. It makes you feel good
inside.G But, you couldn’t pay me to
fling a 9 foot 7/8 weight cane all day, or
even for an afternoon. My arm/shoulder
would quickly cry “Uncle”.G For actual
fishing, a $50 Three Forks would fish
circles around it and leave your extremities
intact, “in my opinion”.G However, a
shorter, lighter 3 or 4 weight cane of 6 or 7 foot is another animal entirely.G Warm
regards, Jim
[This message has been edited by Jim Hatch (edited 10 July 2006).]
I have a rod 9’ South Bend like the one you found. I have to agree with Jim, after a couple of hours, my arm and shoulder are finished. My Three Forks is much easier to go all day.
That being said, I also fish with a 7’ 4 weight built by Jacobson Rod Co. It is a total joy.
starfish;
I had to find out the weight of a 9’ bamboo and it turned out to be a 8 wt. It would throw line into a wind that would fold a 5 wt. up about 20 feet out!! However a couple of hours and your arm would be in a sling!!
Don’t forget the Michigan Fish-In August 14th to the 20th. The Holy Water’s of the Au Sable await you!!
The three number South Bend rods are "trout " action. The two number rods , like yours , are “bass/steelhead” action.
$ 125 is a good price, if the rod is fishable “as is”. The chrome plated ferules commonly used on these rods frequently split. Modern NS ferules could run you another $60 to $125 or so. Heavy rod and throwing a heavy line. But sometimes you need that. Still you would not want to cast it all day without some training.
AgMD
Grizzly Wulff: There’s a reason a lot of us “old timers” have such well developed forearms and biceps.
Yea baby, Bamboo curls!
My first 8wt was a Leonard 9’0" at 6-5/8 oz that I fished all the time with a Hardy St Aiden reel. I never noticed the weight despite fishing it all day for salmon and even shad. I laugh at guys today who fret over a half an ounce of weight in a combo.
Starfish, if you can “heft it” and hack it, buy it!
A reel of the right weight and decent casting technique (easily developed w/a little practice) are all you need to avoid discomfort in casting that rod. I was really surprised how easy it was to cast my 7.25oz Orvis salmon rod for several hours.
Thanks for all the great information. I’ve got a fleet of flyrods now, just nothing in cane. I have no issues with the heft of the rod, and I’m planning a september trip to Craig Creek in Va. to hunt smallmouth, so I think this well be a great rod with a DT7 line for that. I will mostly use it though here on the Tennessee river below a dam hunting Hybrids and Stripers, so the size of the rod is just about ideal.
Good to know that I’m looking at a bass taper rod as that’s what I intend to do with it.
