Fishing Q&A

My uncle recently left me some antique bamboo fly fishing rods of various weights?

They are in poor condition and need to be refurbished.I have tried to find a instruction manual or some kind of book on how to, but have been unsuccessful. Anyone know of a book on this subject or any info ?

Public Comments

1. Take them to a bait shop. Or check some books on fishing in the library.
2. Look for fishing rod rappers .You should see the designs ,they should help you.
3. No, but I'm sure there is someone out there. You are so lucky!
4. Don't touch them, they are worth BIG money...Take them to the local university's history dept. to see if they can direct you to a procurist.
5. With respect to Melomego, not all old bamboo rods are worth money. Certain brand names are, (Gillum, Dickerson, Garrison) are worth big bucks, others (Phillipson, Granger, Heddon, Orvis) are worth some. Names such as Montague, Horrocks-Ibbotson, Shakespeare, South Bend are not worth as much because they were so mass produced (think Ugly-Stik) - there are exceptions. As a rule, post WWII Japanese made rods are nothing more than "tomato stakes", unless they carry sentimental value, since they were cheaply made and not from "Tonkin" cane. As with any antique, condition means everything. The most sought after rods are the "short" fly rods, 8', 7'6", and 7' since these were not as common as the longer rods. Antique & Collectible Fishing Rods: Identification & Value Guide by D.B. Homel will help you in evaluating the rods worth. Bamboo Rod Restoration Handbook by Michael Sinclair will help you in refurbishing the rods. If you do not wish to undertake the restoration process, you can do a net search for "bamboo rod restoration" - but remember that if you send your rods out, it will take time to get them back, and you will be looking at a cost of anywhere from $50-$100 per section. It would be advisable to talk to the craftsman prior to sending out your rods for work. Another thing to remember is that if you want the rods restored for fishing purposes the cost should be cheaper because the craftsman will not have to seek out original ferrules if needed or original color thread for the wraps, he can use quality parts he has "on hand".