cucarachafly
04-22-07, 05:07 PM
I'll never forget the first fly rod I ever bought. It was 1985 and my older brother, who had been fly fishing since the early 70's, accompanied me to the Fish Hawk where I proceeded to drop what seemed like a month's salary (truth be told, it probably was a month's salary) on a 8 ft. 6 wt. Orvis graphite Trout rod along with a CFO reel- all at my brother's insistence. Telling him I didn't need to spend that much he told me to go ahead and buy the best because because it very well could be the only rod and reel I would ever need. After more rods and reels purchased over the years than we need to talk about, that particular rod and reel is still a favorite and the only one my 19 year old son will use. My brother passed away 5 years ago and his wife was kind enough to give me some of his fly fishing equipment. A couple of these items was a 6 1/2 ft. #6 Orvis Madison bamboo rod built in 1976 and a Featherweight Hardy reel. Being somewhat ignorant of bamboo rods, I'm ashamed to say that I just thought they were to be used just for wall decorations or training bird dogs to point thinking they just didn't live up to all the modern materials of today. Not until seeing all the great pictures here on NGTO of people actually using bamboo rods and all the discussion about them did I decide to rig it up and give it a try, which I had the chance to do this past Friday on the Toccoa.
Of course the action is different from anything I've ever used but what fun. It definately makes you think about your casting techniques, which we all need to do from time to time. Had a great day catching fish pretty much all day long with it. But just like remembering my first rod, I think I'll also remember my first fish on a bamboo rod. Not a giant by any means but it was caught on a size 18 dry and came out of the water at least 6 times. Sounds pretty classic, huh? Here is a picture of the three together. Here's to ya' Mike!
http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s11/jeffroach_photos/bamboobowII.jpg
Of course the action is different from anything I've ever used but what fun. It definately makes you think about your casting techniques, which we all need to do from time to time. Had a great day catching fish pretty much all day long with it. But just like remembering my first rod, I think I'll also remember my first fish on a bamboo rod. Not a giant by any means but it was caught on a size 18 dry and came out of the water at least 6 times. Sounds pretty classic, huh? Here is a picture of the three together. Here's to ya' Mike!
http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s11/jeffroach_photos/bamboobowII.jpg