why bamboo

Bamboo had been used as the primary material for making fishing rods up until the 1960s, when its popularity faded with the advent of fibreglass and later, graphite materials, both of which are lighter, supposedly more durable, and easier to manufacture. But the obituaries for split bamboo were as premature as those for vinyl records and CD's. Fast forward 60 years and split-bamboo fly rods are better than they’ve ever been. Today’s rod makers have more than 150 years’ worth of collective experience to draw upon, plus the advantages of 21st century glues and varnishes. For once, tradition meets high tech with a happy outcome.[1] 

Part of the character of every split-cane rod is imparted by the particular culm of bamboo from which it was made - the back story - its size, age, density, moisture content, whether or not it was 'flamed' or heat-treated in an oven, and if so, how much - so that even among identical rods by the same maker, there can be discernible differences.  As the name implies, a split-bamboo rod is made from strips of bamboo, called “splines,” that are cut from a cane or “culm,” of bamboo. (The joints themselves are called nodes.) The strips are then meticulously tapered, using either a milling machine or a hand plane and an adjustable form. Afterward, the matching segments are glued together into a four, five, or more traditionally six-sided shaft called a blank. 

This method was developed in the mid-1800s and gives the rod maker control over the rod’s taper, which determines the way the rod imparts energy to the fly line during the cast - and in fly-casting, that action is everything. Rod makers work to tolerances of a few thousandths of an inch on each spline, and a few thousandths one way or the other can mean the difference between a magnificent casting instrument and a broomstick or expensive garden stake. 

Bamboo fly rods, like violins, are said to evolve with use, so even if a rod doesn’t have a personality the first time you string it up, it will after you’ve fished with it for a few seasons. 

Bamboo is a species of grass - more like a reed than a piece of timber - and it has a natural sensitivity that more modern materials lack. Bamboo fans say that their rods cast more fluidly, that their slight extra weight does more of the work, and that they’re better at cushioning light leaders. Where a graphite caster would talk about power and efficiency, one who uses bamboo might invoke terms such as “warmth” and “friendliness.” There’s also the matter of uniqueness. As a fly fisher, there are also the basic decisions to make when assembling  the arsenal of approach - stream/lake, wet/dry - floating/sinking,  wade/dinghy - graphite/bamboo?

According to Nick Taransky, one of Australia's finest contemporary rod makers,  "bamboo is best suited to line weights between #3 & #6 and lengths between 6 & 8 feet. Within this range the weight and flex of bamboo is at its best. These shorter length rods have many advantages in tight, bushy surrounds. For those technically minded, the modulus of bamboo lies between that of fibreglass (S-glass) and graphite." [2] 

Acknowledgements