tales of a wandering monk

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wandering monks fly of the month              wm special edition rods

       I work in my shop every day either making rods, nets or some other items I put together. I have been a furniture and cabinet maker for over 40 years, almost as long as I have been fly fishing , tying my own flies and making my own gear…I personally feel having to spend a small fortune on a bamboo fly rod immediately rules out & precludes way too many people that are interested in also enjoying this “purist form” of angling…I am trying to offer not only an excellently functioning fishing tool…but also a work of art for a reasonable cost.

This is my newest addition to my rods…a new reel seat , the “Lemke” model…made here in the good ‘ole US of A. I use the uplocking style mostly, but can get it in a downlocking version too…the insert is equally special for me using some ancient “Osage Orange” , (Maclura Pomifera)  from my old archery shop over 25 years ago…from wood I harvested, cut and dried…and used in my long bows years ago…famous for its irridescence and golden amber color.

 …the “Osage Orange ” butt cap on my special edition series…

               If I can keep the prices somewhat reasonable, possibly more can become acquainted with the “magic” of bamboo, and I can keep busy doing something I love to do so much…There is a  substantial amount of “hand work” involved in the process’s I use to make these finishes…that said, I have tried to make  my pricing reflective of my philosophy…being as reasonable as possible…these aren’t only fishing units…but also my own personal works of art…

…The “Pocket Water Sedge”, a 100% organic tie

         This is not a “hobby” for me, but a way I have chosen to make a living… having worked as a cabinet maker, draftsman, carpenter, designer  for over 40 years. I have also worked as an artist working in various mediums, oil’s, acrylic’s , sculpture and photography.I have blended in those years of experience and a desire for precision into making these Bamboo fly rods & custom nets .

  …the 6-7 foot rods in 2-4 weight seem to do the best job pitching dry flys in slow to still waters…here is my 4wt  7  footer with a size 16 adult May Fly “spinner” pattern I came up with…

         After a few years working as a fly fishing guide in Colorado I decided to take a turn in my career in this direction…and devote myself to this full time and not only making “one off’s” for myself or friends, but along with the bamboo rods,  produce  nets my other accessories as well …I am currently working on a line of artwork reflective of the of rods and nets in a “Native American” theme. Framed Gyotaku prints, Photos of some special places & fish species .. even some t’ shirts with some of my art on them and embroidered caps too…these will be available later this year…

           Here is a recently completed “Native Angler”, the one piece 2wt…with a con-caved sinew winding check on a full wells style cork grip…I also make this series in a “special edition” that uses “Osage Orange”, a beautiful Native American wood for the reel seat insert…The Special Edition  model also uses amber agate/soldered nickel silver stripping guides…and osage/antler butt cap and winding check accent’s.

      Here is an alternate winding check I make…I use this style on full wells grips…this is on the 1 piece 6 foot, 2wt “Native Angler” model…concaved sinew coated with epoxy resin…the cork has an coat of protection on it, an area that many times gets worn out over years of use…the beauty of the hand wrapped sinew comes through nicely…I also use this style on my spey models…I like it on the 1 piece since its such a “purist” style rod…fishing a lightweight 1 piece is akin to peacefully swimming in the water with  trout, a very “up close and personal” experience… truly fun …not much between you and the fly, very responsive and intimatate … and a good test of your precision, accuracy and casting finesse !…the 2 wt rods can be very sensitive presenting small drys …and a blast to land smaller trout or even  panfish..

…”The Trilogy”…this months fly of the month… displayed on a 2″ fighting butt…

    Its pretty obvious even with only a casual glance that the style I approach making my rods & nets in is very different than the other really nice custom rods made from bamboo available…My rods, and my nets for that fact & even the way I tie my flies  is a direct representation of my own personal art. My goal has been, and is to make a rod ,that is very much fun and productive to fish, and also be something that is unique for those that share my artistic style & approch to angling…something that even when its not near the water gives some enjoyment to the owner.

                  …my “bee hive”  winding check, crafted from sinew, carved antler & resin…I use this style on my reverse wells grips, on the longer three piece rod trout rods over 5 weight I also off a short “fighting butt” with a rubber/cork  cap or removable rubber or cork boot.

                I put multiple coating’s of finish , from hand rubbed oil to spar poly to ensure complete protection in adverse weather . The Marine epoxy I use is made to withstand abusive conditions…

         The names of the rods series , and their Native American connection actually go back to the days of  my old traditional archery business from a few decades ago, where I made long bows and recurves from Black Locust, Osage Orange and other native woods…. I have always had a relationaship and deep respect with Native American Culture …I have several very close friends that are very entrenched in that way of life, Apache, Lakota Sioux and other tribes as well. One of my best friends and angling partners is Apache…and is always helping me to understand the philosophy & nuances of their culture.

         After a few years of only making bows for customers I started selling the laminations required to make traditional bows to other “bowyers” throughout North America… I gave that up after several years .I have been just pursuing a career as a cabinet maker and carpenter, fly fishing as usual for my own pleasure and doing some guiding as well. I  started making these rods & nets a few years ago, after starting out with some repairs and refurbishing of bamboo rods for clients, and then eventually learning the entire process .

         The antler accents I carve for the rods come from Mule Deer & Elk harvests over the years…there is lots of intricate work involved, with the end result being truly unique…

        Always making my own gear for myself and friends… As in the earlier days of making bows, I have always used materials like sinew & antler in for accents and adornment on my gear out of respect and an attempt to make a closer connection with the land and creatures I love so much …

    You will see right off  that I take this all pretty serious…and all of this is truly a “Labor of Love “ for me…I appreciate you checking out my rods, nets & other items…. There are many places to get your angling gear, especially bamboo fly rods,  I am very grateful for you are giving me an oppurtunity to show you mine…wm

…here is my current price list for finished trout rods…revised 4-10-13…

…all rods & ferruled blanks come with an extra matched tip section at no extra charge…

…all rods come with a custom made heavy weight tan sock, made especially for my rods…

 …”DreamCatcher” series…  dry fly rods…
2 piece bamboo rods …6 -7′……2-5wt ………………$850.00

 ”Native Angler  series”… piece bamboo rod 5’6″-6′,  2-3wt ……$625.00

3 piece bamboo rods…9-10′ ..6-8 wt..$1000.00

 

..all rods come with a one year warranty on all materials and workmanship…

…repairs after one year are done at 35$ per hour…

 

…since I “turn” all the cork grips on  my rods, I can make any pattern almost any length…

…my favorite is the “half wells” style with my special parabolic “bee hive” winding check of sinew and antler…

…I also turn the “full wells style”,and do a concave sinew check on those…

…fighting butts are also vailable on the longer three piece 8-9′ rods…

 

 …click here to see terms of sales and shipping…

 

…scroll down for more details and a few dozen full size pics  of my rods and other items…

 

         Here are some bamboo rods I make…I make them all myself in my shop, from materials that either handcrafted by myself or select others…some blanks are ”split and planed” by myself and some are made by another source for me to my specifications.

 

        All  bamboo blanks are  hand split from bamboo sections, planed to size by hand, heat tempered in  kiln twice, before splitting and while curing at the glueing process, sanded  to high tolerances with close scrutiny measuring in both taper and general workmanship…all are hand scraped with a razor for a final check of taper measurementswith a micrometer before installing grips,  guides & finish . My goal is to deliver a rod of excellence in both performance and beauty…I have a list of tapers I use , most are patterned after older rods from as long as 120 years ago…also some hybrids and variants I made up myself. I use four basic tapers…one that is  suitable for fishing situtions where the softer tip action and stiffer mid section…ie , fishing wet flies “stack mending” etc, also more moderate even flexing action good for dropper rigs or drys…and one that is an “in betweener” of those two…for general fishing of drys and wets…and a longer three piece rod that is made for fishing bigger streamers or dropper rigs…capable of longer casts with even larger patterns.

 

         A rods “taper” is a term used to describe the transition of thickness in a bamboo rod blank in its length. The typical 4/5 weight rod has a butt of about  3/8″ (. 375″)and tapers at the tip top to a little over 3/32″” (.095)…the variations of this metric are the reason a rod bends differently…tips that flex more are considered soft…mid sections that are stiffer have greater lift, and a rod that has a very evenly balanced taper full length is considered a full flexing style…this is of course a very basic explanation of a very detailed and involved process…but gives an idea of what is involved. The main concept is this…the ratio or change of the rods diameter, and the amount of distaance it changes in. Numbers of ferrules, density of bamboo fibers, quality of glue joints and accuracy of measurements and rate of decrease in diameter as you move to the tip….are all determining factors in creating a blank, and how it will perform …

 

        Bamboo is a natural material…the product of the Earth, Sunshine , Water and of course photosynthesis…it is copied by manmade materials that use a matrix of streands of fiberglass or graphite, and epoxys to join them together in a bond…The “Magic of Bamboo” is the way that nature does this in one very special step…something no level of teccchnology can compare with.

 

 

 

 here is my “trout fisher” & a 6 ft 4 wt…

               

 

 

       The typical bamboo blank has between 12-15 “check points” between the winding check to the tip top…and also at each point where a ferruled connection is, translating into 45-60 spots for measurements to be checked to maintain the taper accurately. Deviations from all the measurements at any given cross section can ultimately have a serious effect on a rods performance…The goal is to keep measurements accurate under  .005″ variation, and flow evenly from one point to another…

 

…hex cross sections & taper are measured every 5″ for accuracy within  .003-.005″ constistency prior to finishing…

 

          Some of the rods on tapers came about initially by accident, but turned out to perform very well for a given task…by “feathering” out different rod tip  sections of the rod more and less gradually, various qualities can be achieved…for example, having a taper that follows completely to the winding check can make a big difference in action and subtleness…”a full flexing” rod is my goal…making it a good caster , and also responsive while retrieving a fish, especially larger ones…the softer tip versionwith a bit more backbone is helpful where a bit more lifting is necessary , like in stack mending wets or nymphs….

 

              My trout rods come in both two and three piece versions ,from shorter dry fly rods to 9′ three piecers for “high sticking”, generally for nymphing and casting longer distances, and larger trout…I also make one model, “The Native Angler” series that is a 2-3 weight 1 piece, it has the “purist” angler that pursues smaller native brookies and cuts in small water situations in mind…The longer rods are also more suitable for fishing in areas where larger trout live…where a longer rod can work in concert with a reel’s drag to help and land larger quarry…Bamboo is to many times considered for fishing smaller fish…and that is just not true or at all accurate…there is no river trout or salmon that cant be landed with a bamboo rod and a competent angler…

The rods are  good performers , proven in realistic conditions with the idea of long time ownership in mind…with the goal to be excellent in ability to cast in general,  landing fish, mend with ease ,affordable  and just  plain fun to own…

My own recomendation is keeping rods under 5 weight to 7- 7&1/2 feet long…weights 5 and over do better in 8 foot and longer…its just a guideline, that I have come to use over the years. There are some 8 foot rods in 3-4 weight, but require h a higher level of skill to fiah properly…sometimes getting a bad rap as “noodle’s” etc…in reality its only because the moment of hesitation required in casting bamboo gets even more subtle the longer and lighter a rod gets…A Newcomer to fishing Bamboo would do well with a 7′ 4-5 wt. for starters…then go longer and shorter after mastering that size and weight.

                  …one of my “organic” patterns using buffalo wool from the ranch I used to run…and a little rooster hackle offered up by a later to become Sunday Supper…

           My bamboo rods aren’t from the traditional pattern made by most, but reflect my own personal style of angling and art…in lieu of the more traditional silk threads and wraps…I use sinew along with Elk & Mule Deer antler accents to finish off my wraps, winding checks and grips on all my rods…

I hand select every cork ring and place them for maximum contrast…avoiding the rings that are plain or have very little figuring…I dont like the grips that are almost synthetic in their appearance, looking like a man made material used to cap wine bottles…I rather like the natural appearance of cork…and all its special little markings and pores…My first “Orvis Madison” had cork on it like I am talking about…showing off the natural beauty…not so light colored or almost “plastic” like…hand selecting every cork ring I glue up, and custom turning every  grip is an essential aspect of my rods…

            I make bamboo rods in various sizes, from  3 weight dry fly rods for trout to heavier two handed 7-10 wt. switch and spey rods …all have my signature sinew wraps and elk antler accents…These rods are finished in a style patterend after arftifacts and tools used by Native Americans in times past…some items I originally saw years ago at a local native “pow wow”, where many artisans showed their wares, knives from obsidian, tomahawks & other implements…Also I used this pattern as I said previously in my old Traditional Archery business over twenty ywears ago…

            I was  immediately enamored with the craft and ingenuity of those objects I saw made by Native Americans. I was inspired, and with some additions of my own, what came about were these… sort of my own “Rocky Mountain Way”  , taking my bamboo rods into a different direction artistically…

These are some accents I carve myself are made from either my ranch or hunting harvests …I offer them as an option …they involves some tedious work, but resulting in something pretty special, made from a very  unique & natural material…there are few things as strong or beautiful as carved antler or horn..I braid sinew in a spiral wrap to complete the crest…something that is reminescent of the markings on a arrow from long ago…I seal them with some two part epoxy to protect them from water and sunshine…the same epoxy also makes for some beautiful prismatic effects too…depending on where the sun is and at what angle the rod is held…

            I also have a line of reels I use with my bamboo rods…in sizes from 3 weight to 10…these are machined aluminum w/ various finishes…above is a bead blasted and polished one I use a lot…it has an “old school” look that compliments the bamboo rods with my style accents well…I also have them in silver or “smoke”  anodized finished…there is a page devoted to them…

   Here is “sedge”or caddis imitation using Mule Deer and mallard …”The PocketWater Sedge”…bamboo fishes pocket waters well…even with larger patterns like this…the ability to manipulate and place a larger fly in close quarters…the drift in a pocket water can be relatively short compared to other places…so accuracy and finesse in a short pitch is imperative…

    …Personalized script of your name or favorite stream are all easliy incorporated into any rod I make…

 …The “Amber Caddis” , my “go to” pattern for super  ”finnicky” trout and still water…

              I offer as an option the antler ring accents above on all my rods…I carve these from Elk and Mule Deer antler by hand, and add a spiral braid of sinew to complete the “crest”…very similar to the design I have put on traditional archery arrows for decades…I have rods with and without…on all my rods I use the same sinew for the wraps , and Elk antler ring for the winding check’s …

…there is nothing more fun than pitching dry flys with my shorter bamboo rods in 3-4 wt. …

           The shorter 3-4 wts are incredible for presenting dry flys…there is so much missed in the feeling of the cast with the super fast action rods used by may these days…bamboo by virtue of its intrinsic energy and natural design can take the pleasure found in casting to a whole new level…there are few things more beautiful to watch than an accomplished angler pitching a fly with a Bamboo rod!

       The longer models have a functional and stylish attribute that cannot be found in composite materials for all around trout pursuits…I have used many make rods over the years fly fishing , and bamboo are the best for my style…ultra finesse, and smooth balanced action, yet extremely strong and durable…and of course having an elegance, charm & beauty all their own.         

       The sinew wraps under the epoxy coating have a prismatic & magnifying effect…very similar to a prehistoric insect trapped in a piece of real “amber”, locking the handiwork  into that matrix forever…showing the handiwork of the wrap and natural characteristics of  the sinew , being imperfect in its own way… the twists made by hand are visible in a special way highlighting the variations of shade and color found in the sinew…adding a very prominent appeal…having a special beauty all its own…   

         I love fishing  wets & drys w/ my 8 footer in 5 wt. , I can land small to extremely large trout with this… 3-5 lb 24er’s + are no problem at all …

…from here down on the main page is devoted to some more detailed photo’s of my bamboo rods…

              When deciding to make my own rods the main focus was of course to make ones that cast smoothly, with a  balanced  action, that wasnt just conductive in a technical way, but also with a “natural” feel … Bamboo can meet all these needs in a very special way…It does more of the work, storing energy in it by means of its incredible design…longitudial fibers that are magically connected to the outer fiber wall, being individual and a part of the whole simultaneously…something science and the “high tech ” can only imitate… they use the fibers of composite strands and epoxies to form the matrix, Bamboo does it by means of the Sun, Water, Soil and photosynthesis…and of course its intrinsic DNA that has the  code deep inside…to me its pretty obvious which is closer to the earth…and is probably the best reson I chose to use it for angling.

            For me, another equally important goal was to create something that flowed with its environment , and reflected my own personal philosophy and complimented the natural material that I was using for the rod itself…I feel I achieved that goal when I made the decision to break away from the traditional approach and style that usually accompanies the making of bamboo rods…I am not trying to copy anything from another era, but create a basic and “organic” pattern, and just let my instincts and my art take its course…

         I recently saw an old ad from the 40′s that was about fly fishing and products available…man have things changed…and I’m not so sure for the better…its seeng ad’s which  like that inspired me, that we dont always have to be like the “status quo” dictates…and I am quite sure this is a real big part of why I am doing things the way I do.

         … teak reel seat insert,with sinew & epoxy  reinforced cork grips makes for a very special effect…not only beautiful…but exremely durable in an area that can get a lot of wear and tear…I have re-gripped many rods for folks because this spot began to come apart…not with the treatment I came up with to help prolong the lifespan of the grip. At the winding check I do something similar to not only be attractive, but also functional to help promote longevity in the workmanship.

              Every rod is basically a “one off” , each with its own personal character …by virtue of the materials used,  extensive handwork in the accents, and of course the intrinsic beauty of bamboo…the sinew wraps adds  incredible strength, providing an interesting matrix of epoxy and this traditional material … making for a special beauty, with a prismatic effect under sunlight…the hand carved antler accent rings add a special dimension too…connecting the actual rod for fishing, with a world of aware of its surroundings…

…below are some more detail pics from my rods…if you have any questions feel free to contact me…

 Colorado Summer…when the run off ends, the grasse’s are growing, and the fishing is awesome…

          The handwork is remeniscent of a “shamans” or “medicine mans” staff or a special Native American  object  for ceremony…the teak insert on the reel seats of my trout rods provides not only a super water and rot resistant  wood, but also having a color that matches the other ingredients perfectly… the end result is a rod that is very unique in appearance…and one that will bring time angling to a new level for someone that appreciates such things…

 … the combination of sinew wraps with epoxy coating makes a prismatic effect in sunlight…

                     The series names are from all my rods I make come from Native American culture & tradition…the use of a “Talisman ” for good luck was something a special value to their hunter/gatherer culture…placing something from a previous harvest, added a sign of respect for their quarry…and was meant to bring them luck and success, by honoring the spirits of those creatures that adorned their gear…

                  The colors created by the matrix of sinew and the protective epoxy are perfect…with a prismatic effect apparent when sunlight hits them together… the amber hue also being a balanced match with the natural colors of bamboo, cork and the teak wood inserts… the ivory color of the antler accents makes for a pretty special combination, having small flecks of gray, black and brown highlights of the bone and marrow from antlers…making these rod’s not only something to enjoy fishing, but also from an aesthetic point of view, having a deep connection with the environment they come from…someting I very much bear witness to as well…

            The “Tailwater Caddis”…a dark version of a mature sedge…Mule Deer fur has the perfect  dark grey & black colors  to match the caddis hatch in places like Clear Creek…by virtue of the “hollow” construction of deer fur it makes a perfect material for dry flys…

             All my rods have an oil finish that is rubbed in by hand  several coats…this provides a deep finish, that permeates the bamboo…I persist at rubbing successive coats until the  bamboo  is permeated as much as it will allow…

           Atop the oil finish I apply two coats of a spar poly that is also rubbed in by hand…leaving the rod with an exterior that can withstand weather and sunlight…only normal care is required after use to make for a long time possesion…all that is really required when fishing in et weather is to dry off the rod and make sure its completely dry before storing away for extended periods in a tube…

…antler reel seat caps are a very nice compliment for the Tich(gunsmoke) finish reel  seat and teak wood inserts…

…the colors of the sinew check on the rear of the cork grip and the teak reel seat insert are a perfect match, not only for appearance, but also verydurable materials as well…

…sunshine makes the colors of the sinew, resin & teak come alive…

                      …I use extra large tip-tops to allow for leader attachments to easily glide through…especially helpful when using the longer leaders typical with dry flys or dropper rigs…if you look closely here you can see the individual wraps of the sinew clearly…

               …on all my shorter trout models I use precision machined nickel/silver ferrules…on the longer models I use chrome plated brass for compensation for extra bending that can take place…

           The effect of the sinew & resin appears similar in many ways to ancient “amber” , the by product of prehistoric resins from coniferous trees put under millions of years of pressure…except in the case of the sinew and resin matrix here, in a similar way of gazing at objects from ong ago hidden in that special substance, you see the handiwork and “natural” look of the sinew under the primatic coating of the epoxy shell. The sinew I use for all my wraps is much stronger than standard silk & nylon  threads, and when coupled with the flexible  marine epoxy, make for a construction that will easily last a lifetime…

…just a slight flick of the wrist and the wraps can take on a very different prismatic appearance…

 …every rod piece is serial numbered as a part of the set…this rod was completed on July 7th 2012 …

…sunset sparkle…

  …an old gaelic proverb….

 

I make special presentation cases from various wood’s for a special way to store your rod…click here for details 

…The” Grade I” presentation cases…

are made of select White Pine, with leather closure straps, custom cradles made for each rod individually…and have foam pads installed for secure storage or transportation…

 …all the cradles are covered with Elk leather for a non rubbing hold and fit…