Bamboo

Personally, I wouldn't say that they are "better" than graphite although they are a pleasure to fish with. I have an Orvis Midge built in '69 that I use quite often when fishin for trout. The action is mch slower than the graphite's that I own as is customary for many boo rods. The thing I enjoy most about this rod is that when you hook up, you can feel every quiver of the fish in your rod hand. It truly is an amazing thing. As far as price of 'em, you gotta understand the process that goes into creating them.  These builders are true craftsmen.

City Fisher,
    If your grandfathers' bamboo rod is in decent condition (fishable) there is no reason that it couldn't be used for appropriate fish.  the important thing to remember is that bamboo is/was a living thing and it will get brittle with age.  But if you just step down one line size it should be perfectly usable, and with proper restoration it can be made as good as, or better than new; depending on who made the rod.  Some of the old bamboo rods were crap when they were made, and some were wonders of engineering.

Ugly stix go hard, in my opinion any other rod is just plain stupid to own

ya i guess thats all true

Ugly stix go hard, in my opinion any other rod is just plain stupid to own

Hey im not sayin that ugly sticks are bad, i love using them baitfishin but if you think that any other rod is stupid to own, you have obviously never used any St. Croix rods before.

I like to tell people that bamboo requires a different approach to fishing than more modern materials.  With bamboo it's about slowing down and appreciating the prusuit of the fish and the skill required to land the fish and the feel of the fish on the line, rather than the hook em and yank em approach to modern fishing.  For over 100 years bamboo (when properly constructed) was THE element for fishing.  But bamboo breaks; far easier than other materials.  Plus a well made bamboo rod is VERY labor intensive and therefore costly.  A poorly made machine run rod may lack many of the good characteristics of a hand made or even a hand finished rod.
     Anyway, in a quest for a stronger, cheaper rod material, makers tried: spring steel, steel tubing, fiberglass, boron fiber, and now graphite.  With each you gain something over bamboo;  strength, and ease of manufacture, and cheapness, and you lose the touch and feel of bamboo.   And no matter what the ads may tell you it isn't significantly  more expensive to make a costly graphite rod than it is a cheap graphite rod.  It's easier and less costly, and stronger. 
     We have developed the "land em at any cost" mentality in fishing, and I'll admit I'm subject to that train of thought too.  But bamboo takes a person back to a different skill level and mind set over modern fishing.  I remember when monofilament line was the thing for fishing; so much better than old woven or braided line, now we have fluro, and new combo braided lines.  It's all about evolution of the sport.  But it's fun to step back and try it the "old way" once in a while.
    

Dano,
     Yes There Are!  But whats funny to me is; even though I build bamboo and repair and restore them I'm still super cautious when I take mine out.   Oil City is calling!!

this thread just reminded me to pack my baby boo for tomorrow's excursion to the mtns.  i'm **** when it comes to fancy casting, so a boo is the furthest thing from what i should use.  but what was previously stated, you can feel every inch of the fish when fighting one.  i got a relatively cheap one on ebay last winter $120 range, so not all of them are super expensive.  i've had fun with it.  

Jack you put it very well & yes I fish my bamboo all summers when the tricos are on & midges all year hope to fish some BWO'S before winter with it

I have a bamboo rod for steelhead which I have used in Cleveland and Erie....it's an 8-1/2 foot 7 weight....the action is parabolic, meaning it bends pretty far down...Bamboo is not better than graphite as it is much heavier.....What it is, is nostalgic....my 7 weight weighs around 5-1/2 ounces and the reel is around 9 ounces or so....you do a days worth of fishing casting nearly a pound and you're worn out

I have repaired and restored about 200 cane rods over the past 17 years,  for myself, my 3 sons and many customers.  They do not break easier than other rods, do not become brittle over the years, but as stated previously, are more sensitive to vibrations created either from nymphs dragging bottom or a fish inhaling a nymph.  Most of my cane rods are in the 80-110 year old class and going strong!  We fish cane only 24/7.  It's all we own as I've been fortunate enough to acquire most of them inexpensively and repair/restore them to put them back into good everyday service........

   Cane rods become brittle from neglect, by chipping the varnish or not air drying the rod after a day's fishing, thereby allowing moisture to penetrate the glue lines and dry-rot the rod from the inside out.  I've turned people away after inspecting the rod they wanted restored to fishable condition after determining there is evidence of mildew and dry rot under the varnish.  Attics and car trunks in hot weather are also brutal on the glue lines of older rods that were assembled with horse hide or other animal hide glues.  If the delaminations aren't detected, the rod "breaks" when the owner first starts fishing, then inaccurately assumes the rod became "brittle" and is rendered useless.......

   With proper care, my rods should last another 80+ yrs. in my possession or the grandkids'..........  It is nostalgic to fish with rods that were new nearly a century ago, but if they weren't good tools, the fun would dissipate quickly.  When you buy a "club", which is usually a mass-produced rod such as some Montagues or South Bend rods, they will wear your arm out by day's end!  .  Yes, they (cane) are heavier than graphite, but with a reel with sufficient weight to counterbalance it, your wrist becomes the fulcrum and casting becomes a pleasure with the better quality rods.    I never recommend switching from cane to graphite and back again until you've really developed an acute sense for how the cane is supposed to cast/feel.....  I've even stopped and offered assistance to 'boo newbies who appeared to be having trouble with their newly acquired "wand"!

  The cane rod builders deserve every penny they get to craft such fine instruments, so my hat goes off to them!  I built 1 rod and have first hand appreciation of what they do.........

  Canefly