About Linnéa Rods
A bamboo rod not only influences the experience of the angler, but informs and expands his exercise and pursuit. As a rod-maker my goal is to build the finest fly rods possible, in terms of both craftsmanship and performance. I strive to capture and instill a “spirit” or approach to fly fishing that imparts an integrated philosophy and elevates one’s mindfulness. My philosophy, shaped by my experience, study and reflection, is informed not only by elemental laws. In my view, there are three disciplines that govern rod construction: The physics of casting, the methods of construction, and the human dynamic essential to rod-building.
Casting
Casting and the laws that govern it are as constant as the laws of nature; they apply under all circumstances. Driven by a lever or fly rod, propelling a fly is subject to the forces of gravity, wind-dynamitic and air resistance. These factors are constants in the equation of rod construction. It is critical to understand this when designing and building a bamboo rod. The reality is that we do more than cast with a bamboo fly rod. We mend line, play fish and also have aesthetic and traditional sensibilities to keep in mind.
Design and Construction
There are many aspects to a rod’s design and construction. All of the variables taken as a whole are complex, but taken together they can contribute to maximizing the inherent strength of bamboo. As a material, bamboo –a natural product—furthers the challenge of rod-building with its inherent inconsistencies.
One of the most significant aspects of rod building that I see is the effort to maximize the potential of the bamboo in terms of realizing its greatest power-to-weight ratio. Overcoming a rod’s inertia is critical. By reducing weight in the mids and tips, a rod-builder can significantly improve the dampening effect as the rod loads and unloads during the casting stroke and thus produce a better casting rod. Many things affect the power-to-weight ratio such as taper and hollow cutting dimensions, heat treating, moisture retention, flaming, adhesives, varnish, guide spacing, ferrule selection, and so forth. I look at each of the processes individually to ultimately craft a perfectly finished rod with precise action. Initially, I chose to work in six strip construction for several reasons. Many people think that four and five-sided rods are easier to build, but in reality the opposite is true. The wider flats of four and five-sided rods are harder to straighten, varnish, plane and wrap, and they also present unique problems in ferruling. Hollow cutting is another consideration.
In four and five-sided rods, due to the sharper angles of the splines, a sufficient amount of bamboo must remain for glue to find purchase and seat the rod at the various intersections where the splines join each other. Thus, hollow cutting cannot be as deep as is desired, of which, the net effect is especially noticeable in longer rods light line rods making the hollow cut, hexagonal configuration superior for the construction of, for example, an 8” #3 line rod.Essentially, the manipulation of a rod’s interior dimensions can control its action much the same way as the outer dimension does. But the real benefit is the removal of weight. Bamboo rods that are hollow cut offer an action that dampens and recovers beautifully in the casting stroke as a result of reduced inertia. This results in longer, lighter and faster rods.
THE HUMAN DYNAMIC
A skilled rod-builder must be more than a proficient caster in order to master rod-building. He must understand the relationship between the rod and the angler, the fish and environmental conditions. Through careful attention to processes and materials, he must be able to transfer his knowledge into an object that is at once a piece of art, a functioning tool and also an object emblematic of the spiritual undercurrent of fly fishing.
A fine bamboo rod inspires more than angling, and we all understand this on various levels. My ideas about rod building were changed when I began to study the relationship between Japanese craftsmen and their tools. For several years I worked at the André Puyans Fly Fishing Schools in Idaho and had the opportunity to meet several Japanese rod-builders and anglers. Hirobumi Miyo and T.K. Wantanabe were men who influenced my thought and work, and inspired me to look deeper into the relationships between fisherman, environment, and the tools we use to interact with those spheres.
Initially overwhelmed by their artfulness, skill on the water and their reverence for craftsmanship, I was motivated to learn more about Japanese craftsmen, intrigued by the fact that various methods of construction –and the rod maker himself—influence the ways people use a rod. I began to think about how my rods would affect people, and studying the philosophy of Japanese Artisans crystallized my ideas about rod-building. Clearly, many anglers are passionate about bamboo rods and regard them as almost mystical for their properties. Why? If this was strictly about casting we would be using rods made of modern materials. In terms of the finished rod and its composition, the craftsman’s influence on the way people approach fly-fishing cannot be over-stated. As I mentioned, each rod-builder imbues a fly rod with a “spirit”, in much the same way that a piece of art inspires feelings or ideas. A building could, for example, inspire feelings of comfort, or foreboding. A hand-made fly rod is a reflection of the essence of the artist, and each rod-maker builds rods that mirror the constitution of the craftsman. Accordingly, a significant amount of my character and spirit are implanted in every rod I build. The “spirit” in each rod has a subtle and often times profound influence on how the angler uses his tool. Mindful of this, I have carefully considered the composition and craftsmanship of my rods. Through them, I hope to share something that will inspire you to approach angling with confidence, tranquility and discipline.
