Is it possible to find a fishable bamboo rod for under $100? Ha! am I crazy!I have wanted to try one for some time now . I see alot on ebay some go for nothing and I’m sure there has to be a reason. Some go for alot of money. Can someone recommend a bamboo maker/model that won’t break the bank? I may be asking too much. But, thought I’d try always wanted to try out a bamboo rod but always was intimidated by the prices.
Janus
Janus
I hope you decide to give Bamboo a try. Some of us take that first step and never look back. I will not get into the often heated discussions on if Bamboo is “better” then graphite. I still fish graphite on occassion. I will says however once I got my hands on Bamboo…there was something about it that is hard to explain. Anyway to answer your question…Under $100.00 In my opion that would be hard to do. Most of the rods on ebay you will see for that price are going to be older trade rods that will need alot of work to become fishable. If you are qualified to do the work then you can find some bargins. In the area of $200.00 you can find some nice rods… south bends, heddons, some of the better HI like the Tonka Queen & Prince. If you are still interested PM me and I can provide you more info and some sites that will help you out with your trip to what many called the dark side…
Bill from PA
You can certainly find bamboo rods for under $100 at flea markets etc. But your opinion of bamboo is probably not going to be too high if you base your judgement on one of these rods.
At right around $100 there ought to be some decent bamboo available. I have a really nice Sir D six weight that I was fortunate enough to stumble into. Can’t say that they are just sitting out there like plums waiting to be picked but patience and searching will prevail.
Try Clarks Classic Fly Rod Forum or the Bamboo Builders Forum and see if you can scrounge up anything there.
As far as “better or worse” I would say that it’s more of a preference issue. Tose who like bamboo like it for it’s qualities and those who prefer graphite do so for its completely unrelatedly different qualities. It’s like loving a Jeep over a Lexus. is one “better” than the other? No, you would not thrash a Lexus sedan through the mud and would not necessarily use a Jeep to carve up the high speed road. And I can haul lot more stuff in my little pickup than I could in a Cadillac. But I’d rather drive across the USA in a Caddy than in my little egg beater.
I am going to say, look at GLASS instead. As mentioned you could POSSIBLY find a bamboo for $100. but it isn’t going to be anywhere close to what a better to good bamboo feel like. However, glass you can get that bamboo feel and they are at a much better price for good ones.
Yes, If someone dies and leaves you one. Other than that, take whatever it takes and find a good rodmaker or a flyshop and cast a FEW. Then, start saving your money. 
Thanks all I figured as much. I have amassed a small collection of glass rods long and short and feel really comfortable with the slowed down action.I… Thought I’d see if, given my current financial situation, a bamboo rod was even worth thinking about. I gotta start to save and then if possible cast a few.
Janus
You have the opportunity to make the acquisition of your first cane rod a long, wonderful learning experience. Enjoy the ride. (it won’t be cheap!)
Janus
Join the other pirates from the island nation of Ohio and come on up to the Michigan Fish-In. There will be bamboo to try there. Jim Flamming should have a couple (at least); I’ll have mine. There will be others. Plus you get to meet Superman and his lovely bride. Brad and Jack will be there but don’t let that stop you; we keep them on a short leash! 
Hope you can make it.
Mark
Let it be known that I don’t fish Boo and never have. I just read this link today and this thread reminded me of this info.
http://www.wired.com/techbiz/startups/magazine/16-06/ps_superrods
If I was in the market for a higher end rod, this would be the direction that I would lean.
The reason that I haven’t tried Boo is that I have never found anything that interests me in the $200 range. Maybe one day.
Rick
Couldn’t have put it any better:cool:
Janus,
I am poor(blue collar job supporting a family of 5 in NJ). I wanted to have a bamboo rod of my own but I couldn’t afford anything decent. Everything within my price range was either destroyed or junk to begin with. The only way I would ever have one was if I either won the lottery or made it myself. I never win stuff so I figured I had to make it myself. After some searching on the internet, I made some forms from leftover oak and sharpened up my plane iron. Besides forms and a block plane, the only other tools you really need are calipers and a dial indicator. You can get by without a binder and an oven if you’re creative. I bought some bamboo, cheap plated brass ferrules, and a reelseat, I already had guides and cork. All said it cost me less than $100 and I finally had my own bamboo fly rod. I even had enough cane left over to make 2 more blanks and finished one of those 2(my daughter ho’d the first one so I had to have something for myself). I have yet to start planing the third. If you can tie flies and wrap a rod, you can build your own bamboo rod. Just be careful, it’s addictive.
Time for me to do that voodoo I do best and burst the notion that you cannot find a decent bamboo for less than $100 unless you consider the following rod to be inferior:
I secured that rod on eBay for about $95 dollars! It did take me awhile to get it as I had been looking at banty bamboo for about a year. This rod is made from scratch, not from the mid and tip section of another rod. Before anyone jumps me there is nothing wrong with a banty made from parts of another rod. It is just a fact that this is made from scratch from very high grade bamboo.
The chap that made the rod only makes a limited number of rods each year and they are normally sold around the Thanksgiving/Christmas holidays but it doesn’t hurt to check out his store on eBay from time to time. I will PM you the info.
If you don’t mind a some what slower/heavier rod you can sometimes pick up a good Montague, Horrocks & Ibbotson, Kingfisher, South Bend, etc… for less than $100. These rods can be used to easily create a nice banty rod without a whole lot of additional expense.
That banty of mine can easily toss 50+ foot casts and that is with my poor casting skills.
Here is a Montague that I got for less than $100 off of eBay:
This Monty is fishable right now but is a great candidate for full restoration or conversion to a banty. I have yet to decide what to do with it but it is an example of what can be had on eBay if you buy carefully. I consulted the folks on this board about that rod and they helped me get a nice rod at a good price. Never be afraid to post here asking questions prior to buying.
But what exactly is a “banty”? 90% of the time it’s shortened rod made from an old bamboo fly rod. Usually the mid and tip section of an old heavy wet fly salmon or steelhead rod with a grip and reel seat on the end of the mid section. I’ve seen them and in reality it’s less than 2/3rds of a fly rod.
Not even a real taper, just part of one. I just can’t get the reason for a banty except for someone to make a few bucks off e-bay by selling these.
Nighthawk, don’t take offense, but this is my feeling and I know you have different ideas and probably like your banty, I see it was Andy Manchester that built it.
If a person really wants a cane rod, buy a good one. Check on local builders, you’ll find out there are a lot out there and the price is not to high. Too many people try to fish with the Montegues and such and get disappointed. Those rods are not a good rod to start with if you’re exploring the notion of getting into bamboo for the first time.
Check out http://clarksclassicflyrodforum.yuku.com/directory
You’ll get a lot of help there.
because of this “expense” be prepared to have lots of long conversations with your wife rationalizing the need for another one…
Please read my post again. Let me be more specific. That custom made rod is a banty only in a loose sense of the name. Meaning it is a very short rod rod. It is not a true banty and it will cast a 5wt line as far and as easily as any so called expensive rod you can put up against it that is in it’s length and speed range. It is not any different than my 6’6" graphite 2wt except that it is bamboo, 5’ 2&1/2", has it’s own custom taper, is faster than my graphite rod, rated for a heavier line and can easily toss casts of over 50’. If you would ever get a chance to fish some of the brush choked runs that I fish then you would see the need for a short rod, banty or no.
Please note that this rod is made from Scratch, not from the parts of another rod, with it’s own taper and action. It is made to fish the brush choked streams of the north east. It is not a “cheap” rod. The maker is not in the business to make money as it is a hobby for him.
I knew my post would bend a few noses but that’s alright by me.
One note here. Just because so and so likes or dislikes a particular manufacturer, model, taper, length, action and etc… doesn’t always mean all others will like or dislike it. Also does not mean that any particular rod is “cheap” or junk. I believe the original post was for a rod that fits within the author’s ways and means. Under a $100 and fishable so lets keep it in that context.
Under $100, get a Monty!!
http://cgi.ebay.com/Bamboo-fishing-rod_W0QQitemZ290233240164QQihZ019QQcategoryZ11144QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
I agree, but let the poster get one like a Monty, and maybe it will loose this crazy idea of fishing Boo;)
I do own some very nice boos by White, but not anywhere near that $100 mark. Heck even my tea stick was a beauty, but again not anywhere near $100.
Now my Grandfathers 9’ Monty, that you can get for $100 mark, but to put it bluntly, WHY! It is a terrible stick to fish these days
Again…why do you want bamboo?
I love the bend. That is why I love glass…plus it is LIGHT!
