Rod Care
Contrary to the myth that bamboo rods are fragile, they are not. Breakable, yes. Fragile, no. At least no more fragile that a graphite rod.
Most rods breaks are like hunting accidents in that a large portion of them happen at the tailgate of a pick-up. Doors eat rods. Any door. Any rod. Another thing that breaks rods are feet. Anytime a rod is paced flat on the ground, it is in danger of getting stepped on. A bamboo rod, being a solid shaft, will withstand being stepped on better than a hollow graphite rod. However, one should take great pains to keep all rods out from under clod-hoppers.
Never leave any assembled rod leaning against a wall or tree, etc. It will, over time, develop a set.
Never try to pull a snagged fly lose with a flexed rod. Any rod, bamboo or graphite. Point the rod directly at the snag and pull back on the line. I read a story wherein the late rod maker, Pinky Gillum, once saw a man to whom he had recently sold a rod to trying to yank a fly from a snag with the rod. Pinky reportedly waded over to the gentleman, took the rod from him, properly broke the fly off, reeled in the line, removed the man’s reel from the rod, reached in his wallet, refunded the man’s money and walked off.
GALLERY
THE SHOP
THE FISH
THE RODS