Foster Bros. Bamboo Rod line question...

mattsavage

mattsavage

Steelhead
Hi, so I was gifted a vintage bamboo rod from my father in law for my birthday last weekend. Its an 8' Foster Bros. "Brook" series. Alegedly its a 5wt, but in my uneducated and unexperienced fly fishing mind it feels a bit lighter than that. I purchased an older 5/6 Orvis Battenkill disc off the internets to go with it.

This will most likely be a creek to mid size river rod for me, think maybe Upper Metolius, Upper Clackamas, some coastal creeks for resident cutties. Dry's, dry droppers.... I don't really do wet flies or streamers. I get underwater with my euro rod.

So, my question is, what line should i put on it? I borrowed my FIL's Ross reel, but he doesn't recall what line he had on it. I was having a hard time with the shorter casts, needed to get out there 30-40' before it got good (for me, coming off fast,cheap chinese graphite rods, not having cast a bamboo rod at all). Double Taper, weight forward? Long taper, short taper...? I'm still a novice at the fly fishings, not alot of experience with different line types from different manufacturers...

So, any recomendations for a seemingly noodly 8' 5wt bamboo tossing dries for trout? Thanks!!IMG_0244.jpgIMG_0245.jpg
 
My thought is that line was undersized for the rod at the distances you want to use it. If you have some trout reels with 5's and 6's go out to an open grassy field and cast them to get a feel for them. Take the favorite 2 or 3 out and fish them, as I always think it behaves a bit different when fishing. A size big, 6WF line might be the ticket, and use the DT 5 for longer casts when you want to carry more line.
 
Hey Matt, I’d try multiple line weights: 4-6wt. Either DTs or long bellied WF lines like SA Trout.

I’ve never fished bamboo but from what I understand it’s similar to glass in that they can cast multiple line weights—just depends on what you like and what you’re going for with it.
 
Two good options 406 fly lines out of montana. They make modern fly lines for bamboo. Or the tried and true classic cortland sylk. I'd use a double taper. It will put more grains in the air. If the rod seems a little choppy at short casts it might mean it's a 6 weight and not a 5 weight.
 
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Matt, where are you located? If you're in Western Wa we should meet at at park some saturday and put the rod through its paces with 5 and 6 weight fly lines - 406, wulff triangle taper, wulff bamboo, cortland sylk, cortland spring creek...lots and lots of possibilities.
 
I have a Foster Brothers rod, too, and have never been able to find the right line for it. Not that I've tried too hard, though. It is noodly and heavy, too. If you want to do an ad hoc bamboo day, I can bring a bunch of lines and meet you somewhere in Portland.
 
PhilR said:
I have a Foster Brothers rod, too, and have never been able to find the right line for it. Not that I've tried too hard, though. It is noodly and heavy, too. If you want to do an ad hoc bamboo day, I can bring a bunch of lines and meet you somewhere in Portland.
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Hey Phil, I'm in North Portland, Kenton neighborhood... We could meet at the fields at PIR if thats not too far for you. Lots of space, rarely very windy. I"m out of town this weekend, but maybe sometime in the next few weeks or after work before it gets dark. Or someplace closer to you/in between can work too.

@Dave Westburg, I'm just over the I-5 bridge from Vancouver. Where in SW Wash. are you? Getting a few locals together could be a fun bamboo experience. I'm a little hooked on it and would love to learn more.
 
mattsavage said:
Hey Phil, I'm in North Portland, Kenton neighborhood... We could meet at the fields at PIR if thats not too far for you. Lots of space, rarely very windy. I"m out of town this weekend, but maybe sometime in the next few weeks or after work before it gets dark. Or someplace closer to you/in between can work too.

@Dave Westburg, I'm just over the I-5 bridge from Vancouver. Where in SW Wash. are you? Getting a few locals together could be a fun bamboo experience. I'm a little hooked on it and would love to learn more.
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I'm unfortunately in Kirkland WA so it would be quite a drive to portland to cast some fly rods.
 
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