James Jones - bamboo fly rod maker

rod catalogue

The process and method of making, building and repairing bamboofly rods is time honoured - whether making a new rod from scratch, or working out how to make practical adjustments to a vintage bamboo fly rod to make it 'sing'.

The maker begins with a reed, a stick of bamboo, splitting it longitudinally and then meticulously planing the strips into fine tapers to create a finely tuned instrument.

In the continuum of elevating the gentle art of fly fishing, acknowledgement is made to all bamboo fly rod makers who apply astonishing skill and applied knowledge. All contemporary fly rods, whether fibreglass, graphite or boron, owe their lineage to bamboo as the seminal type and material.

Each rod in the catalogue below has its own story in terms of its provenance, whether made from scratch, built on pre-made blanks, restored, or recycled for longevity. Rod making, building methods & processes employed on selected rods are illustrated as case studies further within this web site.

James Jones 2025

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new rods

The new rods catalogued are made from well seasoned Tonkin bamboo culms. The bamboo is flamed or oven tempered and hand-split, straightened with nodes filed, then planed by hand on Wagner planing forms. All blanks are hexagonal split-bamboo, with splines glued with West System epoxy and finished with Birchwood Casey Tru-Oil.

Note : rods built on pre-made blanks are noted with their provenance - (where applicable)

' JJ Banty No.5 5'3" 2/1 #5/6 recycled blanks ( for L.E.) 2024

conserved rods

To revalue something considered redundant, old, useless or outdated challenges the throw away, fast, overtly screen-based culture of our time. Split-cane fishing rods have already outlasted their younger fibreglass and graphite cousins, which are just as difficult to repair once broken and very hard to re-surface once the blanks start to decay.

The rods restored or conserved (below) owe homage to their original makers - whether repaired, restored or recycled. The vintage rods illustrated are intended to be used, foremost for fly fishing - not reduced to wall hangers or elevated as museum pieces - unless of course there is a compelling reason to do so.

Sharpes of Aberdeen Scottie 88 fly ~ 8''8" 2/1 #6 - tip top replacement

Sharpes Scotia spin ~ 7'' 2/1 - tip top replacement

Hardy (Rory's) Wanless spin ~ 7' 2/1 6lb - restoration, full rebuild

Jarvis Walker Perfect Balance spin ~ 7' 2/1 - full rod rebuild, new silk wraps

J M Turville The Rex fly ~ 8'9" 2/1 #4-5 - new reel seat, invisible repair wrap, matching silk wraps

Paul Young Midge fly ~ 6'3" 2/1 #3 - new silk wraps, hook keeper, winding check

Allcocks of Redditch The Sapper fly ~ 9' 3/1 #6

c1930's William Southam The John Rollo fly ~ 7'6" 3/2 #5 - 3oz

Hardy The Itchen ~ 9' 3/1 #6 - restoration

The Phoenix" fly~ 9' 2/1 #6 - refurbishment

Hardy 'Tarantino " fly~ 7' 2/1 #5 - replacement wraps ferrule & tip top

Sharpes of Aberdeen 1961 'The Scottie " fly~ 9' 2/1 #6-7 - new Elephant brand silk wraps

Pezon et Michelle 9’ 2/2 #7 Parabolic Speciale Competition - restoration - full re-wrapping with matching silk

Vintage G Little 11' 8/4 'Portmanteau', 8-piece (4 tips) greenheart & bamboo fly rod ~ restoration, spliced joints, new ferrules

Southam Special Monty 9' 3/2 bamboo fly rod ~ restoration

c 1953 Southam Tournament Casting Rod 9' 1/0~ full restoration

c1961 Hardy Palakona JJH Triumph 8' 9" 2/1 ~ repair & refurbishment

Hardy “Gold Medal” 10’ 3/2 vintage bamboo fly rod. (FvR)inscription restoration, guide wraps

Hardy “Fairy” 9’ 3/2 (FvR) - inscription restoration

FvR Dickerson “7613” 7'6" 2/1 bamboo fly rod. (guide & ferrule re-wrapped for FvR)

Tony Dell Lakes Rod 8' 2/1 #6 - staggered ferrule (rebuilt from a 9' 2/1 #7/8 for MB)