Customer Reviews

The Lovely Reed: An Enthusiast's Guide to Building Bamboo Fly Rods

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
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Bamboo rod making is one of those crafts with enough twists in the road that most first-timers want as much up-to-date information as they can get before they start. The Lovely Reed ("LR") is both possibly the best single reference on the subject, and the most generally useful book if you are only reading one.

The LR is very nicely written, and carefully organized. It starts with and overview, then runs through building a rod. The second section of the book, about 1/3rd of the text, is devoted to equipment skills and techniques. This separates out specific tasks like making an oven,a dipping tank, or sharpeing a plane, which may not be attempted by all builders, or already be part of their repetoir.

A good book, which doesn't greatly overlap either Carmichael (Garrison), or Cattanach the other standards in the field.

This is clearly the best of the current crop of rod building books. It could do with an index (ther isn't one!), updates on components (The Golden Witch, Bellingers - he carries **everything**, not just reel seats), and additional information on critical processes (straightening glued up rods, filing, scraping, sanding a blank, wrapping, etc.). Overall, though, if you are going to build a first rod this ought to be your first purchase!

Well, Howelss Book is a must for todays Rodmakers and all lovers of the split cane rods! Shue, he tells not much new in the craftmanship of bamboo rodbuilding, but he shows ( a lot of photos)a simple way to build your own rod. He`s way is noth much another than Garrison describe, but Howells Way is a synthese of old and new formulas! Exelent written and have also a look at his informative taper-section! Better buy the book now - most better books about the rodbuilding are fast out of print! Mabye Howell created the new rodmakers bible?!

Stefan Grau Swiss Rodmaker

I've read all the books on building a bamboo rod and this one is my favorite. AND IT HAS JUST BEEN REISSUED!

A beautiful, thorough guide to building classic bamboo fly rods.
Complete from picking material through construction, including
all of the wonderful esoterica involved with fly rod building.

Inspirational even if you never build your own bamboo rod!