A pic from Colorado

Ray Maudsley forwarded this picture along of his Carpenter 7'11" 4 weight. He caught this nice 19" rainbow on a river he doesn't like to tell anyone about. He has told me numerous times that there aren't a lot of fish, but the one's he does catch are very nice. Thanks for the picture Ray!

Henry's Fork Builder's gathering

I just returned from the annual Henry's Fork bamboo rod builder's gathering held at the Henry's Fork in Idaho. As usual, I met a lot of nice people and saw a lot of great rods. One of the people I met was Yvon Chouinard. He is very passionate about fly fishing and seems to be a great ambassador for the sport. 

Here is a picture of the Henry's Fork river. I got to wake up to this view every day and go to bed with it. I got to fish to rising fish on the last day there and what an experience. 

Here is a rod that I acquired during the gathering. Its a 7'9" 5 weight made by Doug Daniels. I think it might be the easiest casting rod that I have ever cast. 

3rd generation of Carbon Fiber ferrules

The first two rods that I made with carbon fiber ferrules were spigoted style ferrules and both of those rods did not hold up to strength tests I performed on them. Both of those rods broke. This style of carbon fiber ferrule is being used by several other builders. Yesterday I stepped out back from my house and caught about a 10 lb. carp and the rod did just fine. However, there is a mild set in the tip that I will get around to fixing someday.

Next week I am heading out to Last Chance ID and will give it a weeks worth of fishing out there. These ferrules weigh about 1/3 of what nickel silver ferrules weigh. The ferrules in the picture are 3 1/2" long. I think with further design I can even get them down shorter. The company that makes this tubing also does custom orders and right now I have on order material that is 50% CF - 50% fiberglass and special type of E-fiberglass.

The rod in the picture is an 8'5" 3/4 weight. In order to get the ferrules right the lower weight rods have to become of a parabolic nature. When I stepped out to cast this rod with a 3 weight line it was easy to cast 50'-60' into a mild breeze. I then put a 4 weight on and it took on a wonderful parabolic action that also allowed for long cast at a much easier pace. It also handled a 5 weight line as well, but I could drink a cup of coffee between back cast and forward cast. This rod weighs 3.25 oz.

Rod 3 of 3 going out this month

This is a 8'3 weight hollow built rod that is going to a customer in Maryland. It has a nice medium fast action and weighs 3.24 oz. Its a flamed rod with bright silver hardware. I am still getting more orders for 3 weights than any other type.

I am getting ready to head out to Last Chance, ID here in a couple of weeks. Then I am taking the family to Colorado for a couple of weeks. So during the next couple of months I will be cleaning up the shop and trying to get ready for a big building spree starting this August. I am still waiting for Andy Royer to get his shipment of new bamboo in so I can order for the next couple of years. I only have enough right now for my next 4 orders.

I am planing on making some rods in the 8'5" 5 weight range this winter based on EC Powell tapers. If I use my carbon fiber ferrule system I should be able to keep them under 3 oz.

Please feel free to give me a call sometime to discuss bamboo rods!