On Mar 7, 11:34 am, "Fred Lebow" wrote:

After finishing the book - which I thoroughly enjoyed! - I still do not
know enough about bamboo rods to search and buy with confidence.
Could someone direct me a little further?

I do feel more confident and competent buying an instrument and I have NO
desire to buy a Loar .

Didn't we have Gorge Black himself submit a comment on Roff?
If so

I read the book last year. Around Christmas I was in a local antique
shop and found an original Edwards Quadrate in pretty poor condition.
Rather than send it where I normally send that kind of stuff (does
good work tho), using information from the book and a fly shop in New
Hampshire, we tracked down a former Edward's disciple who is doing the
restore work. Gonna cost me more than the rod but I can't wait to re-
baptize it.

Mr. Black writes of the history and development of the American cane
rod makers. Most of what he writes about now is not readily available
without busting the bank or having someone do restorative work. At the
same time there were/are lots of bits and pieces of those old
companys' work around with a little luck and detective work.

For example, I have cane rods from Leonard and Payne but they are not
marked as such and don't have collectible value. The Leonard is all
original Leonard components but was assembled from blanks from three
other rods and the cork/reel seat from a fourth. The Payne is from a
matched set of blanks but it was assembled by someone else and is
marked as such.

There are so many choices in cane today, outside of the Winston (yes
still making a fine bamboo), T&T, and Scott there are folks such as
George Maurer, Bob Summers, FD Lyons making superb sticks for a lower
price point. Below those three there are even more chocies. Add to it,
we are starting to see imported asian rods. Cortalnd/Diamondback is
showing a $599 two tip rod in the fly fishing shows.

Unlike Richard, I wouldn't start with Codella. I would start with
builders in my area if at all possible. Visit the rodmaker's
website,lurk awhile, and then start asking questions. Personally I
would stay away from parabolic rods. Impregnated rods (Orvis) tend to
cost less than varnished rods (T&T). Bear in mind that anything you
try will more than likely be slower than your slowest graphite rod

Above all, whatever you end up getting and whatever you end up paying
is not important, fish it and enjoy it.