Main Discussion Area > Around the Campfire

Old bamboo fly rod

(1/3) > >>

Mo_coon-catcher:
I went and harassed my grandparents yesterday and my Grampa sent me home with a couple fly rods. One carbon fiber rod to keep, an older bass pro rod. The other is an old split bamboo rod that used to belong to his uncle. He wants me to fix it up and make it useable again since it’s the one that he was given and used as a kid. Currently the tip section has a set to it I need to take out, it’s missing all but 3 guides and the clear coating is cracked. I have no idea of its history or much about it other than its split cane, the rod has a stamp on it saying ‘Simmons royal’, and the reel is stamped Montague rapidan. It’ll be a fun project to clean up, and make useable again. I doubt I can get the old silk fly line, so I’m going to get the modern line that is supposed to act like silk for it.

I’m curious if anyone knows much about these old rods?
This is going to be a slow project I’ll work on this winter on nasty days.

Kyle

DC:
Is this one of those things where you want to do just enough to get it working so as not to destroy the patina? I'd hate to take something like that and ruin it's value(monetary or historical)  by putting a new finish on it or some such thing. Do you have any idea of it's age?

DC:
I did a quick search on " Montague rapidan" and it looks like it's between 70-100 years old. Tread lightly, it looks like treasure to me :)

Hawkdancer:
Did a bit of finger counting, and I agree with DC, the rod and reel are probably at least 100 years old!  The finish is probably varnish and the ferrules would be most likely silk wrapped.  Similar guides may be a bit hard to find, but I think they were all the same size.  I would try to keep the patina on both rod and reel.  Have fun!  Track of the Wolf may have period varnish for refinishing.
Hawkdancer

JEB:
Montague made bamboo fly rods. Didn't know they made reels. Nice combo.  I used to put together fly rods back in the early 70's and have all kinds of new snake guides from back then. If you can't find any I would be glad to send you some.

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page