202206 - Issue 65 Description

June 2022
Issue 65

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The June, 2022 issue of Power Fibers contains:

Spliced Joint Competition Rod

For the 2019 Catskill Rod makers challenge, we were tasked with making a four piece travel rod. I had never built a rod over a three piece and wondered if the additional ferrules would drastically effect the swing weight of the rod. After much discussion with some other rod makers, I decided I would use a splice joint. I can honestly say.....

Bio of Bamboo rod maker of Daniel Gowe

I’m Daniel Gowe of Zia~Rods. I was born in ‘51 and grew up in Southern California, along the San Diego beaches. I graduated from High School in ‘69, then started work as a fireman with the U.S. Forest Service in ‘72. I moved all over the state of California from South to North. After a career in fire management, I then became a Federal Law Enforcement Officer, Defensive Tactics Instructor and Armorer. After my Federal retirement in ‘96, I went back to school to be an Aircraft Mechanic and Pilot. I’m a licensed airplane pilot...

Hex Rod Tube Construction

By the time I made my first bamboo fly rod and case, I had been woodworking and spin fishing for several years but had not tried fly fishing. After going through the process of building my first bamboo rod and learning some new techniques, I really wanted to try put my woodworking skills to the test and make a nice place to store and protect my new rod. I really didn’t do too much research ahead of time, honestly. I think sometimes things turn out better in the end that way. In my mind, I knew what I wanted to make and I was pretty confident....

Avoid nodes, use Vietnamese bamboo!

There was a time when Calcutta cane was considered being superior to Tonkin: “… very few professional rod makers will admit that anything can equal first class Calcutta canes.” (Frazer 1908, p. 36). The first known importation of Tonkin to the USA by Demarest was just before 1895 and Hardy Brothers began to use Tonkin in 1912 (Simmonds 1956). Several years later, Calcutta cane was out of fashion. It is a common phenomenon when something works well, people hesitate to......

Use of Rare Earth Magnets to Attach Caps to Rod Cases

enjoyed reading the descriptions of various means (hinges, straps, etc.) for attaching the top end cap to its rod case. Here I wanted to share a simple idea, borne out of pure expediency, of using small rare earth magnets.

The idea requires 2-4 magnets, 3/8” dia X 1/10” thick (from Highpoint) that I obtained from the local WoodCraft store.....

How to Make a Basket-Weave Rod Tube

I have made dozens of wooden rod tubes in my shop, and I’ve taught many people to do the same through my volunteer work with Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing. I love the look of a polygonal tube made of fine hardwoods, but back in July of 2019 I was looking for something different. Basket weaving has intrigued me for some time. I’d really like to try my hand at making a split willow creel, but I decided that my first attempt at weaving would be a rod tube.....