The sport of fly fishing and the associated arts of fly tying and rod building have provided me with so much pleasure and so many friendships through the years, I figured it was about time to give back. But how? Then I recently read something that said the most successful volunteers are those who donate their time doing something they love and at which they have some level of skill.

Unfortunately, beyond my professional career, most of my personal skills reside in hobbies of very little value to others. The truth is, if it's trivial and you can't make any money at it, I'm an expert. I can cast a fly into the next county, but as it turns out, there is no money in it. I can tie the heck out of a fly, but the average professional fly tyer makes less money than a migrant farm worker. I can strum a little guitar, but no one is ever going to confuse me with Eric Clapton, or even pay me to play. The one skill I do have that might be worth a little money to others is the ability to build a bamboo fly rod.

With that in mind, I contacted the one person I know who spends an inordinate amount of her time volunteering to help others, Kathy Scott, for advice. Kat was very receptive to the idea of a bamboo rod raffle and we talked about fly fishing related non-profit conservation groups that might benefit the most from the proceeds of a bamboo rod raffle. I really liked the idea of encouraging teenagers who have displayed an interest in fly fishing, so I decided on the Maine Council of Trout Unlimited Trout Camp as the benefactor.

Kat said if I would build the rod, she would contact TU and get them to handle the administrative end of the process. That sounded great to me. Then I hit Kat with a hair-brained idea of chronicling the process of building the bamboo rod, soup to nuts, on FFIM to generate some interest. Perhaps we could solicit input from the members on taper choice, wrap colors, hardware, spacer wood, and the like. "If you want to go to all that work, I think it would be great to educate people at the same time." Kat expressed with enthusiasm.

So now the task at hand is to turn a 12 foot piece of bamboo into something both beautiful and useful; something that another fisherman might cherish as something truly special. Something that may serve as a family heirloom to be passed along to a son or daughter one day. My goal is to have the rod ready to be viewed and cast at Superboo. That's less than two months away, so I better start splitting cane. Ever wonder why bamboo rods are so expensive? You are about to get a glimpse.

It all starts with a 12 ft bamboo culm:
<img src="http://www.flyfishinginmaine.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=6004&g2_serialNumber=2">

Nice gesture Joel. It will be interesting to watch the progress.

Always a great read. Joel, I am trying to get in touch with you but I dont think my pming is working.

Awesome. That's very generous.

A taper with a Maine connection or pedigree would be cool.

Joel, yeah, a Maine taper--how about an 8' 2/2, either an FET or a Crocker? Can you do a swelled butt on your Hand Mill? If so, the FET would be great--.

bb

Ah my ol' bamboo buddy bear butt, voicing his opinion from halfway across the country in Chi-Town. I'm not sure if an opinion from a non-Maine native should be considered here, Joseph. You know, man does not live by Crocker and FE Thomas alone! And you want to make this as difficult as possible on me, don't you? An exaggerated swelled butt no less! I've never done one but supposedly easily done on my MHM. Next, you'll be asking for the exact browntone coloration!

You know, I still hold you largely responsible for this incurable bamboo disease I've come down with since we first met. If it hadn't been for you and your impressive collection of Thomas, Young, et al, bamboo rods, I'd still be happily, ignorantly, and blissfully casting graphite! The least you can do is to commit to a couple tickets!

Brian, I got your message today, but you'll have to elaborate. Send me a pm detailing the help you need.

This evening I spoke to Joel about this very generous offer to raise money for the 2010 Maine TU Trout Camp http://www.troutcamp.org/ sponsored by the Maine TU Council.

The bamboo rod tickets will go on sale Feb. 6th at Superboo and will be sold until the last day (Friday July 2nd) of the Trout Camp week when the winning ticket will be drawn at the luncheon.

Once Joel decides on which bamboo rod he will build we will then have the raffle tickets designed and printed.

Maybe one of us FFIM members will be the lucky angler to win this fine bamboo rod but you can only win if you buy a ticket!

As an aside, I'd love to see this concept expanded (upon). Builders, makers, tyers, and artists of all sort. Plenty of elbow room for all things fly fishing, no? Success or failure. Post it...

Greg -- if you all get an online sales method setup -- let me know and I'll link it here with these threads. Let's get some money raised for the Trout Camp!

Cheers,
Dan

I have 3 Crockers I can mic if need be.

Andre