Bamboo is one of the toughest natural materials on the planet. As such, it’s a great choice for fishing equipment, especially for beginners.
A fishing rod made of bamboo may not be as durable as a fiberglass model, but it will last long enough to get you hooked on the sport. Of course, there are a few factors to consider before purchasing such a rod.
The different types of bamboo
There are several types of bamboo that can be used to make fishing rods, but the most common is a variant of the Phyllostachys genus.
More commonly known as a Chinese bamboo, these species are the fastest-growing woody plants on the planet and can reach heights of up to 100 feet in less than five years.
Shorter varieties of Chinese bamboo, including Phyllostachys vivax, Phyllostachys bissetii, and Phyllostachys nuda, are better for rod construction because they have thicker, stronger internodal columns.
Chinese bamboo can be identified by its smooth, joint-free shaft and zigzag-like rings on the outside of the internodal column.
Bamboo comes in a variety of sizes and shapes, and it’s important to know which one to use for the intended purpose.
The different types of bamboo used for construction include:
– Bamboo plywood: Used for furniture, cabinetry, and flooring, the large bamboo trunks of this type of bamboo can be cut into sheets as thin as 1/16-inch, making it ideal for use in the making of various items of sports equipment, including fishing rods.
– Bamboo shivs: Used to make the shafts of fly rods, bamboo shivs are not as durable as a bamboo pole, as they are made from the tops of bamboo segments that have been cut off the outside of the trunk. However, they are easier to come by.
– Bamboo poles: Sections of bamboo that have been cut from the trunk of the tree, these wooden poles are generally used in the making of bamboo poles, especially by beginners. These poles are a little shorter and a little lighter than the bamboo fishing poles.
– Bamboo stems: Also known as yam, these are the longest pieces of bamboo and can be up to 20 feet in length. A bamboo pole for use at the gym is usually made of this type of bamboo, which is generally considered to be a mid-engineered distribution. This type of bamboo is the most plentiful and is the most widely used for making fishing poles. Shorter lengths of about 5 to 7 feet are usually sold as yam, while their longest lengths, up to 20 feet, are often sold as bamboo stems.
– Bamboo strips: These are short pieces of bamboo that are not quite as stiff as the mid-engineered distribution and are therefore used to make the tips of fishing rods.
– Shafts: These are the sturdiest pieces of bamboo and are typically used to some extent in the making of fly rods, especially by beginners.
– Staves: These are the pieces of bamboo that are very thin and are typically used to make the tips of fishing rods.
You can usually purchase a basic fly rod kit that includes the following:
– The butt of the rod: This is the end of the rod and is where you hold it. A good butt should be well made, comfortable, and easy to hold and cast with.
– Line tie-down points: The butt of the pole has a number of slots in it to hold the line. You want to make sure that the slots are not only deep enough to accommodate the line, but are also wide enough for the line to pass through it.
– Line guides: The line will come through the rod at intervals of about 12 inches, depending on the manufacturer, and the line guides are a critical part of the rod. They allow the line to pass through the rod and keep the line from snarling.
– Reel seats: In the absence of a reel, the reel seat is the place where your fishing line comes off the rod. The reel seat is built into the butt of the pole, and it works best if it can be adjusted.
– Reel grips: When you’re setting up your rod, you want to be sure you’re using a reel that fits. The reel grips are the rubber portions of a reel that fit on the handle of the pole. They’re sometimes called a spool, a spool, and a spool, and these names are fairly self-explanatory. They’re also usually color-coded to ensure that they’re the correct size for the rod.
– Tapered ferrules: The ferrules are the circular plugs that are used to make the connection between your fly line and the line guides.
– Tapering washers: These are tensioning washers that are often used to help you set the rod up at the right tension.
– Hook keeper: You’ll need to keep the hook or lure attached to the line when you’re not using it, which can be difficult if not impossible with most fishing reels.
– And, of course, there are a few other accessories you may want to make sure you have, like a rod sock, so that your hands don’t get wet when you’re casting.
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