What's your favorite bamboo rod?
Moderator: TheMontyMan
What's your favorite bamboo rod?
#1Alright, I'll admit it. It's rainy here, my truck is not working, and I'm stuck at home, bored.
So I got to thinking about which of my rods is my very favorite, and why. I'll answer that in a minute, but how about all of you? If you had to pick only one rod to keep, which would it be and why? Rarity, beauty, fishes well, sentimental reasons?
Here's mine. It's a Wright & McGill Granger Victory 8040. One of the earlier ones with the black tipping. Not my most expensive or difficult to find rod, and certainly not my most pristine rod. But that might be part of why I like it so much. It's obviously been used, so I don't feel bad using it, and it casts better than any of my others. I also like it for asthetic reasons. Victory rods might be low on the grade chart, but I sure like the way the orange and black jasper looks against the ammoniated cane:
So I got to thinking about which of my rods is my very favorite, and why. I'll answer that in a minute, but how about all of you? If you had to pick only one rod to keep, which would it be and why? Rarity, beauty, fishes well, sentimental reasons?
Here's mine. It's a Wright & McGill Granger Victory 8040. One of the earlier ones with the black tipping. Not my most expensive or difficult to find rod, and certainly not my most pristine rod. But that might be part of why I like it so much. It's obviously been used, so I don't feel bad using it, and it casts better than any of my others. I also like it for asthetic reasons. Victory rods might be low on the grade chart, but I sure like the way the orange and black jasper looks against the ammoniated cane:
- para_adams
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Re: What's your favorite bamboo rod?
#2I love the looks of the early Victory rods. Beautiful.
My favorite - 8-1/2' Heddon DeLuxe #60, restored by Scott Whitman. 2f ferrule but a thinner butt section than other 2f Heddon rods. Combined with the Circassian walnut grip, the rod's taper somehow creates an extraordinary feel in the cast. The cast feels effortless and fully connected, short or long. 6 weight but smooth as imaginable. And Scott's restoration work is, IMO, beautiful. Someone recently said it was like holding a piece of high-end antique furniture.
My favorite - 8-1/2' Heddon DeLuxe #60, restored by Scott Whitman. 2f ferrule but a thinner butt section than other 2f Heddon rods. Combined with the Circassian walnut grip, the rod's taper somehow creates an extraordinary feel in the cast. The cast feels effortless and fully connected, short or long. 6 weight but smooth as imaginable. And Scott's restoration work is, IMO, beautiful. Someone recently said it was like holding a piece of high-end antique furniture.
Re: What's your favorite bamboo rod?
#3Fine sticks, very nice. If I had to run out due to a quake, which happened just last week, scary one, I cant decide, but it just might be the 7’, DT2 T and T, TTT stick, impregnated.
But in the dark it might be the Duracane, Brandin, or FE Thomas.
But in the dark it might be the Duracane, Brandin, or FE Thomas.
Re: What's your favorite bamboo rod?
#4That's really unfair. You make it a little easier stressing bamboo so graph and glass are out. I'd have to cheat a little on this and take my Gnome Companion Rod set. Two different butts and two different tips fitted to each butt. This would give me a 4 and a 5 and able to stretch that for particular circumstances to 3-6.
- Hellmtflies
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Re: What's your favorite bamboo rod?
#5Tough call. For bigger water my Blackburn 8' 4wt. hex. For smaller streams and creeks my Leonard Duracane 7' 4wt. green wrap. With only those two I can fish any trout waters anywhere.
Re: What's your favorite bamboo rod?
#6Two rods: Robert Bolt 7'6" 4wt; and Jenkins 8' 5-wt. I'm good.
- levertonhatches
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Re: What's your favorite bamboo rod?
#8Whichever one is in my hand at the moment !!!
Seriously, my Phillipson 8'6" Premium comes close, along with my 8' Poppycane
Seriously, my Phillipson 8'6" Premium comes close, along with my 8' Poppycane
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Re: What's your favorite bamboo rod?
#11Facebook - Bamboo Fly Rod Identification and Value
Instagram - vintagebambooflyrods
Instagram - vintagebambooflyrods
Re: What's your favorite bamboo rod?
#12Oh, my, that #60 Heddon is as pretty as they come and your description of the "extra special" 2F action is downright soothing. Thanks for composing that shot and sharing, para_adams!
As for the OP's 8040, I concur that it's a nice rod, but the choice between 8040 and 8642 isn't even close for me. I likely haven't found the right line to make the 8040 shine, so my 8642 Aristocrat is the pick of my litter at this time.
As for the OP's 8040, I concur that it's a nice rod, but the choice between 8040 and 8642 isn't even close for me. I likely haven't found the right line to make the 8040 shine, so my 8642 Aristocrat is the pick of my litter at this time.
Re: What's your favorite bamboo rod?
#13After a Long search for my ideal 4-5wts... for feel, 8’3” 2/2 Brandins (long) and 7’ 2/2 Hawes Featherweights (short)...for confident power 7’ to 8” Gillum Custom Trouts... for holistic blend of feel, power & beauty.. Jim Payne 100 & 200.
Arthur
Arthur
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Re: What's your favorite bamboo rod?
#15Arthur- that’s six rods, not one!!! But I see the difficulty you have with those options!
George
George
Facebook - Bamboo Fly Rod Identification and Value
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Instagram - vintagebambooflyrods
Re: What's your favorite bamboo rod?
#168½' Thomas Browntone Streamer. The only bamboo rod I've caught an Atlantic salmon on. Okay, it was only a grilse, but still......
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Re: What's your favorite bamboo rod?
#18That is a loaded question. This year I used a Schroeder quad the most with a Raine 8’3” 4/5 coming in second. I also used a Bellinger/Santiam 7’6” quite a bit.
Next year if asked this question my reply may be entirely different as I have some tentative plans for fishing some larger waters, Henry’s Fork and Silver Creek.
Next year if asked this question my reply may be entirely different as I have some tentative plans for fishing some larger waters, Henry’s Fork and Silver Creek.
- Horton Creek
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Re: What's your favorite bamboo rod?
#19Mike Clark 8 foot 3 piece 5 wt based on his ruby special taper. My most fished rod in the west.
Homer Jennings 7'9" 4 wt. As it was my first commissioned rod but also my most fished rod in the east.
Homer Jennings 7'9" 4 wt. As it was my first commissioned rod but also my most fished rod in the east.