Bamboo bait caster??

Bambooflyguy

Bambooflyguy

Legend
I know….not a fly rod. Go ahead and flame me if you want….but it’s bamboo! Something different outta Hotrodz of Burien. I redid one years ago, got some vintage bait casting reels, tied on a lead weight, went to the backyard and pitched and flung like Bill Dance would’ve been proud of! Then I took it to a lake, tied on a Roostertail and proceeded to get nasty bird’s nests! After too many…I trolled instead and C&R’d a couple of trout, put it away and got my fly rod back out.
Recently I went back to the shop and am building another one? Enough fly rods? Bored? Winter shack nasties?? Maybe all….. So here’s what I have so far. Carved pistol grip, two piece scarfed heavy tip, guide feet dremeled, and a custom funky tip top. It’ll probably collect dust with the other one…..

IMG_4123.jpegIMG_4122.jpeg
 
What reel did you use?
My first rod was a steel bait caster with a crappy reel. I hated it. Cast once, sit untangle it. Bad choice to give a 5 year old.
10 years ago I tried a modern rod with a Shimano reel, it was glorious seeing no birds nests.
 
Fourbtgait said:
What reel did you use?
My first rod was a steel bait caster with a crappy reel. I hated it. Cast once, sit untangle it. Bad choice to give a 5 year old.
10 years ago I tried a modern rod with a Shimano reel, it was glorious seeing no birds nests.
Click to expand...
I have several so-so vintage bait casters….bad choice to give a 58 year old! The reel I used was a Bronson “Lashless” model no 1700, (not the one in the picture) should call it the “Birdnest” at least in my hands. I’m a fly guy!
 
With a level wind bait caster, a heavy lure or jig or Texas rigged worm makes life easier. It takes some effort to learn how to cast them (similar to learning to cast a fly rod) but once you get it it's like riding a bike. You always will be able to do it after a few warmup casts.
 
Mike Monsos said:
With a level wind bait caster, a heavy lure or jig or Texas rigged worm makes life easier. It takes some effort to learn how to cast them (similar to learning to cast a fly rod) but once you get it it's like riding a bike. You always will be able to do it after a few warmup casts.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the vote of confidence Mike! Maybe after a few years of warmup casts…..if I can stand it that long!
 
Update on the non fly rod from Baitcasters of Burien! The scarfed version cast a little better than the vintage baitcaster I redid years ago. But then I found out about BFS which means Bait Finesse System which is a fancy term for ultra light bait casting. I made a waaaay lighter/softer bamboo rod from a mid/tip and bought an inexpensive BFS reel. Some of these reels cost way more than vintage Hardy fly reels!!? I was a little concerned about the way vintage vs modern reels are made, but this one fits like it was made for my funky grip! I’m not investing much $$ if it collects dust with the other one, but USPS delivered the reel today when it was pouring down rain but I had to take it to the backyard for a few casts! It flung a medium sized daredevil pretty easy….now I need to take it to a lake soon! Might be fun…..

IMG_4139.jpegIMG_4153.jpegIMG_4152.jpegIMG_4151.jpeg
 
Bambooflyguy said:
Update on the non fly rod from Baitcasters of Burien! The scarfed version cast a little better than the vintage baitcaster I redid years ago. But then I found out about BFS which means Bait Finesse System which is a fancy term for ultra light bait casting. I made a waaaay lighter/softer bamboo rod from a mid/tip and bought an inexpensive BFS reel. Some of these reels cost way more than vintage Hardy fly reels!!? I was a little concerned about the way vintage vs modern reels are made, but this one fits like it was made for my funky grip! I’m not investing much $$ if it collects dust with the other one, but USPS delivered the reel today when it was pouring down rain but I had to take it to the backyard for a few casts! It flung a medium sized daredevil pretty easy….now I need to take it to a lake soon! Might be fun…..

View attachment 145622View attachment 145623View attachment 145624View attachment 145625
Click to expand...
The reel handles on the wrong side with that one too :)
Look nice.
 
That looks nice! Get some bullet nose slip sinkers and 6" rubber worms to set up a Texas Rigged Worm. Cast to the shore then "hop" it and drop it into deeper water. Strike after the first "tick", second "tick" is the worm being spit out. It's fun to feel the hook set.

Mike
 
Mike Monsos said:
That looks nice! Get some bullet nose slip sinkers and 6" rubber worms to set up a Texas Rigged Worm. Cast to the shore then "hop" it and drop it into deeper water. Strike after the first "tick", second "tick" is the worm being spit out. It's fun to feel the hook set.

Mike
Click to expand...
I take it you have some experience with these Mike…..now you need to make one? I made this light version for trout and spiny rays on smaller lighter stuff, but the other rod and extra spool that came with the reel has heavy braid for tossing those “worms” I also have a nice vintage Langley that was redone by a friend for heavier stuff, I like the looks of the vintage reel better.
 
I'm pretty ignorant of the deeper knowledge of bamboo rods to say the least. I've fished a few 4wts in Utah that an old friend there let me try and that's about it.

How stout/powerful could one of these be made in a baitcaster setup? Without being the size of a baseball bat that is.
 
Hey Evan, some vintage bamboo baitcasters were pool cues with guides! Very stout and maybe not as much fun for trout and spiny rays, my opinion. But those who know me I like light shorty bamboo rods, pretty much just a trout fisher nowadays. In the picture you can see the different diameters of the two plug n play rods for this grip. I was lucky when I bought this inexpensive baitcaster reel, it came with the BFS spool lined with 8lb Tripolymer line and the other spool lined with heavier braid.
I wish the vintage baitcaster reels had the adjustments the modern versions have, I like the looks of vintage better. The knobs on these modern ones look cartoonish to me…..as long as the fish don’t care….
IMG_4156.jpeg
 
Bambooflyguy said:
Hey Evan, some vintage bamboo baitcasters were pool cues with guides! Very stout and maybe not as much fun for trout and spiny rays, my opinion. But those who know me I like light shorty bamboo rods, pretty much just a trout fisher nowadays. In the picture you can see the different diameters of the two plug n play rods for this grip. I was lucky when I bought this inexpensive baitcaster reel, it came with the BFS spool lined with 8lb Tripolymer line and the other spool lined with heavier braid.
I wish the vintage baitcaster reels had the adjustments the modern versions have, I like the looks of vintage better. The knobs on these modern ones look cartoonish to me…..as long as the fish don’t care….
View attachment 145679
Click to expand...
I don't fish for trout or spiny rays. I had bigger targets in mind 😉
 
Bambooflyguy said:
Update on the non fly rod from Baitcasters of Burien! The scarfed version cast a little better than the vintage baitcaster I redid years ago. But then I found out about BFS which means Bait Finesse System which is a fancy term for ultra light bait casting. I made a waaaay lighter/softer bamboo rod from a mid/tip and bought an inexpensive BFS reel. Some of these reels cost way more than vintage Hardy fly reels!!? I was a little concerned about the way vintage vs modern reels are made, but this one fits like it was made for my funky grip! I’m not investing much $$ if it collects dust with the other one, but USPS delivered the reel today when it was pouring down rain but I had to take it to the backyard for a few casts! It flung a medium sized daredevil pretty easy….now I need to take it to a lake soon! Might be fun…..

View attachment 145622View attachment 145623View attachment 145624View attachment 145625
Click to expand...

Is that a KastKing Zephyr with the Cross-Fire 8 Button Magnetic Brake System with 6 levels of adjustment and LFTV [Low Friction Tapered Vortex] Funnel shaped line guide and the Ultra-Light Weight Bait Finesse/Skippin' Spool?
 
Tim Cottage said:
Is that a KastKing Zephyr with the Cross-Fire 8 Button Magnetic Brake System with 6 levels of adjustment and LFTV [Low Friction Tapered Vortex] Funnel shaped line guide and the Ultra-Light Weight Bait Finesse/Skippin' Spool?
Click to expand...
Wow…give that man a cigar! Yes it is…..I paid $39 with the extra BFS spool lined included! So I went to a real local lake with a big dock and cast away! I used several different weight lures, made some decent sidearm casts up to 70’ so good enough for fishing distance, that’s as far as I’d cast a fly. Things were going pretty good until I got greedy and tried an overhead cast as far as I could…..got the home birds nest! Meaning I’m going home to untangle this mess! I need to go to a recently stocked lake to play with some dumb fishy’s!
 

Attachments

  • IMG_4157.jpeg
    IMG_4157.jpeg
    425 KB · Views: 7
Bambooflyguy said:
Wow…give that man a cigar! Yes it is…..I paid $39 with the extra BFS spool lined included! So I went to a real local lake with a big dock and cast away! I used several different weight lures, made some decent sidearm casts up to 70’ so good enough for fishing distance, that’s as far as I’d cast a fly. Things were going pretty good until I got greedy and tried an overhead cast as far as I could…..got the home birds nest! Meaning I’m going home to untangle this mess! I need to go to a recently stocked lake to play with some dumb fishy’s!
Click to expand...

Did you do any side arm Skippin ?
 
I’m still skunked on the baitcaster, even on a local lake recently stocked…..the fast ratio reel is too fast for retrieving lures, too slow=weeds. So today while getting my new fishing license I bought a couple of cheap spin floats……can you say bobber and chironomids??
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top