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'Need" my First Bamboo - North East Fishing

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Lafarge	'Need" my First Bamboo - North East Fishing		Lead	[-]
Posts: 14 11/19/2009 16:13	Tags : None Hello all. I have the bug ... bad. I currently have a 9' 6wt monty that I am currently fixing up. I have owned it for about 15 years, but honestly never really got into fishing it. Not sure why. I fish mostly the Houssie and Farmington in CT and the Beaverkill/West Brach and other Catskill rivers, with an occasional trip to Penns Creek. My go-to rod now is a Winston graphite, 8.5 5wt. I do like this rod, and it has some sentimental value -- the first nice rod purchased after landing my first real job. But I have the bamboo jones. The slower speed, aesthetics, etc. really captivate me, even though I am a total newbie to bamboo. I think it will fit my demeanor, if that makes any sense. Budget it tight, so I am looking at under a $1,000. (As an aside, someday I plan/hope to build my own rod ... but for another day, when I don't have little kids). Rod suggestions for these rivers? 8' 5wt? 7'6" 5wt? 7'9" 5wt? Classic tapers? Makers? Should I sell the graphite and dive into bamboo full steam? Any rod will be paired with English made Battenkills. Thanks, Dave
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Alaric11		#1	[url]	[-]
Posts: 177 11/19/2009 17:07	There is a thread pinned here for "Advise for first time buyers" that you should consult. There is so much that is unknown as to casting style, etc., that to give advise on tapers would be nothing but a list of MY preferences, and not of any particular value. I can suggest two makers with excellent reputations and some rods in your price range: AJ Thramer and Art Weiler (google and check out their offerings). I'm sure they could consult with you about appropriate tapers etc.. You will probably want to try and test cast some tapers---their is a shop in PA http://www.thefeatheredhook.com/ with demos.
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Kaneman1		#2	[url]	[-]
Posts: 166 11/19/2009 17:39	Dave, I fish the same rivers and would recommend a 8', 5wt 3pc. if you decide to travel, 2pc. if you don't. Look for a used AJ Thramer rod right in your price range slightly more if he builds one for you. You might also take a look at rods built by Art Weiler he has a web site. Put the plastic in the closet and enjoy the BOO. Good Luck, Kaneman1
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mer		#3	[url]	[-]
Posts: 3299 11/19/2009 17:47	What model is the Winston Graphite? An older IM6? Just trying to get a feel for your preferred action. 8 foot 5 wt is a good starting point; Dickerson 8013 taper is one of the quintessential tapers in this range. There are both 2 and 3 piece Payne tapers in this range (can't think of the numbers offhand) that will be more fully flexing than the Dickerson. Garrison had a couple of models here also. See if there's anyone close by to let you try a few rods, I'm pretty sure we have a member or three in CT. Also, SuperBoo in Feb 2010: it'll be a hike, but you can cast rods to your hearts content, ask questions, meet some of the folks that post here. Just my opinions, as stated previously if one disagrees or thinks I'm FOS, then just ignore anything I have to say...
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leadwingcoachman		#4	[url]	[-]
Posts: 32 11/19/2009 18:51	I fish the Farmingtom with an 8 1/2 Phillipson Peerless, a 9 foot Granger Aristocrat and an 8 1/2 foot Orvis Battenkill, they all throw a 5 or 6 wt just fine and I think this is the best lenght for all around fishing there. Although there are a couple of pools and hatches that I think a shorter rod with a 4 wt would make for a nice day of technical dry fly fishing. Take the Monty out and get it wet... don't sell the Winston though keep it for the sentimental value and fish it every now and then.
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DrakeBob		#5	[url]	[-]
Posts: 1625 11/19/2009 19:18 Formerly Drake	Hi Dave, welcome to the passion. I'm also in Mass but I fish the Farmington and Housy as much, if not more, than any other rivers in the region and from my perspective you've got some great advice here. I agree with Leadwing about using your current rods and going with the longer lengths for a bit more versatility, especially at this stage of building your collection. It's been awhile since I've been to the Beaverkill (my home state) but I would imagine they'd work there too... I regularly fish both rivers with 8' to 9' rods from several different makers, both classic and modern. If you'd like to cast a few of my rods to get a feel for the tapers, just give me a yell. Good luck, Bob Piscator Non Solum Piscatur Last Edited By: DrakeBob 11/19/2009 19:20. Edited 1 time.
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Moucheur		#6	[url]	[-]
Posts: 49 11/19/2009 20:44	The advice about checking things out and casting lots of rods at one or another gathering of bamboo lovers is really good advice, but it's hard to follow if a bamboo "jones" is clenching your soul. Short of following that wise counsel to the fullest, it makes sense to hang out on the board and do some cross-checking between what you find for sale in the Classified section here (and/or bamboo offerings on the Voldemort of auction sites) and the opinions and views of contributors. Do some searches for specific makers and tapers and you'll begin to get a pretty good idea of who is doing quality work and the tapers that make sense to you. I made the transition to bamboo from graphite Winstons IM6s and Scott Gs and Sage LLs via Dickerson and F. E. Thomas tapers. I fish the Housatonic, the Farmington and the Catskills with a Chris McDowell variation on a Dickerson 8013 and a Dennis Stone 7 ½ foot, 3-piece five-weight that is a combination of a couple of tapers, including a Thomas. I fish the Housatonic and the Delaware with a R. W. Lancaster Bow River, a powerful 8-foot 5/6 weight that has a dry tip and a wet tip and is his variation on Paul H.Young's Para 15. The rods of all three of those makers are first-rate in terms of sheer quality of construction and fishability. The Lancaster rod is semi-parabolic and takes some getting used to. The others simply require slowing down your stroke. None of them costs more than $1000, though in a rational market, they would command a great deal more. Last Edited By: Moucheur 11/19/2009 21:39. Edited 1 time.
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TheMontyMan	Why not a Monty???...	#7	[url]	[-]
Posts: 286 11/20/2009 04:16	Dave, Follow my posts, and you'll find there's a Montague rod for every situation. Tell me which Monty model you're fixin' up, and I can tell you (honestly) how worthy it is, and what fishing conditions it's good for. Montague made some great rods in their heyday, and some of the cheapest too. I'm having a blast figuring out which is which, and I'm happy to share my experiences. In the Varney era, Montague produced dozens of high quality, beautiful rods that fish nicely and look great. The neat thing is that not many people can tell the difference. The main point I'm trying to make is that you don't have to spend $1,000 to have a great, well crafted, century old, bamboo fly rod. For $1,000 you could have 3 or 4 awesome Montague rods for different situations. I just watched a super high-end Monty go for $38 on eBay yesterday. It probably sold for over $40 in 1910, which would translate to over $800 value today. Contact me if you'd like help or more info. . . . Rex TheMontyMan
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kimk		#8	[url]	[-]
Posts: 699 11/20/2009 14:04	Lafarge, I sent you a PM. AgMD
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pvansch1		#9	[url]	[-]
Posts: 4907 11/22/2009 20:53 Moderator	Phillipson's in either 8' or 8.5' for a 5wt are fantastic rods for these rivers. I fish an 8' 3/2 Phillipson clone as my go to rod on the Farmington, paired with a Pflueger 1494 and a WF Peach line, can't go wrong. Pete
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Ben Kann		#10	[url]	[-]
Posts: 239 11/25/2009 02:13	pvansch1 wrote: Phillipson's in either 8' or 8.5' for a 5wt are fantastic rods for these rivers. I fish an 8' 3/2 Phillipson clone as my go to rod on the Farmington, paired with a Pflueger 1494 and a WF Peach line, can't go wrong. Actually, this is probably excellent advice for most streams in New York/New England -- and you can get both for less than the $$ you're thinking about (but I'd go with a DT instead of the WF). Last Edited By: Ben Kann 11/25/2009 02:15. Edited 1 time.
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cdmoore	Bravo, Moucheur!	#11	[url]	[-]
Posts: 3145 11/25/2009 15:48 Moderator	All the picks so far are good, but I think the best advice you got is to cast a bunch of rods. Park your bamboo nest egg and don't blow it over the holidays. Add to it whatever you can with a few skipped dinners out or whatever. This extra dough will give you more options if needed. Then, get your butt up to SuperBoo in Feb: http://clarksclassicflyrodforum.yuku.com/topic/29358 There will be a ton of rods to try out and then you'll have a better idea of what you really want. It should be a blast, too. And if you need to convince/reward the wife & kids, Freeport ain't far for some shopping. Just make sure it is not rod money they are spending! :-) Another option might be to hook up with some boardmembers here who aren't too far off from you. Chris "If you finish in 7 days, I'll pay you for 10. If you finish in 10 days, I'll pay you for 7." ~Ballykissangel
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Joel Anderson		#12	[url]	[-]
Posts: 142 11/26/2009 22:38	For the fishing you describe, I would strongly recommend a progressive 8 ft, #5, preferably hollow-built, as a first rod. A hollow-built Payne 102 would fit this bill nicely. A progressive taper will make the transition from graphite much smoother than a parabolic. While I'm a huge fan of the Para 15, it's not the rod I reach for for delicate dry fly presentations; it's more of a power stick. I'm also not a big fan of 3 pc rods because of added potential ferrules issues, unless it is a must for travel. Ferrules suck, plain and simple. Orvis Battenkills are fairly light, but they'll probably work okay on an 8 ft hollow-built rod. An earlier post suggesting a trip to Superboo in February should be heeded if possible. Although "dry-casting" a rod in a gym is not a one-for-one translation of how it will respond on the stream, it will certainly give you more of a clue what bamboo is all about. Last Edited By: Joel Anderson 11/26/2009 22:49. Edited 1 time.
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