Stonefly
Bamboo, Fiberglass & Graphite Fly Rods
Meticulously Hand-Crafted for Maximum Performance & Aesthetics
Bamboo Fly Rod FAQ
- Why should I use a bamboo rod?
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Bamboo rods are quite different than graphite rods. The blank is made from strips of a natural fiber that are glued together to make a blank instead of a resin/scrim that is wound over a mandril and baked. The feel is different; neither is better. An analogy is telemark skiing versus downhill skiing.
- Are bamboo rods hard to cast?
- No. In fact they are easy to cast, but you sacrifice both distance and accuracy compared to casting with graphite.
- Are bamboo rods fragile?
- No. If they were fishers would have stopped using them long ago. Properly used and maintained, they are tough and will last for years.
- Why are they so expensive?
- Unlike graphite blanks that are made in batches, each bamboo blank is individually made. It is a long process -- 50 to 75 hours -- with much of the work done by hand.
- Do you actually spend that long on each blank?
- Although I have done so in the past, I do not make blanks any more. I rely on a few very talented people to make the blanks that are up to my standards.
- Do you put more work into a bamboo rod than a graphite rod?
- No. I build every rod as carefully as possible, regardless of the material used.
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