Bamboo Fly Rod Maintenance 101 & My Spa treatments

 

above photo: a 17 year old 7'3" 4wt. in superb condition sent to me for reconditioning and some basic TLC. I remember making this rod for this particular client just about the time I had my son. (click on any of the three images to enlarge)
So this particular client did all the right things to maintain his rod. Number one, he fished it hard which brings a smile to my face! Number 2, he wiped it down every time he used it and stored it both on a rack and in its tube. Number 3, he never kept the rod in a hot car or transported it in an “incinerator tube“ on the top of his truck. Never ever transport rods in any kind of vehicle rod carrier, these exterior rod carriers get up to 200 degrees during the summer. These carriers should be all thrown in the trash! Number 4, the rod was always stored dry not wet in its tube. So these are pretty basic rituals, but you should see the horrors I've seen. My basic rod makers circle consists of about a half dozen guys and they all send me “horror pictures” periodically of abused rods. Honestly a lot of them are accidents, but most of them are basic common sense mistakes.

Above tips 1 & 2 in great shape other than some minor bluing scuffs on female ferrule and tip tops. I will touch up minor nicks with my bluing solutions and typically I rub and burnish using hot bees wax. The spa treatment then continues with a hot linseed oil rub down with extra fine steel wool. The reel seat will be recoated with tung oil. Any scratches on the connection points of the ferrules are buffed and cleaned with denatured alcohol. If the rod needs to be re-dipped I typically scuff and clean entire rod before it hits the dip tank and one dip is all I typically need. I do not have to do this often but I do if I'm dealing with a rod that has deep scratches. Deep scratches or digs as I call them I fill using a combination of spar, bamboo dust, and resin. I then buff the blemish out completely using linseed oil and pumice.
The above rod got the basic spa treatment which runs about $100.00 and typically I do not have to fill cork on any of my rods because I don't use filler in the first place. All my grips I turn myself and the grade of cork is excellent. I also strategically measure and glue rings so the cork lenticels are completely concealed. I use a micrometer on each ring as I place it on the gluing mandrels. I only clean cork grips by request. I have had customers ask me to totally recondition their grips and thats not a problem at all. I can make them look brand new, but the natural oils in your hands give the cork a lovely used look about it that honestly shows its been very loved.

So that's a wrap in regards to my bamboo rod spa sessions and what takes place typically on the bench. Thanks for letting me share! ~Clint Bova.   www.cjbovarods.com




POPULAR POSTS