6lb Rainbow trout caught at Lake Leake 2021 on a Sharpes 7' #5 2/1 C1960's bamboo fly rod (pictured)
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JJ Banty No 1 ~ 6'" 2/2 #5 new
"My split cane JJ Banty fly rod has now had a couple of outings on tight, overgrown creeks in the Otway Ranges , South Western Victoria. The rod is small and light but plenty powerful enough to deliver a fly accurately into a tight spot, with minimal backcasting. Carefully crafted, the JJ Banty six footer is a beautiful, purposeful and seriously fun little fly rod." R.G. Australia 2021
PW Young '"Midge' 6'3" 2/1 #3 repair
James has been a pleasure to deal with on the refurbishment of my rod. He was as meticulous in planning the work as in carrying it out to his very high standard. I look forward to future work from him and warmly recommend him to anyone who needs a rod repaired or rebuilt." F.v.R. Australia 2021
JJ Banty No 2 ~ 6'" 2/1 #5 new
" I'm on Little River near Taggerty, Victoria, the sun is out on a warm morning, the rusty duns are hatching. Success with the JJ Banty - I just needed a while to “slow down” the casting speed and find that it’s a very easy rod to cast - particularly the 6 foot length makes the side cast really simple. This bamboo rod has a lovely action." S.P. Australia 2021-22
'The Phoenix" 9' 2/1 #6 repair
What a journey: from glued up, string-wrapped cane blanks bought 40 or so years ago in a Sydney tackle shop, fitting ferrules, guides, grip, reel seat to create a rod, but then 30+ years suspended from a ceiling joist in my fishing cottage. On impulse a recent re-appreciation, and then James kindly took on the job of turning it into a finished, presentable rod. All those coats of Tru Oil It's now a beautiful thing. James, thank you so much for a truly lovely completion of my "Phoenix".
F.v.R. Australia 2022
G Little 'Portmanteau' 11' 8/4 repair
The repairs to my G Little & Co fly rod have turned out amazingly well: the joins on the broken sections and the colour matching are perfect. I now have a complete rod, again thanks to your expertise and eye for detail.
I had nearly given up on being able to find someone to repair it but you took it on and did an amazing job on this 150-year-old Greenheart fly rod - thank you.
C. H. Australia 2022
Hardy 'Tarantino' 7' 2/1 #5 repair
James researched and sourced matching threads and prepared test wraps for comparative analysis prior to finalising the restoration. Existing wraps to the male ferrule and tip top were carefully removed, while preserving the beige tipping wraps. Many thanks to James for restoring my Hardy Tarantino.
F.v R. Australia 2022
'JJ Payne 96" 9' 2/2 #3 new
This fly rod (that I built for myself) is straight as a dart, astonishingly light-weight and has beautifully finished bamboo. The rod accurately and effortlessly shoots a double-tapered #3 weight line. Matched with a Waterworks Lamson Purist 2 reel, the rod balances perfectly on one finger at the fore-grip - guaranteeing all-day, effortless fly fishing. Sincere thanks to John Chapman (UK) for his mastery in making the Payne 96 blanks.
JJ Australia 2022
Phillipson 'Paramount' 9'' 3/2 #7 restore
You my friend, are a master! I just received the rod I was patiently waiting for. It’s beyond beautiful, its magnificent! I lawn cast the hell out of it and beautiful as this rod is, it casts even better! I can’t thank you enough for your fine work and attention to detail, I think you’re right, an 8wt line will to be perfect. Cliff USA 2022.
Allcocks ' The Sapper' ~ 8'6" 3/1 #6 restore
Thanks James, the rod has turned up and it is in good condition - it looks great with an excellent finish. I have not been able to have a cast yet, however it feels really good in the hand. You have done a nice job on bindings and varnish - very pleased thank you. Peter the Fisherman Australia 2022
JJ 'Black Spinner' 6' 2/2 #3 - new
I have christened my first bamboo fly rod, the “JJ Black Spinner" on the Styx River, fishing with Hare’s Ear Nymphs and CDC + Deer Hair Caddis. I caught 7 trout including one on the dry. The more I fished, the better I adjusted to the rod, which I found to produce accurate casting on a small stream. The rod balanced well with my Hardy Marquis Lightweight #2/3. Thank you very much for the beautiful rod. I'm very happy.
J.S. Tasmania Spring 2022
Pezon et Michelle 9’ 2/2 'Parabolic Speciale Competition' restore
I inherited the Pezon Michel fly rod nearly forty years ago from my father. In that time the rod had deteriorated needing restoration. Inspired by Jim’s passion for bamboo rods I asked him whether he would take on the task. Jim meticulously restored the rod, researching its heritage and keeping me informed of the progress of the project. With Jim’s attention to detail, his patience and his passion for bamboo rods, the result is fantastic. The rod has a beautiful slow, powerful action that my father loved. I'm now the proud owner of a beautiful rod I which I intend to use again on the dry fly thanks to you Jim. I.S. Tasmania 2023
Southam 'Special Monty' 9' 3/2 #5-6 repair
"Jim has done a really lovely restoration of my three-piece two-tip Southam 'Special Monty' rod. It had considerable damage, including a gouge out of the middle piece, one of the tips was broken, the wraps on some guides needed replacing and both tip-tops were so damaged that they needed to be replaced. Jim seamlessly repaired all the damaged parts, including scarfing a new top piece onto the broken tip. His workmanship and his attention to detail and finish are impeccable." FvR Australia 2022
c1953 Southam 9' 1/0 #7/8 ~ repair & rebuild
"Jim has done a remarkable job to resurrect this rare Southam one-piece fly casting tournament rod, made for its original owner by Bill Southam in the early 1950s. The rod was in an extremely fragile state, with bad delamination, several breaks, severely crazed finish, and its grip and reel seat badly deteriorated. Jim has completely rebuilt the rod, having repaired the breaks, removed the guides and intermediate wraps, and stripped off the original finish to reveal the dark gold of the original bamboo rod. With a new, integrated cork grip and reel seat, guides rewrapped and 80 intermediate wraps returned, it is again the beautiful rod that Bill Southam created, and a tribute to Jim's patient, meticulous craftsmanship." FvR Australia 2023
c1941 Leonard 66L 8' 2/2 #3/4 ~ repair & restore
I am over the moon with how the rod has turned out and cannot wait to have a cast and fish it. You've done an amazing job restoring this rod, thank you so much. The scarfs are barely noticeable and the replacement tip blends well. M H Australia 2022
JJ Banty No 3 - 5' 2/1 #4 new
" I live alongside a Hobart urban rivulet that flows cool and clear all year with its source from a mountain catchment and surprisingly holds many small trout. I commissioned James to build me a small, lightweight, accurate bamboo fly rod. James suggested a short rod and proposed a 5’ 2-piece 'Banty' which is perfect for my rivulet stalking and it is giving me many hours of happy and contented fishing. James kept me fully updated on the progress with photos & notes and included me as part of the build of the rod. The JJ Banty is an object of true craftsmanship, beautiful to behold and to cast. In many ways a cross between art and craft. A joy. Thank you James " D.S.L. Tasmania 2023
Sailors Bay Rods '#1 Payne 101' 7'6 2/2 #5 repair
The Payne 101 (Pengilley/Musgrove) rod; all delightfully subdued, hand rubbed finish, semi-transparent wraps. My favourite handle profile. Jim: I have to thank you most richly. What more could a man want. Thank you for the fresh but mature new skin and attention to detail in the finish. Really first-class work. S. McS Sydney
Sailors Bay Rods '#2 Payne 101' 7'6 2/2 #5 repair
The Payne 101 (Paolo) rod is as remembered, but bearing the scars of an intemperate Paolo disengaging his trapped fly from a tree, and shattering the rod in two places. It’s now a personal artefact able to be cast once more. S. McS Sydney
Hardy Deluxe 8'6" 3/2 #5 restore
The restoration work James did was nothing short of beautiful. James attention to detail is meticulous. What I really appreciate was the wealth of knowledge and passion that James shared with me about bamboo rods. I’ve only managed a brief session with the rod so far, but has an amazing feel to it. I can’t wait to get many more hours on it. L.E. Tamworth
1935 Hardy CC deFrance 8' 2/2 #4
I've had an opportunity to fish with the restored CC deFrance in the Snowy Mountains during the late season. The rod casts beautifully and I’m surprised at the power and relative ease to achieve a long cast. Thank you again, Jim, you’ve returned the CC de France to its former glory. B.S. Sydney 2024
JJ 'The Essential' No.2 Fly Rod' 7'6 2/1 #5/6
When Jim started making bamboo rods from the culm, I told him I wanted to be his first client. The 7'6" rod he has made for me is beautiful, but more importantly it's a great pleasure to cast - flexing evenly, smooth and effortless. He's named it The Essential, and indeed it is. It's coming with me to New Zealand.
FvR Canberra 2024
Thramer CTS 8' 3/2 Gillum 5/6 #TH2502
Jim has rescued a precious bamboo fly rod after a garage accident - I managed to break the tip of my 8 foot three-piece AJ Thramer ‘Gillum’ taper rod at the top guide. Jim spliced in a new section from the guide up to the tip top. He contacted AJ Thramer’s son McKenzie, who sent him the thread with which to re-wrap the guide. Jim and I have cast the rod with the replacement tip, and it’s as good as new. An incredible service, thanks again, Jim.- FvR Canberra 2025
JJ 'The Essential' No.5 7'6 2/2 #5/6 - new
The JJ 'Essential' is a pleasure to own and a delight to use. Unlike the split cane rods of yesteryear the 'Essential' is light but powerful. I have mated mine to a Hardy Golden Prince reel and #6 weight-forward line. On its first outing, I spent a solid day dry fly fishing on one of Tasmania's premier trout waters with no casting fatigue. Jim is a superb rod maker who kept me fully informed and involved in the construction of my rod. I could not recommend him highly enough. RJP Hobart Tasmania January 2025
Dickerson 8014G 8' 2/2 #6/7 - new
James, well it’s hard to know where to start, so I’ll start at the end - it’s a pleasure to have both our names on the rod. Aesthetically & functionally it’s everything I’d hope for - the tempering & finish of the bamboo, reel seat quality, the bluing & ferrule fit. Easy and pleasant to cast out to 70’ and if I pushed it a little with good timing, 80’ no problem, during the first session on grass. I could easily feel it was me that needed the training - lovely rod mate, plenty of reserve power - so nice to be able to shoot line at distance on a bamboo rod: I love it.
A.H. NSW 2025
Partridge FA4SFX 7'6" 2/1 staggered ferrule (top)
FA6345 6' 2/1 #4/5 (bottom)
"I was lucky recently to find a small trove of 1980s cane fly rod blanks from the UK tackle makers Partridge of Redditch. I sent two to Jim to build, the FA6345, a 6' two-piece, and the FA4SFX, a staggered ferrule 7'6". I wasn't sure what to expect of them, but he has brought them beautifully to life! The rods he has sent back are lovely; the quality of his finishing is simply superb, from the matching burgundy silk bindings to the complementary cigar shaped grips and down-locking reel seats. Thank you Jim!" FvR Australia 2025
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