(first published in Virginia Sportsman Magazine)
A lot has been written on the subject of bamboo fly rods, most of it trying to define the magical essence of the cane that seems to draw many of us back to its beauty and history despite the availability of newer high-tech materials. My intention is not to try to put into words what others before me have so eloquently espoused. I’d simply like to help those who are interested make more sense of the choices available to today’s aspiring bamboo enthusiast.
Recently, the fly fishing community has enjoyed a resurgence in interest in bamboo rods. Many classic models from famous makers command prices in the thousands of dollars to the point that the uneducated buyer often suffers under the misconception that any old classic cane rod must be a collectors item and worth a substantial sum. Nothing could be further from the truth. As the owner of a fly shop I see many old rods come through my doors and only 1 in 10 is worth anything more than $100. Only 1 in 100 is a true classic worth over $1000. This actually works in favor of those wanting to fish old cane because many of the “factory” rods from Heddon, Granger and others are not particularly valuable but they are a lot of fun to fish. Take a recent customer of mine for example: he bought a 1926 Heddon rod for about $100, paid $100 to have it restored and ended up with a great fishing tool with a heck of a lot of history attached to it which enriches his experience every time he sets foot on a stream. These “great deals” can be commonplace if you know where and what to look for in a cane rod.
Let me start by laying out some general principles of value that are used in appraising cane rods then some basic categories into which you can fit a given rod to help get a rough idea of its value if you are intending to buy. In addition, if you’ve not ever cast bamboo you may want to stop by your local fly shop and cast one—some find the slower action a bit disconcerting at first and deeply rewarding later.
First, value goes up as length goes down. Rods under 8ft are generally favored and there is a great reason for this especially for those who intend to fish a rod: weight. Heavy rods are not easy (or much fun) to cast all day long. My first cane rod was almost my last for this reason. I was given a 9’ rod of dubious manufacture that also doubled as a casting rod. It was so heavy and unwieldy that I wondered at the sanity of anyone willing to pay more than $50 for such a rod much less the thousands that I knew a collectible would command.
Second, the condition of the rod is of importance but less so if you wish to fish it instead of collecting it. Rod condition encompasses a variety of factors but the most important are the condition of the cane, wraps and hardware. Many bamboo tips, given their age, have been broken and repaired over the years. You can normally spot this by seeing two tips of differing lengths. This is a dead giveaway that the rod has been repaired. Another thing to look for is mis-matched wraps on the guides. Many guides have been reworked and wrapped just to make the rod fishable at some remote time in the past where value was a non-issue. This detracts from the value of the rod but not from its fishablility. Finally, the condition of the cork, reel seat, and the ferule fit will affect value and sometimes fishability. Having the original tube and sock in ones possession also adds to the value of any rod. You should also be aware that well-fished rods (or incorrectly stored rods) often develop a “set” or bend to the bamboo, especially in the tip sections. Minor set is not a huge problem and can usually be worked out. Many rods with slight set fish just fine. I make a personal habit of often turning the rod over when fighting fish to reverse any set my rods would normally take under everyday fishing conditions.
While length and condition of cane rods are important, you should also be familiar with some of the well known names in bamboo history and their characteristics. This will help you make an informed buying decision when the time comes.
Rods break down into basically two categories: Handmade, custom rods and “production” rods. The custom rods command far and away the highest prices.
Production rods are really the meat and potatoes of what we’re talking about here. These are rods that the average trout bum can acquire without selling the Mercedes; rods that don’t make you feel guilty or fearful about fishing them all day. Some of the classics in this category include Orvis, Heddon, Granger, South Bend, and Montague and the many unmarked rods that still exist.
Two of the greatest things about production rods is their more or less high availability and moderate to low price. While quality differs greatly, the Orvis, Heddon, and Granger rods are regarded as the cream of the crop and are terrific fishing tools, many of which are as serviceable today as they were 80 years ago.
So where to find these rods? First off, check your local fly shop. Not all fly shops deal in cane but you can usually find someone there who is a loyal devotee. Antique stores can be a source but my experience has taught me that most of these places think every bamboo rod is a Payne and charge accordingly.
Finally, auctions, especially Ebay, are good places to look and educate yourself. A word of caution on auction sites: Buy only from those that offer a return policy after an initial inspection period. Any reputable dealer should be willing to take back a nice cane rod if it is not exactly what you thought you were buying.
Lastly serious appraisal of rods is best done by those with lots of experience that really know their cane rod history and can appreciate what they are looking at. That being said, there is a wealth of information out there for the lay person who chooses to take the time to educate him or herself. Fly shops can offer appraisal services and there are a multitude of books on the subject. Ebay can be a very good determinate of value, keeping in mind that something is ultimately worth what someone else is willing to pay for it. Mostly these days, however, I’m not that concerned about how much a thing is worth. I only have one question: can I take it fishing?
