Bamboo Rod Care & Maintenance

A close friend of mine makes bamboo rods. His work is excellent, and I have the pleasurable job of being one of his field testers. This allows me the opportunity to fish rods that would have been beyond my means otherwise. Bamboo rods are beautiful combinations of art and craftsmanship, yet they are meant to be fished. In the picture above, you can see the handpainted images on the reel seat that display the artistic ability of the maker. The consistency of the work produced by a good rodmaker working with an inconsistent product never fails to amaze me. I've never had a conversation with a maker when I didn't go away feeling that he left a piece of his heart in each rod.

Bamboo is an amazingly strong substance, often able to bear greater abuse than graphite or fiberglass. I've read that bamboo is one of the stronger substances on earth, being stronger by weight than steel. The fact that it is this strong, yet remains resilient, makes it a great choice for a fly rod. One rod type is not necessarily better than another, merely different. I would like to list a few tips that I believe are good for the care and maintenance of your bamboo investment. Most of these would apply to any rod type.

Always transport your rod in a protective case.
Remember: LOFI - Last Out, First In. The rod should be the last thing out of your vehicle when you are getting prepared to fish. Put on you waders, vest, etc. Then get your rod out and assemble it. Upon returning to the vehicle, immediately disassemble the rod and store it. Then take off waders, vests, etc. This is a rule that should never be violated!
Upon arriving home, remove the rod from the case and clean it. Wiping it down with a paper towel or whatever cloth the rodmaker suggests is usually sufficient. Wipe off the ferrules and wipe out the female ferrule. This will make the rod easier to assemble for the next trip. Stand the rod sections up in a rack, or lay the sections out on a flat surface on a dry towel that is out of harm's way. After the rod is dry, it should be stored in a dry, safe location out of extreme heat. Storing it in the rod case or tube may be okay, but I like to make sure my rods can breathe (get air).

The ferrules of the rod are like high maintenance girlfriends. It you want to spend time with them, you have to give them the proper attention! Never (I mean NEVER!) lubricate the ferrules. A proper cleaning of the ferrules with a dry paper towel after each fishing trip should be sufficient. If you are having trouble with the ferrules being too tight or too loose, see the rodmaker. If you can't find him, see a rodmaker. They are trained to take care of the problem.

When assembling the rod, do not use any force. Do not twist the rod! If the ferrules are forced together, they will likewise be extremely difficult to pull apart. Line the flats of the sections together or line up the guides. Hold the butt section in one hand and the tip section in the other. As shown in the picture, the hands should be close. Be careful that the hands do not slip and mash down the guides.

To disassemble the rod, make sure your hands are dry. Remove gloves as they may cause your hands to slip. Hold the butt section with one hand and the tip section with the other. Make sure the hands are some distance apart, as this allows for a straighter pull. The rod must be level (straight). If the reel is still on the rod, find a support for it before attempting to pull the sections apart. If the rod does not come apart smoothly, it may help to use pullers made of shelf liner material, one section in each hand. If this does not allow a smooth pull, it's time to call the rodmaker! Be extremely careful that your hands do not slip. I've completely destroyed two guides on a section this way. Not only did I damage the rod, it didn't do my hand any good either! Since I'm an official tester for my rodmaker (somewhat self-proclaimed, if I might add), I didn't void my warranty. It wasn't very pleasant putting up with all the flak I received from him though. I get quite humble when I need rod work.

Be extremely careful when fishing bead head flies. A good whop on the rod with a bead head can break a rod, either graphite or bamboo. I recently caused a bamboo rod tip to splinter while fishing on a windy day. Because of the gusting wind and a low backcast, I didn't maintain proper control of the line, and a tailing loop swung the fly into the rod. It may have been my only bad cast of the day (ha! Do you believe that?). You can make thousands of great casts, but one bad one can get a rod. Luckily, in my case I dodged severe damage. My rodmaker, however, muttered something about avoiding my future calls! He'll get over it.
Did you ever notice that fly shops typically don't have ceiling fans? There's a reason. Avoid ceiling fans like the plague! You learn to look, but don't learn the hard way!
;Never attempt to dislodge a fly with your rod. If you get hung, make sure there is no tension on the rod. Then grab the line above the rod tip to attempt to free the fly. Losing a fly and tippet is not a tragedy. Breaking a rod trying to free a fly is!
Never lean your rod against a vehicle. This is an invitation for disaster. Be very careful about laying your rod on top of a vehicle as well. Remember Murphy's Law!

I hope these tips help you in enjoying many favorable experiences with your rods. I try to keep in mind that no matter how expensive they are, rods are just materials to be used. I also realize that a rod becomes a fishing companion with which it is hard to part company when the time comes. So remember, it's just fishing. Enjoy it! Even more so, enjoy life, and be a positive influence on those around you at home, at work, and while fishing!

thoughts by Johnny McJunkins

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