All posts by Christopher Kuhn

Trout on Vintage Cane Rods

Selected History of Bamboo Fly Rods

Fly Fishing Rods were not always high technology creations of Carbon Fiber, Fiberglass or similar that you find on the market today. There was a time, not long ago, when a large stick with a string secured to the end served as an effective fishing rod. The first major evolution in fishing was the development of the split bamboo fishing rod. The era known as the “Golden Age of Fly Fishing” lasted from 1920 to 1944 and commonly featured Bamboo Rods, Silk Lines and Dry Flies. During this time period it is commonly recognized that the Bamboo Fly Rod was perfected by Jim Payne. In fact, the modern, six strip, Bamboo Fly Rod was “invented” in Easton, Pennsylvania by Gunsmith Samuel Phillipe in 1872. The development of this modern Bamboo Fly Rod enabled Theodore Gordon, in 1890 to first fish English style Dry Flies on American waters.

The craft of building Bamboo Fly Rods was subject to the mechanization that was common in the industrial era. In 1869, Thomas H. Chubb and his partner William Marsten decided to build a modern fishing rod factory in Post Mills, VT on the bank of the Ompompanoosuc River; by 1875 they had the largest fishing rod factory in the world. Chubb’s rod factory sold both wholesale metal parts for rod manufacture and Bamboo rods direct to consumers. The factory burnt down in 1875 and was rebuilt, in 1891 the factory again burnt down. This time Chubb sold the location, and his rod company along with patents to The Montague Rod Company out of Massachusetts. 

Erica and I inspect the various bamboo fly rods at the Catskill Rod Makers gathering.
Erica and I inspect the wide selection of Bamboo Fly Rods.

The Montague Rod Company was primarily a wholesale manufacturer of Fly-Fishing Rods. Following the acquisition of Thomas H. Chubb Rod Company, Montague was able to leverage Chubb’s retail catalogs and marketing prowess. Additionally, in 1899 Montague purchased its way into reel making business. Montague’s business peaked around 1925 and began a long decline with the death of founding brothers first Leander L. Bartlett (1922) and Eugene P. Bartlett (1925). The company’s stock was publicly listed in 1927 and did not fare well in the Great Depression. In 1933, the Chubb factory in Post Mills, VT was permanently shuttered. In 1934 the company was acquired by Ocean City Reel Company. 

During World War II, similar to other manufacturing concerns in the United States, Montague Rod and Reel Company re-tooled to support the war effort. Fitting to their expertise, Montague manufactured Bamboo Ski Poles for the 10th Mountain Division. After the war, Montague continued as a brand into the 1950’s when bamboo was supplanted by Fiberglass and other modern materials. The slow decline of the bamboo era was further exacerbated by the embargo on trade with China after their communist revolution, blocking the import of Tonkin Cane. 

Locating Classic and Antique Fly Tackle

When I began researching antique and classic Fly Fishing rods I decided the primary goal of my adventure would be to experience Fly Fishing with a cane rod. Many of the pieces available are rare enough that they should not ever be used in the field. As such, I confined my search to used middle quality equipment not in need of restoration. This level of quality is ideal for actually experiencing what entry level cane fells like without spending a bundle or damaging a priceless artifact.

A couple of sources come to mind as places to find antique or classic Fly-Fishing equipment:

  • Yard Sales
  • Craigslist
  • EBay
  • Antique and Curios Stores
  • Tackle Shows

As a rule of thumb, the below brands are generally less expensive, not as valuable and better for everyday fishing use:

  • Montague
  • Heddon
  • Orvis

On the more valuable end of the spectrum are the following:

  • Leonard
  • Thomas
  • Payne

Since I settled on a Montague Rod I will note that the Manitou and Red Wing, are considered

their most collectible rods. Eventually, I settled on a Montague Rapidian 5 weight nine (9) foot fly rod; not a highly sought-after Montague rod, however one in great condition at a price under One Hundred Dollars ($100) on EBay. My rod had a slight defect, it is missing a snake guide, as I am skilled at DIY repair in the garage, all I will need is the correct thread winder and some varnish to repair.

Catskill Fly Fishing Center Bamboo Workshop.

Assembly and Care of Your Bamboo

While all rods require care, Bamboo Fly Rods, especially the older ones require additional measures of care. Bamboo is a grass; it is finished like wood and can decay or mildew like wood. Besides accidental damage like snapping the rod in a car door, water will also damage the rod if it is put away wet. Additionally, loose or damaged wrappings can leave an opening for water penetration. Damaged rod wrappings should be re-varnished to prevent water incursion while Butcher’s Bowling Alley Wax is applied to preserve a bamboo fly rod properly stored vertically bagged in an aluminum tube (or similar).

Walking to the stream to take my first cast of the season.

Bamboo Enthusiasts

During New Jersey opening day, the first Saturday in April (4/6/2019), rivers are packed shoulder to shoulder and not enjoyable for a Fly Fisherman. To beat the crowds and enjoy the day Erica and I hopped in the Yukon and took a road trip to the Catskill Fly Fishing Center and Museum in Livingston Manor, NY.  

As part of opening day activities, the center was hosting the Catskill Cane Revival at the Roscoe High School gym. Mike Canazon was on hand to help people learn about bamboo, try to cast a rod and answer any questions.

The amateur Bamboo Rod making enthusiasts at the center were more than pleased to share their factory and custom-built rods. We received a short tour of the factory located at the center; the center is packed with Everett Garrison’s tools. For anyone interested in Bamboo Rod construction the center offers a week long course in September, at the conclusion of the course you have your very own Bamboo Fly Rod.

Erica practicing her casting in the Roscoe gym.

A Clean Release

Finally, after a few days of effort I managed to hook a Trout on my Montague Rapidian! Father and I went fishing on Sunday morning together. He arrived at the Lazy K Ranch early and I made my pre-fishing Taylor Ham, Egg and Cheese in a Cast Iron skillet. We geared up, hopped in the truck and marched out to an unnamed tributary of the Paulinskill. The Paulinskill was flowing at over 600 CFS, twice the normal rate, due to Friday night rain; making smaller tributaries a better option to locate fish. Our tributary was flowing strong though not as high and muddy as the Paulinskill itself. We hiked down to a section of three (3) pools which I have known to produce quality Trout.

Dad took a few casts with the spinner with no luck, he sat down on a rock. I slipped into place, tied on my Black and Coffee Woolly Bugger and completed a gentle roll cast up to the foam line between the fast and slow water. As the Bugger worked its way downstream, I felt a tug, as if I had hooked on a log at the bottom. As I went to wade out and unhook the snag, I felt movement in the rod tip and completed my strip set. Now the fight was on, I began attempting to manage my large Trout through the series of pools, trying to prevent the fish from wrapping up on a log or getting caught on the bottom. Finally, I was able to wrest the fish to the surface, it flipped onto its side and to my joy I discovered that it was a wild Brown Trout!

I gingerly tried to use my rod to gently persuade the fish to come to my net and not into the dense log jam below. Landing this Trout would not happen on this day, as I moved it towards my net the beautiful animal popped off of the Woolly Bugger hooked in its jaw. My pain at this loss was palpable!

Bending the rod.

Landing the Trout

I sometimes guide Fly Fishing on the Paulinskill and have been featured in an Eastern Fly Fishing article on the Paulinskill, so it is fitting that despite my travels, prospecting my home waters on a delightful May day, I took my first Trout to the net on the Bamboo. The rivers and stream of northwest Jersey have been running high all season due to the above average rainfall. This is great for Trout and a long sustainable season; however, it is immediately limiting to stream access the period of days directly after the storm.

On a warm Sunday afternoon, I found some time to steal away from the girlfriend and farm work in order to wet my line. The water was high so I tied on a Bead Head Black and Coffee Woolly Bugger with Silly legs, this is a great fly for May on the Paulinskill. In high water it can be swung and then given slight action as it reached the end of its drift. Carefully wading out into the river, I carefully targeted the slower runs with structure next to fast water. The fast water serves as a food escalator for the Trout while the structure within the slower water provides a comfortable and lucrative holding spot for the Trout.

I did one quick false cast and tossed by Woolly Bugger out into the slower water differentiated by a bubble line. The bugger landed hard in the fast water and quickly was tossed into the slower water where it began its lackadaisical drift over the invisible structure. The line slowly straightened out down stream and then quickly pulled….Fish On! I strip set the line and felt the fighting motion of a fish. This was the moment I had been working towards, landing a fish on my 1930’s Bamboo Fly Rod! After taking a quick picture, keeping the Trout wet the whole time, I thanked it for my momentary glory and released it.

A nice Rainbow Trout to the net.

Sources

https://books.google.com/books?id=NjWpEJ32MaYC&pg=PA141&lpg=PA141&dq=Samuel+Phillipes,+a+gunsmith+from+Pennsylvania&source=bl&ots=VEnlkcVJBW&sig=ACfU3U2cOy5PFCsjpdH0gQMcnRm6_1E7rw&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi_v7fp16fhAhXow1kKHRchBgAQ6AEwB3oECAgQAQ#v=onepage&q=Samuel%20Phillipes%2C%20a%20gunsmith%20from%20Pennsylvania&f=false

http://www.thetfordhistoricalsociety.org/Chubb.html

https://www.montaguerodandreel.com/2017/07/17/the-rise-and-fall-of-the-montague-city-rod-company/

http://classicflyrodforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=65&t=27358

https://cffcm.com/news/2019/4/7/the-song-of-bamboo-at-the-catskill-cane-revival

2017 New Jersey Trout Wrap Up

This year has been one of the strongest fishing seasons we have seen in years for the northwestern part of New Jersey. Cooler weather combined with high water has blessed us with remarkable conditions. This has been true for the Shad Run and New Jersey Rainbow Trout fishing. I say Rainbow Trout fishing because New Jersey has not stocked Brown or Brook Trout in a while. This does not mean they cannot be caught; it just limits the scope of locations where they can be caught.

A Good Guide Season So Far

Beginning in 2016 Knot Just Flies partnered with The Last Frontier Angler to offer guided Fly Fishing for Trout in the Paulinskill and Big Flat Brook. We also offer a Learn to Fly Fish course; Lake and Pond fishing (spin or fly) and Smallmouth float trips down the Delaware River. This has been a good year for our clients; many fish have been caught and released. Some of the stories end up on the Moose Knuckle Fishing blog for your entertainment and fishing pleasure.

Exploring New Areas

Last season, due to the drought and unseasonably warm weather the Trout season was cut a bit short and barely made it through the end of stocking season. This year we Trout fisherman are winning with the cool and rainy weather. Some of the Trout streams in New Jersey are impressive for their diversity of terrain. The majority of worm dunkers in this state cannot be bothered to walk half a mile to a good hole loaded with fish. Sometimes the best way to locate fish is to find the common stocking spots, go on Google Earth and scope out which way the stream heads deep into the woods then hoof it in.

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Tactics that Produce

You cannot go wrong with a basic inline nymph rig in New Jersey Jersey Trout streams. I like to tie on about four (4) feet of 3X tippet material, three (3) feet of 4X tippet material, then 18 inches of 5X tippet material all connected with a blood knot. I place an indicator way at the top, some split shot above the blood knot between the 4X and 5X material. At the end of the 5X tippet I tie on a general attractor pattern or something like a large stonefly. Then I tie a trailing fly onto the first hook with 5X material. This trailing fly is typically a midge or a bead head nymph (Prince, Pheasant Tail or Hare’s Ear).

Another way I recommend to ply the water with various types of Woolly Buggers. Green, brown, red and black all do the trick depending on the water and time of day. The Woolly Buggers work the best swung in waist deep fast water. You can also affix a bit of split shot six (6) inches above the fly, this will pull the fly down in the water column if the fish are feeding closer to the bottom.

All in all, this has been a great season and the best part is that it is not over yet. New Jersey Fish and Wildlife is predicting several more weeks of Trout favorable conditions before the inevitable summer lull.

Mother’s Day Shad

Those of you who have followed this blog for a few years will recall that hooking a Shad on the fly has been one of my goals for a few years. Rewinding to 2014, I missed some Hickory Shad on the fly but was unable to land one. I did not attempt to shad fish in 2015 or 2016 due to time constraints and/or work commitments along with the low water levels that made for a poor season. Early 2017 has progressed and the drought has lifted from the Delaware River watershed. This weekend after having Mother’s Day events with the family, I found some time to check the Shad Reports. It was clear to me based on the reports that I should go out and try for some shad on the fly.

My first American Shad and first Shad Fly Fishing!

Fly Gear

I had previously acquired the proper gear for Shad Fly Fishing prior to my earlier Fly Fishing adventures therefore, I had all the necessary equipment and some flies tied up on deck ready to go. I used my St. Croix 7WT Bankrobber Streamer Rod strung up with Rio Sink Tip line and a 8LB test Bass tippet material. As for a fly, I used something called Al’s Shad Fly #4. This consists of a size four or six hook, dumbbell eyes, yellow hackle, yellow hackle tail, yellow yarn and silver tinsel. I also tried out some others but this seemed to get the most attention.

My version of Al’s Shad Fly #4

Where to Look

Using the Fly Rod puts you at a slight disadvantage to a spin fisherman when seeking Shad. On the Delaware, through Warren County, where I typically fish for Smallmouth in the summer there are no major dams for the Shad to “stack up” like they do in Deer Creek, Maryland. Therefore, you must seek out pools downstream of major runs or those created by tributaries. Swinging the fly into slower water pools on the side of fast water or before a major obstacle in the river should yield results.

With some luck, they will still be in the river next weekend an I’ll find some time to target the Shad in between the guide trips I will be running.