With the current upsurge in cane use and supply do any readers feel this is justified?
Without trying the old bamboo myself, I have ,however read that cane has more 'feel' and response to playing a fish while carbon has has a more clinical 'cold' touch.
A lot of this thought is down to reading lots of yateseys stuff admittedly, but where does that leave a comparism between say, a cane avon and a B&W Hexagraph, another rod I have no experience of?
Any thoughts on either types of material?

carbon rods, they are the future! - I've used them..

had a go with a couple of older rods...too heavy for my liking, but then that is just my personal opinion...I'm sure Mr Yates, and a few others would disagree...

Fished with a spanish reed designed and built for RW a couple of weeks ago. MAGIC!!! Not heavy, perfectly balanced with a pin, a joy to fish with.

Built cane heavier and not so responsive, but then gudgeon tend not to fight back that much.

What a privilege to use one of the great man's own rods.

Mike

what a privelage Mike...

your a lucky man *wheres the smiley for envy Elton?*

Just wish I owned it but it belongs to a really good friend of mine, who is looking after it for future generations.

I was truly amazed at how light spanish reed was, never having fished with one before. Seemed as light as modern carbon, without all that weight in the butt.

Mike

I own a B & W Hexagraph - nice rod, its very similar in weight and action to split-bamboo of the same dimensions. Both are lighter than greenheart!

I have made rods from, and fished with, all natural materials from rowan, through hickory, and greenheart to split-bamboo. Even own some glass and carbon rods....

Still flyfish with greenheart sometimes.

Fishing with natural materials is a bit like driving a vintage car - different technique, not as flashy, but it gets you there at a civilised pace. Not for the impatient "wannit NOW" type.

On the very rare occasions that either vintage car or vintage tackle breaks down, you can usually put it right yourself.

BTW if anyone out there busts a split-bamboo rod, and wants to fix it themselves, PM me.

[ 30. March 2005, 05:23 PM: Message edited by: Vagabond ]

A few weeks ago I was lent an Aspinal hollow built split cane 'roach' rod. Nothing modern to touch it. Quality hollow cane is something else!! Yer actual solid stuff, naaaa!!

Naaaaahh! You don't wanna be messin' about wiv them ol' fings!

You want sunnink wot'll chuck a five-ounce lead an' a 10-boilie stringer at least 170 yards - THAT'S wotchu want!

I'm told that rods like that come with a 'free' map of the next county, Tel!

Tel as in T.V., or Tel as in Terry?

I have both cane and Hexagraph fly rods.Even though in a fly rod the weight of cane isnt an issue the Hexagraphs are still lighter.As for the Hexagraph carp rod I have well I would hate to think what a similar size rod in split cane would weigh!

I was given the carp rod due to my involvement with Bruce&Walker.Lovely piece of kit and it does have a few technical advantages over tubular carbon but I would struggle to justify the difference in price.Or truthfully say it is that much better than tubular carbon.

I dont think the Hexagraph fly rods (even though very good) feel anything like my cane ones.

Cyrano asks wether to bother or not,well I will never stop using my Farlow & Sharpes Impregnated split cane fly rods but wouldnt bother with any old cane coarse rods etc.They offer no advantages at all and are far to heavy.Fine if you want to get an old outfit just to use now and again for a bit of fun but dont think it will be superior to modern stuff.

[ 31. March 2005, 12:31 AM: Message edited by: BUDGIE ]