Fishing Bamboo: An Angler's Passion for the Traditional Fly Rod

Fishing Bamboo captured the why better than I can explain. You either get it or you don’t, much like fly fishing with a hand crafted bamboo fly rod. I fish only small streams and rivers and with a 7’ bamboo 4wt. I sold off 98% of my rods and tackle getting down to rods that equal art. Life can be short, and we only have so much time to spend on our sport. So using gear that equates to a masterpiece of craftsmanship, makes that precious time even more enjoyable. From the Artesian level workmanship and finish to the effortless casting is at the core and this book captures that, including the feeling and emotions rods of that magnitude create.

I must say that I was not looking forward to reading this book as I had heard it was dry and lifeless. Well, true enough. It is really not a typical "Gierach" book full of interesting stories and insight about the fly fishing life. However, it is a very readable book about the story of the bamboo fly rod and I must say, it is full of interesting history and personal insight. For example, Gierach points out that you can feel a bamboo rod load on the back cast which is something that is difficult to feel with graphite. He is right and I had never noticed that before. His gift is to be able to identify those subtle points in life that we don't normally notice easily. Now I let my bamboo load up before the cast. I may be biased though, with this whole bamboo stuff because I just won't buy anything else now. Graphite is great and it gets the job done but it is like comparing finger painting to a monet hanging on the wall. -John

My favorite John Gierach book happens to be whichever one I am reading at the time, and this one is a welcome addition to the list...Anyone who reads his books knows he prefers bamboo rods to all others, and this book is attempt to put why into words. It offers a brief history of bamboo rod and somewhat less than comprensive list of current makers of them. (But geez.. try and find the magazine he mentions on your local newstand though! ) No it is not a large detailed book nor will it allow the rank beginner to go out and build himself (or herself) a bamboo rod. (At least I would not want to try it on Gierach's book alone). But what it is is a wonderful, very readable book on a often forgotten piece of fishing equipment that every angler should try once. Like upland hunting with a fine double, fly fishing with a bamboo rod just "feels right". Its an "unexplainable" and no one comes closer to explaining it that John Gierach....

Very readable, as you would expect from gierech.... but also very short. I got the impression he knocked this one out over a cup of coffee. Having said that, it's fired me with the enthusiasm to fish bamboo in the uk. The fillers at the end on bamboo rod builders & dealers are not as complete as a quick search on the net will provide... which is probably exactly what he did.Worth reading because his enthusiasm & philosophy shines through... but expect to finish reading it in a couple of hours!

Well, i`m a bamboo rodbuilder and also a bookseller. I think Gierach wrote a very good book, for rodbuilders ( also not profs) and for all who like to flyfishing. He tells in short words the history of "bamboo rods" and workmanship. Gierach tells the difference betwen bamboo and "plastic" ( he means graphite rods). Shure, this book has mabye a touch of "golden age", but don`t we all need and live with dreams? Look at the funny,new catalogs of the modern angling industrie - every page a "dream" - and most time not reality! Bamboo rod makers don`t produce for a "mass market", and often work in small places like garages behind her house, an this over decades. And some "big names" are still alive, like the growing numbers of her customers. Yes, this book is sometimes poetic and has no glossy images, but some fine etchings - think thats we call "feeling" - and flyfishing with bamboo is just feeling! Second - books about bamboo rodbuilders are seldom and quick out of stock, this past and present. I think this book will be soon a "Classic".

John Gierach writes what I like to read, quick and clever(not cute). There is a lot of good stuff in this book, but I would have liked to see real pictures of the old rods and a description of the building process. I'm thinking that what this book really is is a public explanation of a passion that really needs no justification. Either that or the rent is due. For some guys it's motorcycles or guitars or cars. For John it's bamboo(never cane) rods. Thanks John.