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Author: matt2257 | Total views: 112 Comments: 0
Word Count: 704 Date: Thu, 5 Feb 2009 7:43 PM

Bamboo Fly Rods For The Serious Fisherman

Before you understand fly rods, you will need to have an understanding of fly-fishing. Fly-fishing is done by waving the rod back and forth smoothly through the air and then letting the line out at just the right moment for gravity and force to cast it out into the water at the perfect spot. Bamboo fly rods must be flexible, lightweight, and have a sensitive touch-this is what they make them perfect.

Bamboo rods have been around for almost as long as fishing has been around. If you do an online search you can find not only information about bamboo fly rods, but how to care for them, how to make them, where to buy them, and you can even find antique rods for sale-some that were made before the first World War. The antique rods are not usually for use, but they would be a treasured part of any serious fly-fisherman's collection.

Most fly fishermen take the sport very seriously. Going beyond the fact that it is a way to catch fish and also to enjoy the outdoors, fly fishermen think of what they do as an art, and rightly so. Fly fishing is much more involved than regular fishing, and it takes practice and dedication to learn the intricacies of the sport. Most fly fishermen will tell you, however, that it is definitely worth it.

When learning how to fly fish, or if you have already been doing it for a while, having the right fly fishing rod is essential. There are several types of fly fishing rods on the market, and which one you choose to use is a matter of personal preference, your fly fishing style, and what you are most comfortable with.

The most popular and traditional fly rods are made from bamboo. History is a little dodgy on when the first one was made, but the early 1800s seems to be the time range generally agreed upon. Of course, it was once generally agreed that the Earth was flat and we know how that one turned out.

Bamboo is considered a good choice because it contains both the stiffness and strength required for consistent action given the length of the rod. Tonkin bamboo, originally found in China of all places, is considered the superior form of bamboo for rods. The specific species has a high fiber count, which gives it superior performance as a rod and adds to the life of the rod if maintained correctly.

Originally, fly fishing rods were simply made from bamboo and split cane. But before bamboo was discovered for fly fishing, it was the tropical wood called greenheart which can be found in the province of Guangdong in China that was commonly used as the material for rods in fly fishing. Bamboo-made rods for fishing have retained its popularity despite the growing number of fiberglass and graphite-made rods. The reason behind this could very well fall on the grace and durability of bamboo materials. Bamboo or split cane rods are well known for their fine form, solid mass, strength and of course the grace it offers for fly fishers.

Another reason why bamboo-made rods are still being used today is because the process of selecting, crafting and finishing one rod takes a long time and the quality it gives is unquestionable. For advanced fly fishers, bamboo rods are often chosen over the ones made out of fiberglass or graphite because the time consumed and dedication that a rod maker gives is already a statement of quality and assurance.

But selecting bamboo rods is also expensive. Quality rods can cost much up to US$2,000. Rods made by contemporary builders make a tough competition as well against the expert makers of split cane rods because a finished product can cost nearly as much as the quality rods.

When it comes to casting, bamboo rods give a different effect. For people fascinated by fly fishing for leisure gets to experience a soft or slow style of casting whereas for people who indulge in this hobby competitively, a bamboo rod gives great performance in freshwater fishing situations.