|
| Old wooden fly rod |
Question:
What kind of fly lines to use with a wooden (bamboo) fly rod?
Can it be easily restored? What is its value?
Answer:
Leave it alone until you have done some homework. Look in books about bamboo (cane) rods, i.e. identified its maker, date, and thus approximate value. Start in the library.
High-value rods should be restored only by someone who knows what he is doing and uses only authentic materials, e.g. silk for whippings rather than modern fibers. If you use modern glue or thread, you destroy its antique value.
Of course, if it's got little antique value anyway, you can do anything you like to make it fishable.
Fly lines before the 1950s were made of silk braid, coated with varnish-type materials to help them float (with daily greasing.)
Silk fly lines were heavier than is common today, but had a very gentle action allowing good presentation of fine-tipped tapers.
Both cane rods and silk lines must be dried carefully after every use, to avoid water damage (e.g. to the glue that holds the cane splines together.)
|
|
