French Walnut, Artic Birch, Apricot, Cherry Plum, Mahogany, Cherry
are hexagonal and feature Everett Garrison-style node staggering. The cane is heat-tempered to a dark blonde, with gold silk wraps, brown tipping, and then finished with a very fine coat of semi-gloss varnish. The butt section has four brown two-turn intermediate wraps to demarcate the 18", 20", 22" and 24" points on the rod. The trout rods have either up-locking slide band or dual ring skeleton seats and the larger sticks, 897 and up, feature up-locking screw band seats. All reel seat components are machined in my shop from nickel-silver. The inserts are constructed from hard woods (usually Arctic Birch) or Cherry. The grips are modified Powell-Brandin-style wells containing 13 corks and on light line sticks, the rods are fitted with a 12 cork or 6 inch cigar shaped grip. All rods are hollow cut and feature truncated ferrules. I like to fish medium-fast rods that allow me to "feel" up and down the stick as I move through the casting stroke, and have designed my rods accordingly. Mindful of specific fishing conditions, I engineer each rod to perform correspondingly. The rod tapers and hollow cutting dimensions are progressive and designed to cast, mend line and play fish with excellence.
The 6" 8" #3 weight, two piece was created for fishing small, brushy, confined waters where casting would otherwise be restricted by longer sticks. The 683-2 is brings to mind bright Brook Trout and the smell of willows. The 683-2 comes with a six inch cigar shaped grip and a two ring, skeleton seat. $2250
This light line rod was inspired by the small Sierra streams that I often fish with my Son Andrö. My 713-2 is a positive casting three weight rod that is designed for fishing small flies in close. The rod comes with a two ring, skeleton seat and a six inch Cigar shaped grip. $2250
Hidehito Kikukawa is a noted photographer and angler who makes his home in Japan. The 773-3 KK is a rod that I built at his request. Kiku describes the rod as “delicate.” It is. The tips on the KK taper to .051 and the rod is designed for presenting small flies to wary trout. This rod comes with blued hardware, a 12 cork cigar shaped grip and two ring skeleton seat. $2350
Photo By Hidehito Kikukawa
I have very been fortunate to enjoy a close friendship with Jim Reams. Much in the same way that Andre Puyans was a master of the many of the disciplines of fly fishing, Jim is one of the finest rod builders, fly tiers and spring creek anglers that I have had the pleasure to know. There is really no one that I would rather spend an evening with on Hat Creek. Jim and I have worked together extensively on rod design and the 783-2 JRC (Jim Reams Collaboration) represents what I consider to be some of our finest work. The 783-2 JRC is a powerful three weight with a steep drop at the tip that tapers to .051, yet the 783-2 remains a superbly balanced pure three weight. This rod casts tight loops with authority and is outstanding for making accurate casts with small flies on small to medium spring creek waters such as Hot Creek or Flat Creek. $2250
This rod is named after Caples Creek where I learned to fly fish and is a personal favorite. Between Caples Lake and the Silver Fork of the American River, Caples Creek has several different types of water to fish. There is pocket water, slow moving meadow sections with undercut banks, Beaver dams, waterfalls with deep plunge pools, long runs and brush covered banks. With its Browns, Rainbows and Brook Trout, Caples Creek is a small fishery that has a lot to offer. I designed the 7103-3 CC as a three-piece to facilitate ease of transport. Just lash the case right to your pack. Like Caples Creek, the CC is a versatile rod that can be used in several different applications. I initially designed the rod for fishing small Sierra streams and lakes but I have also found it useful for pocket water fishing in freestone rivers as well as for Spring Creek angling. $2350
For the past few years several of my friends, -especially Rick Sorensen and Mario- have been grinding me to build quads and this year I reluctantly gave in. Given the challenges that building quads present, I have found myself greatly enjoying the work of designing and building my new line of quads. The 7103-3 CC IV features medium flamed bamboo, with green wraps, black tipping and green intermediates that demarcate the 16”, 18”, 20” and 22” points on the butt section. The truncated ferrules, up-locking slide band reel seat and guides are blued and the rod features a 12 cork, 6 inch Brandin style grip. In spite of tips that taper to .048, this rod is truly a dart thrower and due to the steep drop in the taper, it handles DT #3 line with authority and grace. I truly enjoy building quads and you find this model wonderful for fishing pocket water as well as for spring creek applications. $2550.00
Considering the advances in technique and the abundance of shared information, I beleive that we are living in the golden age of Bamboo Rod making. With progress in hollow building technique, rod builders are now able to realize rods that were once, all but impossible to make. An eight foot one inch three weight is one such rod. Simply put, the inertia created with solid built rods of said length and line weight create a longer recovery phase durring the casting stroke and the resulting dampening problems make rods feel as if they are impossible to command. The 814-3 is hollow cut deep into the tips which solves the recovery problems with the reduction of weight. The resulting rod is crisp and casts with a pleasant authority. Quick and accurate, the 813-2 is a great rod for use in spring creek applications when a lighter but longer rod is desired. It’s a positive-casting three-weight that throws tight loops and is perfect for fishing small flies on still water. $2250
The Dalles Rod and Gun Club is a located on the Deschutes River in Oregon. Every Spring I visit the club with my friends Clint Bailey and James Harrington and we have the first opportunity of the year to field test the rods that I designed the previous winter. The waters adjacent to the club are lined with large Alders and when the bugs are emerging, the rainbows stack up along the banks and under the trees to feed. To catch these fish an angler must use stealth to approach and once in position, he must make precise casts to be effective. Like the river, the Redsides Rainbows are large and powerful. I designed the 774-3 with these circumstances and conditions in mind. The rod is medium fast with the power to turn large fish and very accurate in its casting characteristics with the ability to deliver flies on a dime. Its tip tapers to .054 to protect fine tippets and with its length, the 774-3 is perfect for fishing the somewhat confined areas that are presented to the Deschutes angler. $2350
The 774-3 D with Apricot up locking seat and 13 cork Brandn style wells
Clint Bailey plays a fish on the "Old Man Hole" above The Dalles Rod and Gun Club.
This is the first in a series of rods that Jim Reams and I have developed together. Jim and I like to fish the same types of Spring Creek waters and we also both like to fish the same types of rods. Jim and I share a language in common and it is thus that we are able to work so well together in designing rods. The 784-2 JRC is a stick that is ideal for fishing small to medium size spring creek waters such as Hot Creek. The taper is progressive and drops to a fine tip to protect tippets but is also balanced with a butt section that is powerful enough to deliver flies with authority. The rod comes with a 13 cork Brandin style wells and an unlocking slide band reel seat. The 784-2 JRC is a rod that I consider to be some of our finest work and I look forward the continuation of my collaborative relationship with Jim Reams. $2250
Another couple of rods in my series of spring creek sticks. The 7104-2 A and B tapers are designed for fishing medium size spring creek waters where pin point casts are desired for targeting feeding trout. Between the butt and tip, the A taper is supremely balanced and can be described as medium in its action while the B taper is much more a medium fast rod with a very steep drop in the tip. Both rods are pure four weights and have tips that taper to .053 for fine presentations and protecting tippets. The A and B tapers represent two different hollow cutting dimensions in that the A is more radically hollow cut and in the B I have left more wood which gives the rod a greater ability to reach out for longer casts. I absolutely love both of these rods. $2250
There are many views on three piece rod design in terms of the effect that ferrules have on rod action. From my perspective, when properly designed, the placement of ferrules on a three piece rod has a tendency to smooth out the casting characteristics, make the action feel crisp and eliminate the “pulling” effect that a second ferrule can otherwise have. The 814-3 achieves a continuity of action by the manipulation of the dimensions both in the rod taper and hollow cutting in the portions of the rod that transition from bamboo to the ferrule. The resulting rod is crisp and fluid. The 814-3 is designed for fishing sized medium spring creek waters. $2350
814-3 with curly Paduak Reel Seat and optional four tips. (Above)
814-3 flamed with Olive wraps, Black tipping, Green intermediate wraps, Cherry Seat and blued hardware (Below)
Virtually the same as the 814-3, but made to cast a #5 line. $2350
This rod is my salute to Olan “John” Soininen, a great mentor and friend. John was a very giving person who spent a lot of time teaching me to cast and fish. An outstanding tournament caster and avid Bass fisherman, we spent countless hours together. He liked rods that could do it all: roll cast, mend line and play fish. In accordance with John’s wishes, the 834-2 OJS has the medium-slow action he liked. This rod was fun to conceive and is another one of my favorites. Although designed for spring creek fishing, I don’t ever remember fishing for trout with John. This stick brings to mind one of the most generous and talented anglers I have ever had the pleasure to know. $2250
John examines my Striper flies at Mario and Per's El Cerrito Shop circa 1996. John is missed.
This is a medium-fast rod designed for spring creek fishing. I like to fish this rod on Hat Creek when the Baetis emerge or on Bone Fish Flats on the Henry’s Fork when the Callibaetis Spinners are falling. The rod throws tight loops and is perfect for accurate casting when stalking large rising fish. This rod comes with a reel seat insert made from Choke Cherry, a shrub native to the Island Park area. According to René Harrop, the shrub was used by local native peoples for making bows and other weapons. René gave me some of this beautiful wood in 1995 and I continue to use it for my 844-2. Without question, I consider this to be my signature rod. $2250
A bamboo rod inspired by my great mentor and friend André M. Puyans, this is my tribute to a master. Andy and I discussed the specs for this stick while driving to Idaho in 1998. The 845-2 AP casts with unusual accuracy, and many people who have used this rod describe it as medium-fast. It is an excellent rod for stalking trout. In 1991 Andy gave me a piece of beautiful French walnut he had kept in a press for 25 years, and every 845-2 AP comes with a walnut reel seat insert. The wood is exquisite, and production of this rod is limited. $2250
885-3 NI with medium flamed Bamboo, English Walnut seat, blued hardware and green wraps with black tipping. (Above)
Nelson Ishiyama is well known for his abilities as a caster, an angler and as a knowledgeable Bamboo Rod aficionado. The 885-3 NI, (8’ 8” #5, 3 piece, Nelson Ishiyama) was designed at Nelson’s request for stalking the large and wary trout of New Zealand. The rod is powerful and has the ability to reach out for long casts. With its fine tips that taper to .058 thousandths, the 885-3 NI can execute a variety of tasks but performs optimally at the 30’-40’ range. $2350
I designed this stick for fishing the fall run of steelhead in our California costal rivers. Use it with dry lines and floating or hitched flies. It comes with a detachable fighting butt. $2250
I fish my 897-2 when I want to land the bass and the stump it’s holding next to! You can really “put the wood to a fish” with this rod. It’s a powerful piece designed for casting large spun Bass Bugs. $2450
When fishing shooting heads for large winter run coastal steelhead, this is the rod to use. The 937-3 ST casts shooting heads with great command and plays large fish with authority. It comes with detachable fighting butt. Try fishing it with a #8 head. $2550
A versatile piece great for fishing BC steelhead, I also like to use it for stripers. This elegant rod throws beautiful long casts. It comes with a detachable fighting butt. $2350.00
This stick is not for the meek. I designed the 939-3 for fishing the Bay with a #10 shooting head and big flies for large game fish like stripers. This rod doesn’t cast: it “goes off.” $2550