I was having a wonderful morning, just caught a nice brown that had a hook deep in its throat and was trailing 2’ of heavy leader and a swivel. Cut the leader and relased the fish. Then I watched as a nice hatch started to develop and was able to connect with a few.
Then disaster struck. The bamboo rod that I built from a blank over the winter broke. The butt section broke just where the ferrel ended. It is clearly a manufacturer’s defect. Unfortunately I am the manufacturer.
Three weeks from now I was planning on taking it to Maine for a week of Brookie dry fly fishing and now… ;(
Not the end of the world, but it certainly turned the tide on a day that was otherwise looking up.
That’s a bummer Jed, If I win the monthly drawing, I’ll loan you the bamboo til I’m healed… Why do you think it let go there? I never wrapped a bamboo- what could you have done to cause that?
I thin it let go there because I did not turn the bamboo on a lathe and the radius of where the turning ends and it steps back up to the hexagonal shape was imperfect. Clearly my fault.
JC,
If I get a new blank, I’ll need to get a new handle and cork as well. This puts the cost up and now is not a good time for me to be spending money on fishing toys.
Money is going to a trip to Maine for Brookies and then a trip to Quebec to fish with Chris. I will contact Brian at Elkhorn and see if he has any suggestions.
It is clearly not an Elkhorn problem, but one of my own design.
Regardless of what solution I come up with I have learned a few things. First, making a bamboo rod was a pleasure. I found it much more satisfying than the graphite or glass rods I’ve built. Its that much prettier. Second, fishing bamboo is a gas! I enjoyed it enough that I am going to somehow get myself a bamboo rod again that will work to my satisfaction (this one repaired or another one). I guess if I never fish it again, it was worth the investment to learn about the joys of bamboo.
The timing did not work. I am taking a vacation to that same area and will stay at the 5 fermes etoile too, only in late June and Early July. I’ll even fish with the same generous person (Chris).
Bummer Jed. Don’t forget, it is the moment and the place that ranks high on the list of an enjoyable fishing trip. You must have a back-up rod, graphite, glass?
And as the sucessful Indian Rain Dancer once said “Timing is everything”
Don’t give up, enjoy.
I learn more about the world while talking to myself when fishing alone
I have a solution for the repair, thanks to our rod building forum. And best of all, I learned alot about how you are suppossed to
put on ferrules, so its not a total loss.
Jonezee,
As for a back up rod I got that covered in spades, so I won’t miss a minute on the water because of this.
Jed, Glad your on track to a repair solution. I remember reading somewhere that bamboo was more versatile in repairs than the high tech stuff. I hope the modification works out well, who knows, you could end up liking it better?
[This message has been edited by backbeach (edited 26 May 2006).]
