Took the Bamboo plunge

[Russell]

I've had the urge to pick up a bamboo rod the last few years but without rods around to try and a limited knowledge of them and without the ability to try them I have been hesitant. I was able to try a couple rods last year and liked an 8' 5wt stone cascade rod and have been looking for one to come up for sale but have not been quick enough to acquire one.
Had a different rod opportunity come up and took the plunge. Just arrived and hopefully it will work out for what I am hopping for. Will have to test some lines out and put a fish on it. Will be back with a report.
Any advise appreciated.

 

[Bambooflyguy]

Hi Russell,
Nice looking bamboo rod! Try it with a 5/6 wt dry line. I use Cortland Sylk dry lines on my bamboo, both WF and DT. Although most lines will be fine with modern bamboo. Now you need a vintage Hardy reel to hang under your new rod! What type of fishing are you going to use your bamboo?

 

[Russell]

Hi Russell,
Nice looking bamboo rod! Try it with a 5/6 wt dry line. I use Cortland Sylk dry lines on my bamboo, both WF and DT. Although most lines will be fine with modern bamboo. Now you need a vintage Hardy reel to hang under your new rod! What type of fishing are you going to use your bamboo?

I actually have quite a few vintage hardy's but I have a hardy copy, thompson 100, I will be using on this rod. Plan on using it for western river trout fishing. Was looking for a versatile rod that would fish dry's, soft hackles and streamers. Have some DT SA lines I'm going to try.

 

[Bambooflyguy]

That reel matches the seat hardware “perfectly!” So when’s the first trip/fish??

 

[Mike Monsos]

It's surprising how different lines from different manufactures will cast on a bamboo fly rod (I like 406 Fly Lines myself, no financial interest). Looks like you will have a nice balance with your Thompson 100 choice you have mounted. To easily sample many different lines just leave the testing reel and line on the ground and string up the rod through the guides. Do some test casting then try another line the same way (keeps the balance factor even doing it this way). When you find the line that hits the sweet spot, load up your reel with it and go fish it.

 

[Kado]

There's something about stringing up a bamboo rod by the water that feels just a little better. It gets me to slow down and enjoy each moment of why I'm out there.

 

[Dave Westburg]

+1 for 406 lines.

 

[Russell]

It's surprising how different lines from different manufactures will cast on a bamboo fly rod (I like 406 Fly Lines myself, no financial interest). Looks like you will have a nice balance with your Thompson 100 choice you have mounted. To easily sample many different lines just leave the testing reel and line on the ground and string up the rod through the guides. Do some test casting then try another line the same way (keeps the balance factor even doing it this way). When you find the line that hits the sweet spot, load up your reel with it and go fish it.

+1 for 406 lines.

Never thought of testing lines that way. Slick, will try it that way.
What properties do you guys like about the 406. I believe it is manufactured by SA how does it differ from the SA DT offerings?
Would like to try a dt peach, dt 406, and a wulff triangle taper long.

I have a DT 444SL cortland, a SA Mastery DT, and a SA DT ultra4 supra line to try. Also have a SA GPX DT that is a 5.5wt to try. Hopefully one of these will shine with the rod and save me from buying more lines.

Will get it out tomorrow for fishing/testing up in the sierras

 

[Mike Monsos]

I like the 406 lines because they feel thinner than most other lines I have. The lines feel like there is less wind resistance because of the thinner diameter and carry the cast farther because of it. I think they feel as close to a silk line as you can get with a plastic line. If you are near Redmond sometime we can cast mine on your rod and you can decide.

 

[Bambooflyguy]

I like Cortland Sylk lines because they too are smaller in diameter made for bamboo/fiberglass like 406 lines. Sylk lines have no memory like me and float high….I’ll have to try a 406 line sometime….
Your dry lines will be just fine Russell….the fish don’t care!

 

[clarkman]

I always liked the Sylk & Peach from Cortland when I regularly fished bamboo. Aren't 406 made by Cortland? Just to his specs...if so, id look there too, though I've never tried them. It seems hard to find a true to weight line these days.

 

[Rye_Tyler]

Wulff Long Belly or Wulff Bamboo special, (same line just color is different) is superb.

 

[Creatch’r]

To easily sample many different lines just leave the testing reel and line on the ground and string up the rod through the guides. Do some test casting then try another line the same way (keeps the balance factor even doing it this way). When you find the line that hits the sweet spot, load up your reel with it and go fish it.

Wow. This is an amazing tip. So simple yet I’d never think of that lol

 

[Para_Adams]

Congrats on your 8'3" Sweetgrass! It's made by one of the most highly respected and beloved makers in the bamboo world, Glenn Bracket, who gained his fame as the longtime head bamboo rod maker at Winston. The Mantra series are a model line Glenn created to make a more affordable option for his clients by offering a one-tip rod rather than selling it with the second, spare, tip. He changed the cosmetics somewhat vis-a-vis his standard Sweetgrass line as well, but the only real difference is a somewhat more budget reel seat which IMO still looks great and works great. Otherwise, it's identical to his top tier line of rods. I've cast an 8'3" Mantra Quad made with four strips. From what I've read, I think I would like your Penta five strip rod even better as a lot of folks really like the way they cast.

Hanging that Thompson reel on it is pure class, and I think its cool that it gives the rod a San Francisco vibe...Glenn Bracket came from SF and made rods with Winston when it was in SF before moving with Winston to Montana. And the Thompson reels were also made in SanFran. So cool! Your kit is not only a pair of great fishing pieces, but also a nod to the history of classic fishing gear arising from the Western tradition as opposed to the more common East Coast tradition.

Lastly, my picks for lines would be a 406 or a Wulff Triangle Taper. Expect the rod to be a medium to medium fast rod working best with a casting stroke that is paced to enjoy to rod's flexing design. Here's a pic of my 8-3 Mantra Quad flexing on a stream in Oregon a few years back, I'm guessing your Penta will be one notch faster than the Quad...

 

[Cliff]

I've had the urge to pick up a bamboo rod the last few years but without rods around to try and a limited knowledge of them and without the ability to try them I have been hesitant. I was able to try a couple rods last year and liked an 8' 5wt stone cascade rod and have been looking for one to come up for sale but have not been quick enough to acquire one.
Had a different rod opportunity come up and took the plunge. Just arrived and hopefully it will work out for what I am hopping for. Will have to test some lines out and put a fish on it. Will be back with a report.
Any advise appreciated.
View attachment 118829
View attachment 118830

Gorgeous rod!

 

[Russell]

Congrats on your 8'3" Sweetgrass! It's made by one of the most highly respected and beloved makers in the bamboo world, Glenn Bracket, who gained his fame as the longtime head bamboo rod maker at Winston. The Mantra series are a model line Glenn created to make a more affordable option for his clients by offering a one-tip rod rather than selling it with the second, spare, tip. He changed the cosmetics somewhat vis-a-vis his standard Sweetgrass line as well, but the only real difference is a somewhat more budget reel seat which IMO still looks great and works great. Otherwise, it's identical to his top tier line of rods. I've cast an 8'3" Mantra Quad made with four strips. From what I've read, I think I would like your Penta five strip rod even better as a lot of folks really like the way they cast.

Hanging that Thompson reel on it is pure class, and I think its cool that it gives the rod a San Francisco vibe...Glenn Bracket came from SF and made rods with Winston when it was in SF before moving with Winston to Montana. And the Thompson reels were also made in SanFran. So cool! Your kit is not only a pair of great fishing pieces, but also a nod to the history of classic fishing gear arising from the Western tradition as opposed to the more common East Coast tradition.

Lastly, my picks for lines would be a 406 or a Wulff Triangle Taper. Expect the rod to be a medium to medium fast rod working best with a casting stroke that is paced to enjoy to rod's flexing design. Here's a pic of my 8-3 Mantra Quad flexing on a stream in Oregon a few years back, I'm guessing your Penta will be one notch faster than the Quad...

View attachment 119086

Congrats on your 8'3" Sweetgrass! It's made by one of the most highly respected and beloved makers in the bamboo world, Glenn Bracket, who gained his fame as the longtime head bamboo rod maker at Winston. The Mantra series are a model line Glenn created to make a more affordable option for his clients by offering a one-tip rod rather than selling it with the second, spare, tip. He changed the cosmetics somewhat vis-a-vis his standard Sweetgrass line as well, but the only real difference is a somewhat more budget reel seat which IMO still looks great and works great. Otherwise, it's identical to his top tier line of rods. I've cast an 8'3" Mantra Quad made with four strips. From what I've read, I think I would like your Penta five strip rod even better as a lot of folks really like the way they cast.

Hanging that Thompson reel on it is pure class, and I think its cool that it gives the rod a San Francisco vibe...Glenn Bracket came from SF and made rods with Winston when it was in SF before moving with Winston to Montana. And the Thompson reels were also made in SanFran. So cool! Your kit is not only a pair of great fishing pieces, but also a nod to the history of classic fishing gear arising from the Western tradition as opposed to the more common East Coast tradition.

Lastly, my picks for lines would be a 406 or a Wulff Triangle Taper. Expect the rod to be a medium to medium fast rod working best with a casting stroke that is paced to enjoy to rod's flexing design. Here's a pic of my 8-3 Mantra Quad flexing on a stream in Oregon a few years back, I'm guessing your Penta will be one notch faster than the Quad...

View attachment 119086

Quite the endorsement! Without any first hand knowledge, I knew what this was when it came up for sale and jumped on it knowing I could move it on if it wasn't for me.
Fishing trip today did not work out but was able to take it down to the river by the house and try some of the lines I have. I did not expect night and day since all the lines I have are double taper and I believe true to stated weight. Out of the Cortland 444sl, SA mastery DT, and the older SA DT supra, I liked the supra the best. I believe it was the softest most subtle of the bunch.
I believe the biggest thing transition to in going form glass/graphite to the bamboo rod is the application and timing of power. Something to work on for me but I knew right away this was going to be a keeper rod to move forward with. It does want to get pushed into the bend unlike some other bamboo I have tried.
Plastic has already come off the grip....

Russell

I wish we could get more pictures of rods loading during the cast like you posted Ron. I have seen them before but if shops had these with all the different rods it would be much easier to find likes and differences between rods.

 

[Para_Adams]

I wish we could get more pictures of rods loading during the cast like you posted Ron. I have seen them before but if shops had these with all the different rods it would be much easier to find likes and differences between rods.

Getting a bit off topic, but here's a cool shot of my son's bamboo rod getting a haul on the St Joe. Love that deep bend, and love the way the rod springs forward to send the dry fly to the waiting cutt. This happens to be a Granger 8040 taper rod...nice progressive taper, you can see how the bend reduces in the butt section. I would like to spend some extra time photographing rods in action, but I'm usually too busy fishing to get out the camera!

 

[Tim Cottage]

There's something about stringing up a bamboo rod by the water that feels just a little better. It gets me to slow down and enjoy each moment of why I'm out there.

I agree. Rituals can play an important part of the whole experience.