Wally M Posted September 8, 2009 Report Share Posted September 8, 2009 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MTfishingrods Posted September 8, 2009 Report Share Posted September 8, 2009 Your not going to find much here on bamboo rod tapers. Its just not that type of web site. The info you need is out there though and probably just a google search away. Dont know how much experience you have with bamboo rod making. I have made a couple bamboo fly rods now. All I can say is its a ton of work for a rod that fishes nothing like a modern rod. So if your into that thing, its great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wally M Posted September 8, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 8, 2009 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MTfishingrods Posted September 9, 2009 Report Share Posted September 9, 2009 Wally, Keep checking back. I may have some info for you on these rods. Its going to take me some time to dig it out from wherever I may have buried it. But it may help out. Also it will be delayed by me going hunting for 3 weeks here in the next couple days. But I will be back and forth even durring that. So I will see what I can come up with. Shane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wally M Posted September 9, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 9, 2009 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MTfishingrods Posted September 10, 2009 Report Share Posted September 10, 2009 (edited) Wally, Its archery Elk season here. Here is a quick bit of info I found while looking back through some of the massive amounts of research I did before attempting my bamboo creations. LOL . Hope it helps. I will keep looking. Who knows what else I will stumble onto as well. I think what you want is on the last two pages. The first few are some bass rods, then lots of fly rods. Shane http://www.overmywaders.com/extracts/herters.html and another http://www.bamboorodmaking.com/html/taper_archives.html Edited September 10, 2009 by MTfishingrods Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaPala Posted September 10, 2009 Report Share Posted September 10, 2009 Thanks for the links MT. I haven't made any split canes but that is always at the back of my mind. With the abundance of Bamboos over here, I am determined to find a local species that can substitute for Tonkin. Still at the stage where I am reading reading and more reading lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wally M Posted September 10, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 10, 2009 (edited) 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. Edited September 10, 2009 by Wally M Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Posted September 13, 2009 Report Share Posted September 13, 2009 Looking around and saw this thread. Hope this helps. Amato publishing has a book called Cane Rods Tips& Tapers. This book has some tapers for casting and spinning. Not much info on lure wt but you could try then use Rod DNA to fix to your needs. Alot of work but the end result is well worth all the time. As for not fishing like a new rod I'm glad it doesn't because it is not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MTfishingrods Posted September 13, 2009 Report Share Posted September 13, 2009 "As for not fishing like a new rod I'm glad it doesn't because it is not." That was my point exactly. I just am not as passionate as most people who build bamboo rods are. I did it because im a rod builder and wanted to build one for me and my son. Thats it. Im not trying put anyone down who is by any means. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wally M Posted September 18, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 18, 2009 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
