rod commissions
James currently makes and repairs bamboo fly rods from his studio workshop in Tasmania. If you would like to discuss a potential rod commission, pricing, or simply want a cherished bamboo fly rod repaired or restored, use the email link below to make initial contact.
Where indicated, new rod tapers are drawn from highly regarded bamboo fly rod makers including Lyle Dickerson, Paul Young, Wes Jordan, Tom Maxwell and Jim Payne.
The new rods are hand made from select-grade Tonkin bamboo culms. The bamboo is hand flamed or oven tempered and hand-split, straightened with nodes dressed, then planed on Wagner planing forms.
All blanks are hexagonal split-bamboo, with splines glued with West System epoxy and finished with Birchwood Casey Tru-Oil. Rod guides, ferrules, reel seat components and rod bags are of the highest quality.
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rod types currently available
The following rods are designed and tuned to Australian fresh-water fly fishing conditions. Prototypes of each rod are on hand for test casting where practical.
Lake Rod 8' 2-piece ~ #6/7 weight
The Dickerson 8014G taper is a smooth, powerful, classic fly rod - instantly familiar and easy to cast. At 8' in length it can throw a 7-weight line with ease and is a truly great all-around rod. This rod taper is a reproduction of one of the all-time master rod makers, Lyle Dickerson. This is a no-nonsense fly rod for fishing on lakes where bigger fish and wind are encountered and longer casts are required. Tested with a Scientific Angler XXD WFF#7 with a 12' tapered leader, the 8014G is eminently capable of landing a dry fly, at distance, onto a rising trout or fishing wet flies and sinking lines.
Essential River Rod ~ 7'6" 2 or 3-piece ~ #5/6 weight
The JJ 'Essential' is a ‘go-to’ designed as a staple fly rod, being a light-weight 4 ounces (with cap & ring seat) - good for all-day fly fishing and a versatile length, in a two or three-piece configuration. The JJ Essential rod is based on a T & T hybrid taper and flexes right down to the cork grip, is easy to cast and has plenty of reserve power. Ideal length and weight for LDL dry fly casting. Offered with a heavier second tip for wet fly fishing, the JJ Essential is a good all-round bamboo fly rod.
Stream Rod 7'6" 2-piece ~ #4 weight
This rod's taper is drawn from an all-time classic called the Perfectionist, develped by Paul Young, one of the greatest American bamboo fly rod makers of all time. The Perfectionist is eminently suited to delicate casting the smallest patterns to midging fish, or hunting elusive trout on small Black Spinners or Mayflies. The rod length and weight is well suited for LDL dry fly casting with 22' leaders.
Creek Rod 6'6" 2-piece ~ #3 weight
A classic Payne 96 taper, this rod is light-weight fly rod for delicate dry fly fishing on smaller streams or overgrown creeks. Ideally suited to a Yamame S.A. Japanese fly line, the Payne 96 produces a sweet accurate cast when throwing spinners and small grasshopper patterns. Eminently suited to side casting under overhanging bushes, fishing mountain creeks will become a joy with this fly rod.
Pack Rod 6'6" 3-piece ~ #5/6 weight
A pack rod designed specifically for hiking, yet equally suited to hopper fishing on lowland streams or dinghy fishing on highland lakes - inspired by the Orvis Rocky Mountain classic bamboo fly rod from the 1960’s. This is a light-weight yet tough little fly rod that can handle larger fish and is equally capable of meeting conditions where punching a low cast into the wind is required.
Travel Rod 8' 4-piece ~ #6/7 weight
A versatile rod designed specifically for travelling, traversing rivers and fishing on highland lakes - inspired by the Orvis Appalachian (or 'Traveler') from the 1960’s. This is a versatile fly rod for portage or hiking, where shorter rod sections make life a little easier. Weighing 4.75 ounces (due to three sets of truncated ferrules), the action is slow, yet the rod has plenty of reserve power when a longer cast is needed or when windy conditions are encountered.
