My granddad worked for the railroad here and had a great edge on most fly fishers. He could just jump on a train and they would stop anywhere along their route to let him off for a day of fishing. All he had to do was stand by the tracks again when he wanted to be picked up to go home. Pretty cool fly fishing.

Formerly anglers and rod makers could draw fine distinctions between male and female Calcutta and Tonkin ” canes,” but under present conditions good Calcutta is very rare and the word ” Calcutta ” is becoming merely a trade term. Good bamboo of all kinds is more difficult to obtain and a good piece of Tonkin is better than an indifferent one of Calcutta. Male Calcutta, however, is supposed to be superior to either the female or Tonkin. The cheapest split cane is known as steel vine or African cane. It is light colored and makes up into good, inexpensive bamboo fly fishing rods.

Six Strip and 8 Strip Bamboo Fly Fishing Rods

We assume that you know that bamboo is split and then glued together in order to utilize the hard outer enamel and reduce the diameter of the pieces. Some rods are made of bamboo split into six sections and some in eight (octagonal) but the six strip construction is more often used. Some makers claim that the eight strip, being more nearly a true cylinder, possesses better action but this seems to be more theoretical than practical, while the tiny tips of an eight strip rod are likely to be ” soft” due to the comparative amount of glue necessary to hold the pieces together. Eight strip rods cost more than the six strip and if the angler wants a round bamboo fly fishing rod they are preferable to the six strip planed down as planing certainly must injure a rod. As a general rule a well-made six strip rod leaves little to be desired.

Special Feature Bamboo Fly Fishing Rods

A novelty in bamboo fly fishing rod making is what is known as the ” double built ” rods which are made of two layers of split and glued bamboo, one within the other. They are heavier and strong, and it is claimed, hold their shape better, than ordinary rods and are popular for sea and salmon fishing but unnecessary, I believe, in single hand fly rods. An English innovation is the steel center rod which consists of a fine piece of well-tempered steel running as a core through sections of regular split bamboo. The makers claim this construction gives a rod of superior casting power with only of an ounce added weight. Friends who possess rods of this kind are enthusiastic admirers of this construction for heavy fishing.

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Fly fishing rods come in a variety of materials including bamboo, fiberglass and graphite. With fly fishing becoming an increasingly popular pastime it is no wonder that the manufactures of these rods are constantly looking to improve them as those that participate in fly fishing are continuously on the look out for the latest and best fishing rods available.

For those that are just beginning to delve into the world of fly fishing the vast selection of fly rods can be overwhelming as they try to determine the best fly rod for them. The beginner should start with a low priced fishing rod to allow them the opportunity to discover if fly fishing is really for them while those that compete can go a little more expensive while seeking the perfect rods to get the job done. The lower priced fly rods range anywhere from forty to eight dollars in cost.

Those that have been fly fishing for a long time will usually favor bamboo fly rods readily singing their praises. Bamboo rods have advanced to the point that the center is solid having strips of bamboo clued together to fit the outside of them. Amazingly strong bamboo rods are the most expensive fly rod on the market. This is not one a beginner would wish to have due to the cost alone, this rod comes after you have decided the passion you have for fly fishing is unmatched by any other activity in your life.

Then there is the choice between graphite fly rods and fiberglass fly rods. The graphite fly fishing rods are made from graphite materials. These rods tend to be a little on the stiff side and rather strong. The quality of the graphite fly rods that you choose will determine its strength. Most fly fisherman prefer the graphite rods to the fiberglass rods since they are more sensitive and stronger than the fiberglass rods are.

Since the graphite fly rods are stronger giving the fly fisherman added support it is a good choice for the beginner. If you ask an experienced fly fisherman they will gladly give pointers on deciding which of the fly rods available are best suited for your use dependent upon your skill level.

For those who are experienced fisherman and those who are just begninning to show intersest in the sport, fiberglass fly fishing rods come in a wide variety of strong flexible material. The fiberglass fly fishing rods are durable but heavier than other rods so even with their flexibility the weight is a turn off for a lot of fly fishermen.

A few things should be considered when deciding which fly fishing rod to buy.