Wally M

Frank, thank you for that lead. I got reactions ranging from disbelief to barely disguised contempt when I mentioned my intention of building anything other than fly rods in bamboo at the recent Rod Makers' Gathering. I recall carrying a rather narrow-minded and dull conceit myself some years ago. But age and experience has taught me to admire the skill and knowledge inherent in many other means of catching fish on a hook (or hooks). I've focused in on bamboo because, at one time (excluding woods) that was all there was really. I enjoy the experience of fishing with it, and I enjoy a broadening scope (or is it return to) for it. Like MT says, he wanted to experience it, and making them is part of it that most won't or can't do. I'm off to the Miramichi River in New Brunswick for a week after which begins the rod making season. I'm very interest in bait casting and conventional reels and their improvements and hope to learn and participate in a more main-stream fashion. Many thanks for your help, guys. Wally.

MT, I'm packing to go to the Catskills for the bamboo rod-makers' annual gathering, so I haven't gone through the Archives. I printed out the whole thing a couple of years ago, and I'm going to take that with me to peruse. I've got a copy of the Herter's book (1953 ed.) and it does offer a couple of places to begin, scaling up or down to achieve some starting points (or stumble on to the silver bullet). I'm also going to ask around at the gathering, at the risk of being drummed out of the fly-rod corps. I'm hopeless with anything that doesn't throw a bullet or shot, but I envy you your trip. Many thanks for your efforts on my behalf and have a safe trip. Wally. PS. LaPala, the Japanese have recently been building rods on an indigenous bamboo (not arundinaria amabilis). I'll record and post the species when I get back.

Shane, I really do appreciate it. Please don't feel hurried, I've got a backlog of some 18 rods, so It'll be first of the year before I get around to splitting for casting rods. And besides, this is a big favor to me. Deadlines have no place in my thinking. I'm getting e-mail notifications of your responses, so even if I don't refer back to the thread for a while, I'll know you've posted. What ya' hunting? I just finished a .375 Ruger on a Savage 116 for a friend. We're a ways from the seasons opening here, though it's beginning to look like that time of year. Wally.

Hi, MT. I was hoping that there might be a lurking taper or two. The bamboo rod making sites are pretty much exclusively devoted to fly rods. I think they generally look down on us hardware flingers. Me, I love it. I was disappointed with about an hour of Googling for info. I must have 400 fly rod tapers (I've been at this since 1977), but little on conventional stuff and nothing for casting to Stripers from a boat. I'll keep at it. Bamboo has a modulus of elasticity that is greater that fiberglas (though less than graphite), so it could be an interesting project. Actually, I came upon this site looking for info on bait casting reels and plug making. You've got a great site here. Hope you don't mind if I hang around for a while. I was thinking of mebbe making a reel or two just for the sake of it. Anyway, many thanks for getting back to me.

As a first post, I'm seeking information that I've been unable to find on line or in any of the (rather limited) reference books I have. I want to make a few bamboo saltwater casting rods. Not fly rods, mind you, but rods for conventional casting reels. I'm thinking 7 footers, or there abouts, for around 1 oz. lures, though I wouldn't mind having a couple of good surf rod numbers. I could scale up or down some of the sadly few tapers I've been able to find (Herter's book, for example), but was hoping to experiment with original tapers first. Any sites, books or actually tapers would be more than appreciated. This is kind of a hit and run post, as I'm going to be away at the Roscoe rodmakers' gathering beginning tomorrow night. It's quite the serious event. Cheers. Wally.