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Care and Repair

The principal objection to the bamboo rod is that it requires care. A good bamboo rod should not be used for trolling or for strip, slack line, Lake Greenwood or pump pole casting. If you want to use these fishing methods get a cheap wood or steel rod for the purpose.

No fly rod should be left lying on the ground at all or in a boat for any length of time; neither should it be permitted to lean against a tree or side of a building and don't leave it lying in the hot sun if you can avoid it. Every well-regulated camp should have a rack for the rods.

After using a rod straighten it carefully with the hands, wipe it off with a dry cloth and insert the fer­rule stoppers, if your rod has them, before putting it in its case. It is a good plan to use tips alternately and have one hanging up straightening at all times.

Keep the ferrules oiled or rub them along the side of your nose when rigging up. Never twist a ferrule that sticks. Grasp it as close up as possible and pull straight and steady; get some one to help you if nec­essary. A friend avoids all ferrule trouble by carrying a small pack of the finest steel wool. When a ferrule gets balky he rubs the male end with the wool, oils it, inserts it as far as it will go in the female, gives it a couple of turns and repeats until he has a good fit. Never use pumice, emery or a file on a ferrule.

The best place to store a rod not in use is in a dry room of cool and even temperature. Hang it up by the tip if possible, and it will always keep straight; otherwise hang each joint small end up. If the tips have a set straighten them carefully with the hands and suspend them with a small weight at the lower end.

If kept in a warm room, especially where there is steam heat, the wood will expand and shrink with the varying temperature and this will loosen the ferrules. Go over your rods early in the spring and either send them to the tackle repair shop or put them in shape yourself. Frayed windings, and sometimes all of them, should be renewed, shaky ferrules reset and the rod given several coats of good varnish applied with a camel hair brush in a warm room and dried where dust cannot get at it. In fact frequent varnishing is " heap good medicine" for wood and bamboo rods and one could pervert a proverb in this connection: Spare the varnish and spoil the rod. If the tips have developed a tendency toward " softness" renew the windings at closer intervals. If you must keep your rod on its form be careful not to tie the strings too tightly.

When going on a fishing trip far from home it is advisable to carry one of the repair kits sold by the tackle dealer. I hope you will never have to use it but you will feel better if you have one along.

Related terms include trout flies and fly fishing guide.