Fishing Rod Repair

[RiverRunt]

Years ago, I had Bruce's custom rods from The Lilly Pad fix a split bamboo rod I have. I actually have two from the turn of the century. Bruce did a FANTASTIC job.

Unfortunately, he's no longer in business, I think.

Funny Story.........

When I brought them in, he offered me gigantic money on the spot for one of them, and said it was worth some money. I told him the story, they were handed down to my Great Great Uncle then to my Great Uncle then to My dad, and finally to me.....so I'd ever sell them.

He then went on to tell me history of one of the rods, and that they were made England by a rod maker in 1910 or 1912. He hand made about 20 or 30 rods a year, and only made them for 2 years. He was killed in WW1, I guess, so there were less than 100 of these ever made. They were HIGH dollar back then, and extremely sought after. Bruce said he'd never seen one, and only recognized it from the "label" that partially existed.

They are now insured, and proudly displayed in my fishing room.

I met a professor from Southern Illinois University (study of insects) that was to speak at an annual meeting of Evansville’s Fly Rod Club. He made bamboo fly rods and had brought several works of his art with him. After learning about the process and man hours that went into the construction, I then realized why the bamboo rods are so expensive.