I won the November drawing for the RL Nunley bamboo rod blank. I thought about trying to finish the rod myself. I’ve never really done any rod building and thought about practicing on some cheap graphite blanks. Then I thought about having someone I know finish it or paying someone near me to finish it. I ended up deciding to contact Bob Nunley and asking him to finish it for me. He agreed to finish it for me.
Since I was going fishing in the area over the past weekend, I just dropped off the blank at his shop. I stopped in this past Monday to drop off the blank and talk about what kind of hardware I wanted.
Well, about two hours flew by in no time. He showed me around his shop and told me about his process of making bamboo rods. He showed me how a piece of cane is made into a rod. He explained the entire process…of how he makes the strips, the gluing process, the binding process, the heat treating, sanding, varnishing…the whole 9 yards. The whole thing is a meticulous and time consuming process.
Bob had a few examples of rods that he’s been working on and some restoration projects. The whole thing is pretty amazing. The time spent producing a rod is pretty incredible. Bob said he had just done some work to his web site. I took a look and it shows some of his shop. I took some pics of some of his handi-work.
This is the blank as it is now:
Here is some unsplit bamboo and wood used for reel seats:
This is the wrapping and hardware style that I decided to use:
These pictures are pretty decent, but it’s not like holding the real thing. You cant see a single thread in the wraps…it’s like it’s all one piece. Bob makes all the stuff in his shop…except for guides and the engraving on the metal hardware.
We talked about fishing the rivers in Arkansas, what kinds of tapers he uses on his rods. (He used classic tapers for a while and then ventured to make his own and now uses them exclusively.) We talked fishing and all things related for quite a while. He even gave me some go-to flies that he uses on the Norfork River.
I could have stayed and shot the bull with Bob all day, but I needed to get a bite to eat and head for the stream. I asked if Bob wanted a deposit for the work to be done and he said we’d worry about that later. Bob Nunley is a heck of a nice guy and a great craftsman. This is Bob:
Brian, It was a pleasure to meet you when you came by the shop. As I’m sure you could tell, I could have stayed there all day and talked rods and bamboo and trout, but I know you had to get back to the river. I don’t think I actually made it to the water that day, but did over the next couple of days, and did really well.
Folks, I haven’t fished with Brian yet, but there are just some people that, when you meet them, you know they’d be fun to fish with. Maybe when I get his rod finished out, I can talk him into coming down and we’ll get a little water time. The Caddis should be going wild by then.
This will be my last appearance here for awhile. I’m going into the hospital this afternoon and having the total knee done in the morning. Not sure how long I’ll be in, but I do know that I’ll be housebound for a few days after I get home, so I’ll probably sit here on pain meds typing posts… please forgive bad grammer, misspellings and bad opinions in advance! The country boy comes out in me really bad when the Oxycontin takes over! S
Hoping against hope that I might win that rod, I had already decided to ask Bob to finish it for me. But I never would have had the opportunity to meet him as you did.
Better that you won it, as far as I’m concerned. And I hope you two have some great days fishing together.
Bob you are going to be down for a day or two that is for sure. The wife had both knees replaced and knows what you will be going through. I wish you all the best in your recovery. Please do exactly what the doc says and you will be back to new in no time at all. Oh yes the contraption they put your leg in-------It is ok to call it everything under the sun that is not nice. Again wishing you all the best
Just when I thought the bamboo urge was subsiding some I see this awesome post. Well, the bamboo just got kicked up a notch or two.
Good luck on your recovery Bob. I did not have a knee replaced, but I did break both femurs at the same time. I know how hard it can be to be locked up in the house. Just take care, do your p. t. and think about wading a trout stream again. This time without all the pain!
Bob, I was just looking at your site. It seems that you like a certain little stream here in my backyard. That has been a favorite of mine from the first time I fished there. If you are out this way again give me a yell.
I was lucky enough to have a similar experience with John Kenealy before he came upon a rough stretch and quit making rods. I spent days in his shop picking all sides of his brain… the maker, the biologist, the writer, and the fisherman. We shared several days on the Kennebec together fishing his rods, that was very special indeed… your very lucky Brian. Bob, I don’t know you, but I wish you all the best and a quick mend, we’re on the back side of winter and the hatches are a comin’!
Everyone, Thank you for the well wishes on the Knee Replacment both here on the BB and on email. I’m doing great, by the way. I’m about 16 days post op and there are days that I can walk around with no cane or walker… then again, there are still days that Hydrocodone and I are best friends!!! Seriously, I’m doing really well. Physical therapy is going great, I am ahead of schedule on flex and extension, so I should be in top shape before too long.
I’m actually going back into the shop this coming Tuesday. I have a crew coming in to build a new clean room for me to work in and I’m setting up a press for a new Nickel Silver drawing operation, so I’ll be fairly busy next week, and hopefully, the week after that, I’ll be back at about 50% capacity. Hopefully within another 5 or 6 weeks, I’ll be back to 100% and pushing rods out the door!
I sure do miss working! I love making rods. This is more of a passion for me than I know how to explain. The smell of the hot cane, the aroma of curing varnish, even the glue drying… it all is stuff that, at least for me, dreams are made of.
Brian, I’ll be on your rod next week. Work will start with your reel seat and handle, then there won’t be much to do from there. Your rod will probably be the first one to get final coats in the new clean room… it will be FLAWLESS!
Again, thanks all for your concern and well wishes.
Brian Congrats on winning the beautiful boo and thanks for sharing your visit with Bob… Bob I wish you a successful surgery and speedy recovery! The rods are beautful…
