Bamboo Fly Rod Classes and a book on the subject

 Bamboo fly rod classes are private, one on one classes. I can, however, accept two students. There is an emphasis on having a great time and constructing a great fly rod. We will have after hour chats covering all aspects of rod making, fishing, fly tying, watching videos, (which you will get copies of ) Cost $1250.00 per person. student can stay in my home having  a private guest room with bathroom. This will save on expense, however I expect you to share in meal expense. (Taking me out for dinner counts).I charge a modest $10.00 per night to stay here. If there are 2 of you, you will have to rough it here (perhaps camp or stay in your trailer)or get a hotel. I recommend flights to Spokane and a connection to preferably Pullman, WA.  

 It will take approximately  6 days to have the rod ready to wrap. I encourage you to take extra time (4 days) to learn how to wrap and varnish the rod. There will be no extra charge for this time I spend with you. If you are unable to spend this time, or for some reason cannot complete your fly rod, I can complete the rod and ship it to you.
Upon your committment to my class you will be provided with a pdf of my detailed study guide before arriving.
Make sure to bring plenty of note paper (a couple of legal pads are good).
You also will want a digital camera and, or, video recorder or sound recorder. 

 1. Discuss the rod to be built and make sure you are aware of the behavior of the rod you will select by casting these rods.
2. Select the bamboo culm and prepare it for making strips(tiger stripe, flamed, or blonde).
3. Splitting the culm and making strips.
4. Preparing strips for rough planing (filing ,and or sanding, node spacing and heating and pressing nodes.
5. Rough planing to establish 60 degree angles
6. Binding and heat treating strips.
7. Secondary and final planing,removing enamel and plane blade sharpening.
8. Gluing strips and binding them together.
9. Sanding and scraping the blank to make sure taper numbers are accurate.
10. Ferruling the blank and and adding the cork rings that will form the grip.
11. Preparing and fitting the ferrules as well as sanding the cork to desired
      shape.
12. Selecting hardwood for real seat and turning the wood on the lathe.
13. Discussion of guide placement and how to find the spline.
14. Making the snake guides.
15. Wrapping the rod and applying varnish to the wraps.
16. Final finish to the rod by sanding and use of the varnish dip tank. 

 All techniques and use of tools will be discussed during the above procedures. You will be given information on the best tools to use and where to buy them. Upon completion of the class, you will then be able to produce a bamboo fly rod on your own. You can get support from me at anytime in the future at no charge. 

           “Crafting A Bamboo Fly Rod”

By Scott Nilsson

A comprehensive guide containing 34 chapters with illustrations and some tapers.

Available here         http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0692615318/?tag  or

click on picture at right (desktop, or above on mobile device) if you need to get to my site contact page to get a a signed copy.

 

This book was written primarily to encourage the non-professional craftsman. The purpose of this book is to help you on your journey to make a bamboo fly rod by minimizing frustration and confusion. It is intended to take some of the anxiety out of the process, which often prevents a fly fisher’s desire to go ahead and make a fine bamboo rod. Making a fine bamboo fly rod is not as difficult as you may think. My son, Tor, made a fine rod when he was twelve years old.

Some of the steps in building a bamboo fly rod are critical and deserve much more attention than do others.  There will be enough things to learn about without   getting Overwhelmed over small details. I will do my best to point out to you how to make your experience as simple as it can be, while at the same time, minimizing your frustration. I have spent countless hours studying this process and have faced every imaginable pitfall. It is because of this experience, that I have been able to streamline and prioritize the steps required to make a bamboo rod 

It is a fact, and always will be, that as in any profession, there will be disagreements on the principles and techniques used to accomplish a goal. I am sure that in my profession, that there will be those who disagree with the methods that I use to construct a fine bamboo fly rod. It is their right to do so. My goal is to produce a fine, good looking fly rod that is fun to use, gives pleasure during its use, and is durable. I simply enjoy seeing a person make a bamboo fly rod when the techniques are translated to him in a manner that will assure his success. I have made many dozens of fly rods for customers throughout the United States. Those customers have given me comments that have made my adventure in making bamboo fly rods extremely rewarding. books on making bamboo fly rods bamboo fly rod classes