Just received the new book (the limited edition leather bound) from my South African friend, fly fisherman, actor & author Gordon van der Spuy with a personal note. It’s a small world indeed... Thank you Gordon
The book consists of interview with 18 Japanese bamboo makers and also includes a few makers of fiberglass and graphite rods. It is rare to see a Japanese book about fly fishing, building bamboo rods no less, gets published in English from the start.
Although fly fishing became popular several centuries ago in Europe, it is a recent phenomenon in Japan. Historically Tenkara fishing was how people fished the tiny streams for Yamame and other native fish. Fly fishing in Japan (probably for any other Asian country) was virtually unknown until the late 1970's and bamboo rod building wasn't done until the early 1990's. The interviews in this book contains some quite interesting background stories of the makers rather than just about the rods they build.
The eye for details and pure finesse these Japanese makers focus on is incredible. Most use tonkin bamboo as material for their rods, but many also use native madake or yadake bamboo for rods for fishing typical Japanese species like Yamame en Iwana where a 12 inch size is regarded as a trophy.
Although English not being the author's native language, the author did a great job. However, it is clear that syntax used has a Japanese origin. The Japanese language has a different grammar than English as well as a more philosophical 'tone' to it. Also interesting is the typical Japanese (Asian?) humour from both the author as well as the interviewed makers.Martin Keane's book 'Classic Rods and Rodmakers' (1976) was a milestone for American bamboo fly rod aficionados and Mostly Bamboo is destined to have a similar status among Japanese bamboo fans.
The book can be bought here. If you're in Europe you can also order the book here.
Art Flick suggested in his book ‘New Streamside Guide’ spade hackles for Variants. Spade hackles have long, straight and stiff barbules making them ideal for Variant type flies and tailing for dry flies. Unfortunately in this genetic hackle era spade hackles seems to have gone obsolete.
The larger upper feathers of capes are usually left unused or sometimes used for tailing material. Some feathers have nice straight barbules, others have a curve. Also check for webbing as it makes the barbules less useful for either hackling or tailing. Somehow in his time Flick managed to get very stiff spade hackles for his Variants.
Here's a great video with Craig Mathews tying some of his favourite patterns.
Time to go back in time during this pandemic. Back in November 2006 I went fishing for winter graylings in Austria. I caught a nice brook trout in one of the tributaries of the Ischler Traun. Ed Felker made a wood carving of the brook trout and sent me a print. This print has been stored in the original card box tube ever since (13 years!).
I finally framed this print. Thanks Ed!
Jack Dennis is putting a lot of nice commercial videos from the late 1980's on his YouTube channel. I watched a lot of those videos back then, often not so good screen quality being copies.
Here's a video, Introduction to fly casting with Terry & Wendy Gunn, on fly casting instruction that's new to me. It's a pretty easy going yet quite elaborate. It basically handles all the basic casting one needs to know. It's also interesting to see how this couple (Terry & Wendy Gunn) have different casting styles. He has a more vertical and shoulder motion casting movement while his wife Wendy has a more side angled and elbow casting movement.
In my opinion the shoulder casting movement is a lot easier to learn as the movement is '2D'. All the movement are moving in one plane, just like how you move your arms when you're running. The Elbow casting movement is a much more complex '3D' movement as it involves your elbow, upper arm and your shoulder moving in different directions.
One casting style isn't better than the other but it's something one should be aware of as your casting level reaches a certain level of competence and you start to teach beginners with their casting. You should know how to keep your casting instructions consistent and not to confuse the student if what you're telling doesn't correspond with the casting movements you make.
Here's a very interesting video with walking fly fishing historian John Shaner talking about the history of bamboo fly rods.
Finding the bamboo, the materials and equipment for construction, the language problem (my English is not good), the study dedicated to design and initially understanding Garrison's calculation system, from which I later departed. Like many, I have lost nights and weekends. It's my great passion, personal satisfaction.
To achieve this with bamboo rods dedicated to the TLT, it is inevitably necessary to oversize the rod in many points, it happened to me at times to try rods that reported the wording for line 3, but which in reality should be calibrated for a line 6.
3) Q: Do you have a rod builder (present or past) who inspires you?
My blonde or flamed rods can have different types of finish. I never liked the idea of making rods that are all the same aesthetically, I like to play with colors and combinations but always with a good taste. I think the reel seat and the varnish are also elements that distinguish my rods, and of course the tapers, which I really care about, also here I wanted to look for the ideal rod for every length and application.
"Although I have been making bamboo rods for many years, it is only recently I do it full time commercially. I know that I am very appreciated by those who know my work but perhaps not yet well known in certain circles. Beyond the Italian market, I am fortunate to have customers in various countries of Europe and the United States. I must tell you that I am very happy with my American customers who have been enthusiastic about the quality of my rods.
The podcast with Jim McLennan in Anchored Outdoors is one of the best I’ve listened for a long time. History is a big part of the interview which is really interesting.
