Bamboo Pack Rod

This is the first time I've run across one of these "Nickle Silver Rods with bamboo spacers" (as described by John Gierach). Some of the sections were delaminated along with having some mean sets. I was able to straighten quite a bit after gluing everything back together, but didn't push the straightening in a couple of areas - I wasn't sure how much the bamboo could take. This was a "trade" job for Bob, a gent I met at a local antique fair - I got a couple of project rods, some parts & tubes in exchange. As always the intermediates were hell, but made the next job (see below) feel like a wrapping breeze. There is an existing rod sleeve, pretty cool to have a rod you can put in your pocket. Bob & I were pleased with the results, I think it will make a neat display rod.

Unknown South Bend Bamboo Rod

Okay, a "work in progress" post. Here's a South Bend (no markings on rod, but the reel seat is stamped) I'm restoring. The gent had been given my name by the folks at Dry Creek, but the phone number was wrong. I happened to catch his post on The Classic Fly Rod Forum. The rod is rough, missing the ferrule & tip top on the tip - the tip also had a pretty severe set.

Found a ferrule, got the tip straightened up. I added a bit of cork putty to fill a couple of divots in the grip and found that the thread was a dark green with orange tipping - at first glance it looked like dark blue & rust. As usual, the cane is several shades lighter. I began wrapping this morning. Stay tuned.


The wraps are done, 2 coats of lacquer. I will put some spar varnish on the wraps and dip this weekend - I would do it tomorrow but we have a gig at Heritage Highlands. Not sure if I should continue my Granger Favorite or knock out another one to post for sale - all those taxes paid and now I have to enteratain the in-laws the next 2 weeks.

Things turned out nicely and the colors were muted by the varnish. I'm going to rotate the female ferrule on the mid for Bob as it angles just a bit. Time to complete the Granger Favorite.

The Mystery of the Montague Flash

I wish I had the full story on this rod. I bought it in a group with a Wright & McGill Waterseal and 2 tubes. My main desire was the tubes, nice burgandy with gold trim aluminum. The Waterseal was a combo rod and the pictures of this rod were fuzzy, but I could see the paper band on the grip. I honestly doubt this rod was ever fished but I assume it was crushed at some time. The stripping guide was bent, someone had glued a separation in the butt section and wrapped with heavy thread. Inexplicably every male ferrule has a crack - the bane of Montague ferrules, but there are no scratches on the reel seat and the decal is pristine. All I did was bend the stripper back into shape, re-wrap it with vintage Gudebrod Champion nylon thread and dip the butt from the wrap above the decal. The rod casts well, I am fairly certain it would stand up well if fished, but think it should be displayed - it is as clean and straight as any vintage bamboo rod I had have ever seen. I'll probably post it on eBay later today, I don't think any of the collectors on the Classic Fly Rod Forum would have any interest in it.

South Bend 323 8.5' HDH

It's been almost 1 year (July 30) that my house was flooded. Ironically, the only rod that was totally ruined was an HEH version of this same model. This one was in a PVC tube that was used for shipping, water had crept in, soaked the sleeve and after months in storage, smelled like a bloated carp that had spend a week in the sun. Every section had de-laminated, but luckily the wraps held so I was able to reglue everything. I lost the decals, the bottom knob on the reel seat was corroded, but I was able to take it apart, clean and oil it so it does work. I was pretty pleased with the look of the cane considering that I was worried all the power fibers had wasted away. I don't think I will ever be able to sell this so it will be part of the 10 rods I will eventually keep. It does cast a 6 wt Sylk line nicely - it will serve as a reminder of living through adversity.