Too cold here to go fishing (not into ice fishing) so I decided to refinish a bamboo flyrod that was my grandfathers. The rod is 3 piece and is 7' 9" long and has two tip sections. I plan to have it ready for our annual trout flyfishing trip to the Wisconsin Driftless area this Spring.
I removed all the old guides, cork handle and reel seat and removed the old varnish. The metal ferrules were cracked so I ordered new nickel silver ferrules and turned the bamboo down to fit the new ferrules using my lathe. I used a foam brush to apply three coats of spar varnish to the bamboo before attaching the ferrules, a new cork handle and an exotic wood (Amboyna) reel seat with nickel silver components.
I marked the location of the new guides using masking tape and will use red silk thread to attach the guides. Still haven't received the new guides but here's some pics of the rod so far...
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The flyrod was probably made in the 1940s or 50s and it will be as good as new when it's completed. I also found some feathers I received from my grandfather that I will use to make some flies. Can't wait to try it out to honor my grandfather. I'll post a video using the rod when I get back from the trip this Spring.
