Favorite Reference Books?

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goflyfish
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Favorite Reference Books?

#1

Post by goflyfish »

Which books would you all recommend for a beginner to bamboo rod making? II'd like to understand the tapering devices and maybe how to build one (tapering block) myself.

goflyfish

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pvansch1
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Favorite Reference Books?

#2

Post by pvansch1 »

Online - Start here
Harry Boyd's Articles
Thomas Penrose

As far as books go, Wayne Cattanach's Book "Handcrafting Bamboo Fly Rods"
or
George Mauer's book "Fundamentals of Building a Bamboo Fly-Rod".
Both great, either one will get you through the entire process.
Pete

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Re: Favorite Reference Books?

#3

Post by Brian K. Shaffer »

The link above to Harry Boyd's online rod building resource article is excellent. Check it for sure.

I too would recommend this book.

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" There's no such thing as a fly fisherman wholly satisfied with his casting performance. " ~ Jim Green (1971)
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Re: Favorite Reference Books?

#4

Post by Lee Koch »

"The Lovely Reed" by Jack Howell. The quality of the tapers he included is worth the price of the book itself, but his process description is very good as well.

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Re: Favorite Reference Books?

#5

Post by Canewrap »

Lee Koch wrote:
11/30/21 12:26
"The Lovely Reed" by Jack Howell. The quality of the tapers he included is worth the price of the book itself, but his process description is very good as well.
+1 !!

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Re: Favorite Reference Books?

#6

Post by Anders Johannesson »

A masters guide to building a Bamboo fly rod.

By
Garrison
Carmichael

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Re: Favorite Reference Books?

#7

Post by troutnut »

I would agree all the books mentioned above are worth the reading. I learned from all of them.
Fred

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Re: Favorite Reference Books?

#8

Post by DonT »

Lee Koch wrote:
11/30/21 12:26
"The Lovely Reed" by Jack Howell. The quality of the tapers he included is worth the price of the book itself, but his process description is very good as well.
+2. This is the clearest and easiest to assimilate.
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Re: Favorite Reference Books?

#9

Post by 3creeks »

Wayne's book was the most orderly for the way I learn. Harry's online tutorial was not around back when I initially got interested in building but it is very good as well. Howells' book is must have but- for me- he jumps around a bit and as far as learning the process it didn't "sing" to me until after I'd built a few rods. Now I love it and learn from it regularly. The tapers alone are worth the price of the book. The Garrison book is like starting off in calculus before taking algebra but, again, having now built some rods I understand where he's coming from. All of these sources, if followed, will get you where you want to go in rod building.

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Re: Favorite Reference Books?

#10

Post by Don Andersen »

Hi,
The book on Garrison. Everyone else stood on his shoulders.
Most of us use his designs or equipment he suggested.
His tapers cast smooth.
Even his math is now incorporated into nearly all of the various rod resign programs.
And yes, I’ve own the others.

Don

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Re: Favorite Reference Books?

#11

Post by LeeO »

I used Maurer's book and a whole lot from here: https://www.bamboorodmaking.com/
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Re: Favorite Reference Books?

#12

Post by MGrallert »

I learned on Garrison Carmichael. I had to read it three times but I've continued to reference it for the 25 years I've making rods.

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Re: Favorite Reference Books?

#13

Post by reidrods »

While not my favorite reference book now, I would not have started this journey years ago without George Barnes' book, "How to Make Bamboo Fly Rods" This book was perfect for someone like me who had never even cast a bamboo fly rod in the 70's. After this,the Garrison Carmichael book came out and I was ready for it.

Willis

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Re: Favorite Reference Books?

#14

Post by Anders Johannesson »

There is a small book from Herter's that was published first time 1949. It can be found as used at a low cost. It's not the book for the one that only would like to one single book but I have found it interesting in some aspects.

title:

Professional glass and split bamboo rod building manual and manufacturers guide.

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Re: Favorite Reference Books?

#15

Post by jim royston »

I have all of those mentioned and if I had to choose one to learn how to make a bamboo flyrod, it would be The Lovely Reed. I find the instructions are simply stated without the hyperbole that is sometimes found in the others.

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Re: Favorite Reference Books?

#16

Post by bluesjay »

Hi Guys, Hoagy's book is what I used. Most of the later books used Hoagy's as a starting point and elaborated with success on various aspects clearing up some methods and improving some tooling, as well as a greater variety of tapers. I became interested in 1965 when 'McClanes Standard Fishing Encyclopedia' was published. Claude Kreider and Louis Feirabend wrote the chapter. Another book which does a really good job of laying out methods is 'The Wise Fisherman's Encyclopedia.' Lew Stoner, in addition to Kreider and Feirabend wrote the rod building sections, with McClane as editor. Most of the other earlier books I have and used.

Jay Edwards

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Re: Favorite Reference Books?

#17

Post by Anders Johannesson »

The wise fishermans encyklopedia is a nice one!

In addition The technology of fly rods by Don Phillips is interesting in many ways. He was the man behind the boron rods.

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Re: Favorite Reference Books?

#18

Post by sanderson »

Maurer's, Lovely Reed, and Cattanach's are the 3 I own. Additionally, I leaned on bamboorodmaking.com for specific issues along the way. I also found Harry Boyd's step by step outline of the building process to be the clearest, simplest guide that a beginner could find.

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Re: Favorite Reference Books? A Master's Guide To Building A Bamboo Fly Rod

#19

Post by GrampaGrant »

A Master's Guide To Building a Bamboo Fly Rod is now available for $1.99 in the Books App Book Store on all Apple devices. No? check for yourself.

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Re: Favorite Reference Books?

#20

Post by kermit »

Books on Rod Building? There are severaI, I recommend the Lovely Reed. These two vids will take you through what's available.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RlZ3iPWqDU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnEVHirG9G0
Zia Rods Brochure
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