FISHING BAMBOO: One Man's Love Affair with Bamboo Fly Rods [Hardcover]

John Gierach (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1997

A finely tuned portrait of the pleasures of fishing with a bamboo rod, by the author of Trout Bum.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Whether you're interested in fishing or collecting bamboo fly-rods--or you simply enjoy good outdoors writing--you'll find it all in this paean to the slightly arcane world of the bamboo enthusiast. There's enough information here for those in need of an overview, including chapters on the history of bamboo rod-building, the master craftsmen of the past, and types of rods, plus the usual assortment of folksy wisdom and well-turned phrases that one expects from the author of Trout Bum and Sex, Death and Fly-fishing. Appendixes include listings of current manufacturers and dealers of bamboo fly-rods.

Review

If Mark Twain were alive and a modern-day fly fisherman, he still would be hard put to top Gierach." -- Sports Illustrated

With the deftness of a surgeon, John Gierach thoroughly succeeds in a delicate operation--removing the mystery surrounding bamboo fly rods. -- Dave Hughes, author of Reading the Water --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 132 pages
• Publisher: The Lyons Press; 1st edition (September 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1558215913
• ISBN-13: 978-1558215917
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #620,792 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

John Gierach is the author of several previous books, including At the Grave of the Unknown Fisherman, Standing in a River Waving a Stick, and Dances with Trout. His work has appeared in Gray's Sporting Journal, Field & Stream, where he is a contributing writer, and Fly Rod & Reel, where he is a columnist. He also writes columns for the Longmont (CO) Daily Times-Call and the monthly Redstone Review. He lives in Lyons, Colorado.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars one of his best, April 29, 2000

By 

goodoldmac "goodoldmac" (Charlotte, North Carolina United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: FISHING BAMBOO: One Man's Love Affair with Bamboo Fly Rods (Hardcover)

My favorite John Gierach book happens to be whichever one I am reading at the time, and this one is a welcome addition to the list...Anyone who reads his books knows he prefers bamboo rods to all others, and this book is attempt to put why into words. It offers a brief history of bamboo rod and somewhat less than comprensive list of current makers of them. (But geez.. try and find the magazine he mentions on your local newstand though! ) No it is not a large detailed book nor will it allow the rank beginner to go out and build himself (or herself) a bamboo rod. (At least I would not want to try it on Gierach's book alone). But what it is is a wonderful, very readable book on a often forgotten piece of fishing equipment that every angler should try once. Like upland hunting with a fine double, fly fishing with a bamboo rod just "feels right". Its an "unexplainable" and no one comes closer to explaining it that John Gierach....

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A very good book for all who love flyfishing, March 19, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Suisse) - See all my reviews

This review is from: FISHING BAMBOO: One Man's Love Affair with Bamboo Fly Rods (Hardcover)

Well, i`m a bamboo rodbuilder and also a bookseller. I think Gierach wrote a very good book, for rodbuilders ( also not profs) and for all who like to flyfishing. He tells in short words the history of "bamboo rods" and workmanship. Gierach tells the difference betwen bamboo and "plastic" ( he means graphite rods). Shure, this book has mabye a touch of "golden age", but don`t we all need and live with dreams? Look at the funny,new catalogs of the modern angling industrie - every page a "dream" - and most time not reality! Bamboo rod makers don`t produce for a "mass market", and often work in small places like garages behind her house, an this over decades. And some "big names" are still alive, like the growing numbers of her customers. Yes, this book is sometimes poetic and has no glossy images, but some fine etchings - think thats we call "feeling" - and flyfishing with bamboo is just feeling! Second - books about bamboo rodbuilders are seldom and quick out of stock, this past and present. I think this book will be soon a "Classic".

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good read, inspiring, not as much information as I would lik, December 29, 1997

By 

Lescaster (Minneapolis, Minnesota) - See all my reviews

This review is from: FISHING BAMBOO: One Man's Love Affair with Bamboo Fly Rods (Hardcover)

John Gierach writes what I like to read, quick and clever(not cute). There is a lot of good stuff in this book, but I would have liked to see real pictures of the old rods and a description of the building process. I'm thinking that what this book really is is a public explanation of a passion that really needs no justification. Either that or the rent is due. For some guys it's motorcycles or guitars or cars. For John it's bamboo(never cane) rods. Thanks John.