Bamboo rods and Alaska

Re: Bamboo rods and Alaska

feeds@yuku.com (fossil) — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 20:41:50 GMT

Should I try that with your Payne 97 or the Carlin 8 wt? It could be lots of fun on some of the smaller streams with fish under 50/55#. Might just give it a try. Have landed silvers on 3 wts (plastic) so I guess it can be done. I've taken sockeye on #16s every year and have come close to doing so with #18 flies, so a 50# king on an 8 wt bamboo rod is certainly not out of the question. Thanks for the push!

Re: Bamboo rods and Alaska

feeds@yuku.com (mvbrooks) — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 18:54:14 GMT

Dave, I use bamboo for Chinooks (Kings) and land them all the time, up to around 45 pounds. The Oregon record, 70 pounds, was landed with an 8 weight two years ago.

Re: Bamboo rods and Alaska

feeds@yuku.com (Arctic Grayling) — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 14:00:32 GMT

Wow! Sounds like you have a great collection of bamboo rods Dave!!! It's great to hear that you are using them for salmon fishing too!

Re: Bamboo rods and Alaska

feeds@yuku.com (tight loops) — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 10:50:52 GMT

Many thanks Dave. I really appreciate your advice.
Tom

Re: Bamboo rods and Alaska

feeds@yuku.com (fossil) — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 03:16:15 GMT

I live in Anchorage and fish for most all species (except kings) with bamboo. This is the range of stuff I use most of the time for the waters I usually fish, just for one local angler's opinion: Grayling - 4 wts from 7 (aka Brooks Payne 97) to 8 ft. Mostly 7.5s though. 4 wt is severe overkill but they are the lightest bamboo I own. Dries only. Trout/dolly varden on wadable streams 4/5 & 5 wts 7'6" to 8'6" (aka South Creek, Bradford, Jennings, Jenkins, Sweetgrass,...

Re: Bamboo rods and Alaska

feeds@yuku.com (tight loops) — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 02:52:34 GMT

Thanks for that input. Wow! It sounds great.

Re: Bamboo rods and Alaska

feeds@yuku.com (campesino) — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 20:29:27 GMT

I fished the Kanektok several times in the mid-80's when I lived in Bethel there in the Y-K Delta. I used a 9 weight rod with a Finn-Nor saltwater reel, and never felt over-gunned when the Chum were fresh in from the sea. Some of the fish would run around 15 pounds and could take you for a ride. The Rainbows in that drainage, as I recall are referred to as "Leopard Rainbows" because of the unusual proliferation of black spots. They also have very bright gill covers, live...

Re: Bamboo rods and Alaska

feeds@yuku.com (ibookje) — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 05:19:53 GMT

Have a great time Tom.
And... don't forget to treat us with some pictures!

Re: Bamboo rods and Alaska

feeds@yuku.com (tight loops) — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 04:17:21 GMT

Many thanks to you all for the good advice. I'm heading to a tented lodge called Alaska West which is located in in the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge, on the banks of the Kanektok river, 5.5 miles from the Bering Sea. As far as fly rods go, this is what I've decided to take: Sage 9' 9-wt, Sage 9' 7-wt, Sage 9' 5wt (all plastic) plus an 8' Orvis Battenkill 4 3/8oz (which I cast a D/T 6 on) and the Jennings 8' 5-wt for the grayling. This has been a dream of mine...

Re: Bamboo rods and Alaska

feeds@yuku.com (Arctic Grayling) — Sun, 31 May 2009 18:10:22 GMT

Why wouldn't bamboo rods work for all fishing in Alaska? Weren't they fishing for all species of fish in Alaska before fiberglass and graphite rods were available?????

A five weight bamboo rod wouldn't work well for most of the salmon species, but there are plenty of seven, eight, and nine weight bamboo rods still around for those fish.

Re: Bamboo rods and Alaska

feeds@yuku.com (turtledoc) — Sat, 30 May 2009 17:10:00 GMT

IMHO........bring your boo for Grayling and forget the plastic all togther and bring along a couple work horse fiberglass Fenwicks.

A Model FF807 (8 ft 7 wt) is about perfect for everything other than Kings....a nice one can be had for $100 and you won't break it.

We're hoping to be chasing reds, bows and dollies again the the first week in August this year.....we've made a half dozen trips since 1997.

We don't do any King...

Re: Bamboo rods and Alaska

feeds@yuku.com (canerodscom) — Sat, 30 May 2009 08:18:03 GMT

I made a big bamboo rod for Kings and mostly used it to cast a Teeny T-350 sinking shooting head line. Learning to use that rod required some training and exercise, but it sure was fun to say I caught Kings on bamboo. Nothing huge though, the biggest was about 35 pounds. Here's a poor photo of our guide releasing a King of about 25 pounds. The rod is pictured in the right hand side of the photo. Examine it a little and you can see what King Salmon do to bamboo rods.

Re: Bamboo rods and Alaska

feeds@yuku.com (16 pmd) — Sat, 30 May 2009 02:32:40 GMT

I agree with what's been said about heavier rods and graphites, but if you have room, I'd include the 5 wt. Jennings. I'd use it only for grayling on dries, however, because with anything subsurface you're likely to hook something big (including foul-hooked salmon) you don't want to handle on that rod. Also, even when fishing for rainbows you may be using heavy or bulky flies, split shot, etc. that a bamboo 5 wt. isn't designed for. A lot of the pleasure of a nice 5...

Re: Bamboo rods and Alaska

feeds@yuku.com (AKSalmo57) — Fri, 29 May 2009 19:01:49 GMT

Greetings,
Bring the boo, you won't be sorry you did. Grayling are alot of fun on it. A stout 10w plastic for the Kings although you may or may not get into those. As stated before a plastic 8w is a good all round salmon rod for the other species. I myself have a preference for 7w bamboo for reds, silvers, dogs, and pinks in fresh water. My daughter uses a 6w Heddon #17 and a Hardy Perfect and does quite well for herself. Hopefully 09 will be a better year than 08 weather and...

Re: Bamboo rods and Alaska

feeds@yuku.com (Bob M) — Fri, 29 May 2009 15:33:51 GMT

You aren't wasting your time. I've brought 8' 6 wts for the last couple of trips and have had fun with them. It's a self guided float trip in the Bristol Bay area. Continual rain can make rod-care a little more problematic if you aren't on a lodge-based trip.

You are taking a risk. You can get snake-bit in AK. Salmon are too much for a 5 or 6 weight. You may find yourself looking for an 8 wt. I sould have an 8' 8 wt from Gary Lacy in time for the 2010 trip....

Re: Bamboo rods and Alaska

feeds@yuku.com (oldtrout) — Fri, 29 May 2009 15:28:31 GMT

I brought a Walton Powell seven weight on my first trip to Alaska and had a great time, but I would recommend you bring a few plastic rods with you for peace of mind. And I would leave rods lighter than six weight at home. If I could only bring one rod it would be an 8 weight.

Re: Bamboo rods and Alaska

feeds@yuku.com (firehole) — Fri, 29 May 2009 14:43:58 GMT

I agree the Jennings would be fine for grayling. For the last couple years I've taken 7'9" 4/2 5 wt. but when I'm into bows I also have my plastic 6 & 8 wts. I've fished the Alagnak & Moraine Creek in late Aug. for bows 24" to over 30". My suspicion is you'll be more into salmon than bows in mid-July so you better have a 8wt. or better and if the kings are in have 10wt.
Where are you going?

Dennis

Re: Bamboo rods and Alaska

feeds@yuku.com (spruce grouse) — Fri, 29 May 2009 09:09:24 GMT

When I went in '06 I took both cane and plastic. The bamboo was an 8'6" Phillipson PowerPakt for rainbows and grayling and an 8'6" Orvis Shooting Star for salmon. I think the Jennings is likely too light for much of the rainbow fishing but would be fine for grayling. Will you catch fish with the 5 wt.? Sure, but a 6 would be a lot better, IMHO.

Bamboo rods and Alaska

feeds@yuku.com (tight loops) — Fri, 29 May 2009 06:08:15 GMT

I'm headed for a weeks fishing in western Alaska mid July. We'll be fishing for all 5 species of salmon, rainbows, dollys and grayling. I was wondering if anyone has fished bamboo rods over in Alaska for say the rainbows and grayling. I'm considering taking my 8' #5 Jennings, along with 5, 7 and 9 plastics. Am I going to get to fish my cane rod or am I wasting my time?