A long time ago took an Uncle up to Pulaski for Salmon. He had been a Game Warden and hunted and fished HARD his entire life.
We stayed at Jims, ate at C&M and fished DSR-was around 5 to 15 a day back then. We had been up a few times together and our routine was to have Duke smoke whatever we caught the first day on the river.
This first day my old Uncle brought an antique Bamboo Fly rod with him. Said he wanted to catch a Salmon on it, put it up, and then fish with his newer rod. Really wanted to get one on that old Bamboo.
Well after a while he hooked a Hen (legit) on the far side of the run and proceeded to play her very carefully. It took quite a while with the Bamboo and the fish cooperated by only making runs of 50 yards or so.
After a while the line went slack --Oh Well- a good effort.
As he reeled the slack line all of the sudden the line shot out and it all started again--the Hen and come in and lay right at his feet in a pool.
It was GREAT.
Well the fish was landed and smoked and we commonly spoke of the experience over time.
He is in a Rest Home now with  dementia. Visited a couple of days ago, sadly, he didn't remember much but he DID recall that fish and the Bamboo rod story very well- smiling throughout.
It was GREAT all over again.
His son- also a hard hunting and fishing retired Game Warden came along and I told him how his father had distinctly recalled that fish story.
He said "follow me" and took me to a storage locker where his fathers stuff was now kept--Long story short- he gave me that Bamboo rod.
I had forgotten the metal tube it was in (until I saw it) and never had noticed it was an Orvis. Recalled him taking the tube down to the river with the rod in it.
Its an Orvis 2 pc impregnated Battenkill 8 1/2 ft 4.5 oz.- I put an old Orvis level wind Clearwater reel on it.
Fully intend to go out ( even though its 90 degrees today ) and catch a Trout on that rod.
 
 
 

Great story r3 thanks for sharing.

Good luck fishing, we'll be waiting for the outcome and hope to see pictures of fish and rod.

That's perhaps the best story that's ever been on this forum. That 'boo has mojo, it'll catch more fish. Good luck with it, T.

Was 93 in mid afternoon on a sunny day. Great time to fish for trout -lol.
Took 3 stockies in an hour or two and released all.
Rod was just fine.

Absolutely fabulous story.

They last conversation I had with my Dad before passed at 91 was also in a home where he was suffering from dementia. He told me the story about hunting pheasants with my wife and I ( we were both in the room, but he didn't know who we were). So perhaps those outdoor memories run even deeper than we think.

Absolutely fabulous story. Hope you continue to fish the rod at least once per year and remember to have a dram or two as a fitting toast

They last conversation I had with my Dad before passed at 91 was also in a home where he was suffering from dementia. He told me the story about hunting pheasants with my wife and I ( we were both in the room, but he didn't know who we were). So perhaps those outdoor memories run even deeper than we think.

Great post Trev,I was starting to think everyone was gone from this board until August.I have several old bamboo rods that my father used many years ago,I have n't looked at them in quite awhile but now I have the urge to dig them out .....for the memories

General info.....booked to visit Salmon country 9/27-10/4 and 10/16 till ?,will be staying at the house on the big field between the LFZ and UFZ again this year.Hope the fishing is better this year!
 

Nice.  Thanks for the story.

Tend to think folks who have the bamboo may not use them because they are afraid to break them.
We have all most likely broken a rod tip or two with conventional equipment and its an easy fix. Not necessarily so with the wood.
I was gonna put this rod up after using it once and then thought- heck -when I'm gone whats gonna happen to it ??
 Now am determined to use it regularly no matter what.