Crafting A Bamboo Fly Rod

The bamboo fly rod still represents the pinnacle of the fly-fishing art; its apparent simplicity and delicacy belie the craftsmanship and strength that are the hallmarks of all great rods. A growing number of people have tried to learn the art of making bamboo rods from a shrinking number of secretive craftsmen. The revised and expanded Handcrafting Bamboo Fly Rods is the definitive reference for beginners and experts alike. Wayne Cattanach begins by explaining the qualities that distinguish bamboo from all other materials: It has a tensile strength akin to steel, yet it is very light. He describes the process that will take anyone from lengths of hard, raw bamboo to a beautiful finished rod with clear, step-by-step instructions and illustrations, including how to find the best supplies; select tools and materials; make heat treaters and binders; cut culms; straighten bamboo strips; plane and stagger strips; bind strips; apply finishes; mount the reel seat, ferrules, and tip-top; and much more. This is surely the most thorough book available for those who wish to make and fish their own bamboo fly rods.

Learn the science and art of creating a one-of-a-kind bamboo fly rod. Fly fishing has a long and storied history. While many flyfishermen will find and purchase their favorite fly rod, there are those who desire to go a step further. For those discerning flyfishermen and women, simply buying a rod is not enough—they must build one. And just as fly fishing is an art, so is the creation of the bamboo fly rod. Many people believe that the best-feeling rods, particularly for trout fishing, are made from bamboo, and today’s bamboo rod-making tradition is particularly indebted to one man: Everett E. Garrison. Using principles he learned as an engineering student, Garrison created an exacting method of building rod—a method that for decades was a well-kept secret. These techniques are presented to the reader in A Master’s Guide to Building a Bamboo Fly Rod, a classic volume written by Hoagy B. Carmichael to honor and maintain Garrison’s legacy. Completely illustrated with black-and-white drawings and over three hundred and sixty black-and-white photographs, along with copious notes on the mathematical and engineering principles that underlie Garrison’s unique rod-making technique, this book will guide you through each step of creating a classic bamboo fly rod. Skyhorse Publishing is proud to publish a broad range of books for fishermen. Our books for anglers include titles that focus on fly fishing, bait fishing, fly-casting, spin casting, deep sea fishing, and surf fishing. Our books offer both practical advice on tackle, techniques, knots, and more, as well as lyrical prose on fishing for bass, trout, salmon, crappie, baitfish, catfish, and more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to publishing books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked by other publishers and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.

Comprehensive guide to making a bamboo fly rod.

The mysteries of handmade bamboo fly rods revealed. In Constructing Cane Rods, world-renowned rodbuilder Ray Gould shares a lifetime¿s worth of wisdom about bamboo fly rods. Clear, concise, and to-the-point, Gould¿s writing is packed with detailed, instructive information on every facet of rod building, repair, and appraisal. Beginning with an overview of commercial rod production and antique rod appraisal, Gould moves on to describe how to properly repair any old rods that might be collecting dust in your basement. He walks you through every component of bamboo fly rods, with photos, diagrams, and charts to clear up any confusion. You¿ll even learn to make your very own cane rod from scratch, with ample time dedicated to sourcing and utilizing the tools and materials required by this precise and rewarding craft. This is a wonderful book for committed rod builders, collectors, restorers, or anyone who appreciates the humble beauty of a hand-crafted bamboo fly rod.About the AuthorA native of Milwaukee, Ray Gould has been a fly fisherman since 1958. After a 35-year career as a mechanical engineer, Gould but his technical background to use designing and building bamboo fly rods. Gould has built over 100 cane rods and repaired countless others. His numerous fishing-related accomplishments include serving as president of the Northwest Fly Anglers club; teaching classes on fly tying at Shoreline Community College; exhibiting and presenting seminars in Montana, Washington, and British Columbia; providing programs at numerous fly clubs; and co-chairing the 1992 and 1994 West Coast Bamboo Rodbuilders¿ Workshop in British Colombia.

Bamboo is a beautiful, versatile, and inexpensive material—and the tools needed are simple and few Rodmaker George Maurer has built some of the finest and most innovative bamboo rods seen in a generation. He has imparted this knowledge to his student, Bernard Elser, who explains this exacting craft in simple, precise steps, from selecting culms of bamboo to varnishing your finished rod. Each chapter begins with a summary of the process, a list of tools, and the time needed to complete the steps described, as well as photographs and illustrations illuminating key points throughout the book. Expert knowledge and advice for a range of different rod designs will prove instructive to novices, hobbyists, and even the most experienced rodmakers alike. While bamboo enjoys newfound popularity, the tools and supplies needed to craft it remain difficult to find. Now, with Fundamentals of Building a Bamboo Fly-Rod, it is possible to create your own heirloom–quality bamboo fly rod. All that’s needed is patience, a steady hand, and Maurer and Elser’s clear, detailed instructions.

An avid fisherman offers a personal and cultural history of the bamboo fly rod and the sport it represents, profiling gifted craftsmen who pursue the perfect fly-fishing rod and examining the tension between individual creativity and mass production.

Rodmakers featured in this book. Book jacket.