James Jones - bamboo fly rod maker

plant to rod

Plant to Rod is a lens into the world of rod making and fly fishing with bamboo, disclosing the process of building new rods from the raw bamboo culm and repairing, recycling and rebuilding vintage bamboo fly rods.

The tectonics of a bamboo fly rod can be understood through the analysis of the sum of its parts; the maker's intent, the taper specification, length-to-weight ratio, flex, grip and reel seat types, ferrules, line guide types and their set-out; and of course the built quality of the bamboo, its finish, how silk wraps are applied and protected and the balance of the reel-to-rod and rod-to-line.

There is a direct correlation between making architecture and fly rods. The thinking and intelligence behind a building informs the architecture and this is analogous with bamboo fly rod design and making. In architecture, tectonics[1] can be defined as the whole art of producing useful and beautiful buildings.

To share the process of crafting and building with bamboo, I have published this web site, Plant to Rod, as an accessible record of creating new bamboo fly rods or restoring vintage rods - a lens into the world of bamboo rod making, building and fly fishing with bamboo.

The approach to recycling bamboo fly rods includes research of each rod’s provenance, history, design, type and features, condition assessment and recycling tactics - to restore or repair - then tracking down the proper materials, world-wide, to make dignified repairs or restore to the original maker's specification. Sometimes, all you need is silk, varnish, steel wool and a little patience to bring a rod back to life.

Plant to Rod is a web site that I update regularly - as I ponder, learn, make, restore or repair these fine instruments of pure function. I am currently making bespoke bamboo fly rods, one at a time - starting from a culm of the finest Tonkin bamboo, splitting, straightening, planing, binding and finishing by hand. The core material, bamboo, is a testament to longevity and practical sustainability ~ from plant to rod.

james jones 2026

[1] An inherent and irrefutable quality emerges when the relation between the form of a building, its use, its parts, how they are produced, and put together, and their role as a sum, is greater. The value of tectonics as a definitive, holistic approach to architecture is best demonstrated through built work, but can also be taught by precedent.

Photo: Doug Miller 2025

about

James Jones practised architecture in Australia from 1988 to 2023. He was encouraged to fly-fishing by Noel Jetson at Cressy, Tasmania, over 30 years ago. Later, he was introduced to the fine fly rod making when he commissioned a rod from the renowned American maker Tom Morgan (dec) through Tom Morgan Rodsmiths in 2003. Morgan introduced James to fishing dry flies with 18' knotless tapered leaders, more akin to the long drift leader technique (LDL) perfected by Natao Shibuya, Japan.

James made his first bamboo fly rod under the tutelage of renowned bamboo rodmaker, David Hemmings. He has attended a number of bamboo rod making 'conclaves' including Cressy Cane and Kiwi Cane, augmented by David Hemmings, Nick Taransky and Peter Hayes.

James has developed an affinity with bamboo fly rods, from fishing bamboo, to making new rods from scratch as well as researching and conserving vintage rods. James currently makes and repairs bamboo fly rods from his studio workshop in Tasmania. The new rods are designed and tuned to Australian fresh-water fly fishing conditions.

email