The Boo

FAOL Community Fly Anglers Online
1

Hi,

While reading John Scott’s thread, where he was fishing his boo rod pretty much exclusively, I recieved an e-mail from Fly Goddess putting me onto Zhu rods, sold on e-bay. They are not expensive rods, but if FG is willing to recommend them for what they are, then they must be good rods.

Well, this put me in a bit of a quandary. A wee while back I had mentioned to Vanessa that I didn’t need any more rods really. I have a 3, 5, 7/8, and an old fibreglass salmon rod. How could I save face? I thought back to that conversation, and I recalled giving an “out” for a bamboo rod, but that I was not going to spend $1,000+ on a fishing rod.

I realised, this was my out. A bit of careful planning out the logic of the pitch and I’m sure it would be ok. Well, I started with the soft approach of how there were these inexpensive bamboo rods on E-bay and showed her the auction. Getting ready to mention how someone on the board has one and really likes it, etc, when she suggested I get one if we had some left over pounds when we were leaving the UK. That was easy! :slight_smile:

Anyway, we had the cash in our account, ordered it, and expected it to arrive a while back. It didn’t arrive, so we contacted the seller. He apologised, and indicated that some orders had been returned to him due to custom forms being filled out incorrectly, and that it should arrive in a few days. We did, and still wasn’t here. He apologised again, and indicated that if he had to send a replacement he would include a silk line as well as a gift.

We asked him to send us the tracking number, which he did. We looked it up and it seemed to indicate that there was an attempt to deliver last week. It was being sent to a post office box, in the post office, not to our house address. So, down I went to find out what’s going on. Turns out, the post office had it for the past week. They appear to have forgot to put the parcel notice in the box!

Anyway, I’ve had it out for a lawn cast and I really like the feel of it. It’s a 7’ 6" 5 weight, two piece, two tips, and I like it, yes sir, I like it a lot!

Here are some photo’s of the boo:





  • Jeff
2

Jeff, been looking for something like this for a while and if FG recommends it and now you, I’m sold! Looks like I’ll have to take some lessons from you an the soft sell with the Mrs. I’ll let you know how it goes.

Kelly.

3

Jeff,

That’s a nice looking rod. Wraps look real good and the cork looks great. Welcome to the daark side.

REE

4

Hey Jeff nice rod! Now you are in trouble, next you will be getting a silk line and a line dryer and dressing and… man you are in trouble!:smiley:
All the best.
Mike.

5

beware, now you’re going to go cast one of our wonderful makers rods over here and then you WILL have your sights set on that $1000+ bamboo rod…

run fast, run far…

I think that because of bamboo, my wife keeps a closer eye on my fishing purchases…

6

Jeff,

Congratulations on the new bamboo rod. Very nice looking. I have yet to own a bamboo, but I hear they are addicting and you’ll not stop at one. Good luck with the wife on your future purchases. You’ll need it. lol

7

I can tell you, I have two Bamboos that are in the $2,000. EACH price tag, but this little Zhu feels pretty darn good.
I have been using it allot lately.

8

Jeff -

Nice looking rod. If you are liking it on the lawn, you are in for a real treat when you get it on the water, and especially when you get a fishy on it.

What I see coming, hate to say it, is another trip to Ebay for a Zhu for Vanessa !! Not to worry. Always good to have a backup around.

By the time Genesta wants a boo of her own, you’ll have about …

John

9

I heard that Zhu has a hand on Elk Horn also…

10

Nice. Very Nice!!

11

Nice boo Jeff. I need to take some sweet talking lesson from you. That stuff never ever works for me.

Beaver

12

Thanks everyone! I took it out for a test run last night. Jimo and I went to the Don Pool. Vanessa was getting a headache and sore throat, so she declined. We fished for a couple hours, and although there were some small fish about the best either of us could manage was a strike each.

Still, the rod was really nice to fish with. It casts really well and is a lot of fun to fish with.

We were surprised at the minimal action though. There was a rain a couple nights ago and we figured that woudl bring some new fish up. Also, there was lots of insect activity. There was a hatch of mayflies that would be well immitated by an orange water cricket. I was fishing a yellow water cricket and a partridge and orange when I finally got my strike. There were also caddis around, and midges. I tried a varity of dries and wets, as did Jimo, but nothing really seemed to interest them. I think smaller flies were required perhaps. I’ll have to check through my fly boxes to find the small stuff. I hope I didn’t leave it back in NZ?

Oh, and once the sun went down, the bats came out. There were a lot of them too, sweeping over the water grabbing bugs and rushing us a few times. Both Jimo and I were more or less chased from our spots near the trees as the bats swooped around. Once they started bumping into our lines and bumped the tips of the rods, we decided that “the mad rise” was just not going to happen and called it a day.

So, although I managed only a strike, I consider the outing a success. It was a joy to fish this new rod, and the fish with come when the fish will come.

  • Jeff
13

Mike, I hear that if you’re going to get a hanger for one silk line, you might as well get one made to dry 3 - 4 lines at a time. Is that right?

:wink:

Ed

14

Hi,

Well, I’ve read that a silk line is only good for half a days fishing, so you need to replace it with a new one for the 2nd half. So, the dryer needs to be able to hold at least two lines.

And, of course, you need room for the 3rd line that you want to be water logged (your sinking line).

  • Jeff
15

So with dryers for Vanessa’s and Genesta’s silk lines, you will be up to …

16

Interesting thread here. I hadn’t heard about the Zhu rods and at the price it might be a perfect way to get my feet wet. Anyone have any experience with the 7’0" 4wt? Also, has anyone tried the reel they sell? Nice classic lines.

Dean

17

Yes and Yes…both thumbs up!
Zhu has had his hands in allot of different places. Elk Horn like I said and I could be wrong, but I think he has something to do with Highland Mills.
The reel is soooooo much nicer that Angler’s Roost version.

18

it is oh so ironic how the community here has embraced imported asian bamboo blanks.
incredible and unbelievable.

19

Doesn’t all good Bamboo start in China?
It is a good place for people that can’t afford yours or other U.S. rod builders
to get their feet wet with a good feeling rod.

I know I am saving up for an Oyster. But, in the mean time…

20

They’re more affordable. Same reason my Lee’s blue jeans say “Made in Costa Rica.”