Who Fishes Both Cane and Graphite?

[S.Trutta]

Alright guys, time to share your thoughts on something I've been thinking about. Ever since the bamboo bug hit me, I've sold a few graphite's, purchased 2 bamboo's, and had been steadily moving toward a collection of only cane rods. My trip out west opened my eyes however, as the bamboo rods only came out of the tubes twice, and my Winston LT 5wt and Sage XP 6wt carried the bulk of the work. I had been fishing my bamboo's so much that I had completely neglected my better graphite's, particularly my beloved Winston rods. This got me thinking, whats wrong with owning, fishing, and enjoying both?? Other than my Sage XP 6wt, which is a very fast rod (bought solely for fighting nasty wind and throwing big flies out west), I definetely prefer rods that fall into the medium or medium fast category. This is the reason I first fell in love with Winston rods. I just started thinking how dumb it would be to sell them, or to never buy another Winston, simply because they aren't cane. It seems that most people who truly go into the deep end with bamboo wind up fishing and owning 100% cane rods, and i guess Im just not convinced that makes sense. Any thoughts on this, any of you guys have some sweet graphite's that you will never want to give up, even if you love and fish bamboo??

Rich

[kayakerguy]

This got me thinking, whats wrong with owning, fishing, and enjoying both??
In short, not a thing. I own bamboo, graphite, and glass. I fish them all according to the species I'm fishing for, where I'm fishing, and the mood I'm in.
Mark

[watkins]

Own only one cane with plans for one more, Won't sell or quit useing my graphite or glass. Depends on my mood.:) TRW

[Buck Henry]

I own several graphite rods that I still fish with and will always hang on to. One is my 20 year old Orvis 5 weight that was customized by a good friend of mine with a beautify strebul reel seat. It is a great trout rod, casts like a dream and was my first "nice" fly rod (also a gift from my wife). Another graphite stick I fish and love is my St. Croix Avid 2 weight. Ultra light and super fun to fish. I also have a Powell 4 weight pack rod that I use for most of my hike in's and when I travel. The only reason I recently sold my graphite Orvis Flea was to help fund the bamboo Flea that is on it's way to me now. I loved that little graphite Flea, but have always wanted the original bamboo version. In order to get one, something had to go!

Being a lover of bamboo, I often get asked if bamboo rods are better. My response is always the same, "not better, just different". Each rod that I own has unique characteristics that I find endearing. Now I primarily buy and fish cane these days, but will always hang on to a few of my graphite rods that have special meaning to me.

BTW, great question!

[PapaDoc]

What an important question! I have become a cane freak. And yet I have some amazing non-bamboo rods....Sage that is. Your entry reminded me of the selective advantage of certain rods. The XP is so powerful in certains sitz while the SLT is my attempt to get graphite to work like cane. Thanks for the reminder of how both can work.

[fishnpreacher]

I own 2 plastic rods, a Cabelas SLi 5wt, and a Cortland 10wt for bass in heavy cover. Neither have been fished in almost a year. I fish bamboo almost exclusively now. I have several boo production rods, A Queen and Prince, and my go-to Hicks rod. I have been kicking around the idea of selling off a few rods and taking the plunge and getting another custom rod. And sell the plastic rods too.

Oh, and I have 1 glass rod, never fished. 8FT 7WT

[joesce]

As with others,mood plays a part. I have a number of graphite,glass and cane rods. In general,I'llfish with cane but I do love my 8', 5wt, Diamondglass rod.
Joe Sce

[narcodog]

I agree with the above poster.As not better but different. I love fishin every rod I have which isn't to many.

[watkins]

Would it not be great to have both the means and time to fish all the rod types one owns. By the way Buck, sure would have been nice to see a graphite and cane Flea side by side. What a pair! TRW

[Buck Henry]

By the way Buck, sure would have been nice to see a graphite and cane Flea side by side. What a pair! TRW

Watkins,

Funny you should say that, cause my graphite Flea is coming home. The buyer changed his mind on the purchase and I am getting the rod back. I think I will take this as a sign from God that I should keep both Fleas as I have to admit that I felt a smidge of sellers remorse when I shipped it off to the new owner.

Right now, I have zero Fleas, as both graphite and boo Fleas are in transit to me. When I get them both in hand, I will post a side by side shot of the two rods.

[duluthgator]

Fish both. Love my Hardy Graphites as well as my Boos.

[sasquatch]

i have a very nice 8,,3 gary williams cane rod, for 5, 6 weight, but also have recently acquired a old southbend fly spin rod, for 7 weight, both beautiful rods, the southbend is for sale, really 7 ft. just too short for me, i love my graphite rods, and own about 3 fenwick iron feather rods, also orvis t3, and a old glass white wonderrod,, nothing equals my 9 ft. 4 weight ironfeathers, not any orvis, t3 zero gravity, nothing, beautiful mid flex delicate effortless rods, also have and love 10 ft, fenwick hmg, 5 weight , very delicate and so precise and effortless, gotta compare these to the z axis soon, its winnin evrything now so says, yellowstone angler rod test shootout,, fenwick rules,, sometimes older is better,,