STRADIVARIUS
< or = or > Split Cane Fly Fishing Rods
I
met with a violinist a couple of weeks ago. Had a cup of coffee with
him and started talking about music and suddenly he told me that he
had been invited to one of the worlds most appreciated violinists in our
time; Isaac Stern. Now I'm cutting to the chase. Isaac Stern said
that Stradivari used to walk about in the woods and when he found a
piece of wood he took it home and, did what? He just dropped it on
the floor and then he knew where to use this particular piece of wood
on the violin.
What
has this to do with fly fishing? Everything. Both building an
extraordinary violin and building a supreme split cane rod are both an
ART. The same can be said about playing the violin (my favorite
violinist has always been Ann-Sophie Mutter who owns two Stradivarius
[The Emiliani built 1703 and the Lord Dunn Raven built 1710]) and
fishing with an excellent split cane rod. I've tried quite some of
those rods. Garrison, Dickerson, Sharpe and Farlow and the rod F. M.
Halford used (at least the same type). I don't remember all of them
but the one I have in my possession now, an Orvis Battenkill 704, is
the one I prefer, it really is my cup of tea so to speak. It's my
very own Stradivarius! Using it with a Phoenix Silk Line WF4 is like being
in another world. It goes beyond description.
Isn't it awesome what can be done with natural material? In this case split cane. It really is an art building this kind of rods. And fishing with them too. Usually it's not as easy as with carbon fiber rods or similar. I've fished this rod for some 12 years or so and it still is a joy to tackle it and perhaps put a tiny Jassid on the end of the tippet. Truly enjoyable.
Have fun with whatever you use fishing the fly,
M.O.
 |
| Match Stick Test on Two Parts of my Battenkill 704 |
Have fun with whatever you use fishing the fly,
M.O.
Hi Matts,
SvaraRaderafantastic piece of bamboo. I use a bamboo rod I made from a kit, although it will not be anywhere near as sweet as your Battenkill I like it!
Have you heard of a bamboo rodmaker named Mark Ford? His rods are great but unfortunately i've lost touch with him.
Cheers,
Martin
Hi Martin!
SvaraRaderaI just love that Orvis rod! Even though I most often fish with graphite rods. I guess one of the reasons it that I don't want to brake a splitcane rod again. Yes, I've done it before even though it was a long time ago. I appreciate all natural materials used in fly fishing. But a bamboo rod has something very special about it. I have a friend that restores bamboo rods and through him a get to know rods made of more or less known makers. Still I vote for my Orvis. It's a personal thing. Every rod has it's own personality and me and my rod get along very well. Sorry that I don't know about Mark Ford. I hope you get in touch with him again.
Have fun in your endeavours,
M.O.
Sounds like a great piece of bamboo. I thought I might bring my Agutters cane rod out to Simea this summer & flick a bit of fluff on the Galvan!
SvaraRaderaCheers,
Martin
Hi Labrador!
SvaraRaderaThat would be nice! The upper stretches are the ones to choose.
Have fun preparing during the winter,
M.O.
Fishing with a bamboo rod can be a very intense experience. I often fish with a bamboo rod just to feel and enjoy the rhythm of nature.
SvaraRaderaI have several bamboo rods. I prefer bamboo when fishing small to medium sized streams. Bamboo is just made for this type of water.