Oyster Bamboo rods

J

jerry

Steelhead
Has anyone out there acquired a Bill Oyster bamboo fly rod? If so, are they as beautiful as they appear on their internet site. I have been drooling over them for some time. So far, I have been able to resist, it's a financial issue. One of those things in life that you don't really need but you really, really want. I am willing to have my wife buy me one for my combined birthday and Christmas gift for the next 20 years. But at 80 years old I think it would have to be combined with my memorial gift. Do they give memorial gifts?
 
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Oysters are indeed beautiful. I’ve a friend who has a few of the higher-end oysters (one is specifically designed and built by Bill for albacore out of Westport).

They cast nicely, but I can’t vouch for how they catch. He forgot the top two sections of the custom tuna rod in Utah, and found out…in Westport.
 
jerry said:
Has anyone out there acquired a Bill Oyster bamboo fly rod? If so, are they as beautiful as they appear on their internet site. I have been drooling over them for some time. So far, I have been able to resist, it's a financial issue. One of those things in life that you don't really need but you really, really want. I am willing to have my wife buy me one for my combined birthday and Christmas gift for the next 20 years. But at 80 years old I think it would have to be combined with my memorial gift. Do they give memorial gifts?
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They are the finest rods in the World. My wife bought me my first one as a birthday gift, I was given a second one from my Company and have since bought three more. Not to mention that I have now built fifteen in Oyster classes.
 

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hartwilliford said:
They are the finest rods in the World. My wife bought me my first one as a birthday gift, I was given a second one from my Company and have since bought three more. Not to mention that I have now built fifteen in Oyster classes.
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Wow! You've built 15 with Bill Oyster! I've talked with them and was thinking of going out there to take his class and meet him! I'm working with Mike Monsos out here and loving the process! Can't wait to get it done, however we're going slow and allowing me to learn from Mike! It's a marathon, not a sprint! I have 5 bamboo rods, but this will be the first bamboo of many that I build.

I'm thinking of getting a 2 handed spey bamboo, probably from David Reid, but not sure when and he has a long waitlist. Now I want to see Bill's rods even more! If that's even possible!

Cheers!
 
hartwilliford said:
They are the finest rods in the World. My wife bought me my first one as a birthday gift, I was given a second one from my Company and have since bought three more. Not to mention that I have now built fifteen in Oyster classes.
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And I thought I had a problem. Still dreaming and drooling.
 
kmudgn said:
I have to admit that I never heard of Oyster Rods. They are beautiful, but I'm just glad that I wasn't in the river when I looked up the prices. I would have fallen in!
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I would pay $15,000 for an Oyster bamboo fly rod if I had $15,000 to spend on a fly rod. The sale price for this Picasso is $95,000. Which piece of art would I hang on the wall? If you said one of Bill Oyster's rods you would be right. I hope I didn't offend any artists out there.
 

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jerry said:
I would pay $15,000 for an Oyster bamboo fly rod if I had $15,000 to spend on a fly rod. The sale price for this Picasso is $95,000. Which piece of art would I hang on the wall? If you said one of Bill Oyster's rods you would be right. I hope I didn't offend any artists out there.
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I've seen and handled a lot of nice and rare bamboo rods, never seen one for $15k though. $10k, many times and it wouldn't surprise me to see one much higher.

Usually for very old rods though..
 
jerry said:
I would pay $15,000 for an Oyster bamboo fly rod if I had $15,000 to spend on a fly rod. The sale price for this Picasso is $95,000. Which piece of art would I hang on the wall? If you said one of Bill Oyster's rods you would be right. I hope I didn't offend any artists out there.
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The problem for me is that I don't hang my cane on the wall and instead, actually USE my bamboo rods. At the price of the Oyster rods, they are absolutely a work of art and like the Picasso hanging on the wall, not something I would take on a stream.
 
kmudgn said:
The problem for me is that I don't hang my cane on the wall and instead, actually USE my bamboo rods. At the price of the Oyster rods, they are absolutely a work of art and like the Picasso hanging on the wall, not something I would take on a stream.
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My efforts will never be considered art I have donated a couple of 70-year-old rods as fund raisers. I was told by the recipients they were afraid to fish them. I explained that the builder 70 years ago made them to be fished. I put some work in them to make them fishable again, catch at least one fish and then hang them on the wall. There is some real talent responding to this, they build their rods to be fished.
 
Make no mistake, Oyster rods are to be fished, but let's just say, much of his clientele tend to be from "that side of the tracks". If you want a highly personalized rod with all the engraving (not my cup of tea), then yes, they are on the very high side, but you can get a basic signature series for about 3K, or take his class, also about 3K + room and board. Personally, I believe there are better buys out there, made by equally skilled craftsmen (some of our own members here)/craftswomen (Olivia Elia).

cheers
 
I have met him and seen his artwork. I would love to have one, but there is no way I would get a rod like that on the river. Lawn cast and only during periods of a right mind. I'm sure I'd have it in the mud and gravel in short order, but that's me
 
These rods are meant to be fished and bamboo is tougher than people think! Doesn't mean you shouldn't be careful, but fish it and enjoy it! Life is too short! Or don't fish it, invite me over and I'll be happy to do so! LOL!
 
flybill said:
These rods are meant to be fished and bamboo is tougher than people think! Doesn't mean you shouldn't be careful, but fish it and enjoy it! Life is too short! Or don't fish it, invite me over and I'll be happy to do so! LOL!
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I'd kept mine for fair weathe/safe days but after so many similar comments on the old forum I spent that summer fishing braces of wets and muddlers with them. Really learned to cast the parabolic Cortland rod that summer. The rods are certainly none the worse off.
 
Bamboo rods are meant to be fished. The last four years that's all I've fished. Winter, summer, salt water, steelhead, mountain lakes, creeks. The impregnated Sharpes bamboo rods are close to indestructible. I'm maybe a little more careful with my varnished Grangers or Winstons or Phillipsons but that doesn't stop me from fishing them.

I have 9' 6 piece graphite orvis 5 weight travel rod that I keep in case I have to travel and need a really small rod I can put in a duffle. My wife won't let me sell her lovely 7' Winston graphite. And I have an 11 foot graphite 5-6-7 weight that I bought for a trip to the Hebrides and can't sell for sentimental reasons. Everything else is bamboo.

Bamboo doesn't need to be expensive. I think I've accumulated my bamboo rods for an average cost of about $300-400 apiece.

Three cheers for bamboo!

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I've learned to appreciate every handcrafted bamboo rod whether from a famous builder past and present, or Steve experimenting with his 'frankenrods'. The key is, a lot of thinking went into the build, and a lot of effort into the design. They feel best with a fish putting a deep bend into it, but still feel pretty good in the hands even when breaking them down after a morning of getting skunked as you can slow down and appreciate wraps, reel seat, and metal work.
I've had the great pleasure of holding a couple of Oyster rods....yes they are beautiful, but for me, not really that much more special than other rods from other builders. His rods have the most outstanding metal work, but I believe he outsources that. I would not turn down the opportunity to fish with one!!!
 
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