by Joe Cermele

Featuring a rod in our vintage tackle contest is long overdue. Though quite a few bamboo fly rod photos have hit my inbox, the vast majority are custom-made or feature no manufacturer info, making them difficult to price. But leave it to regular reader Roy Dorman (aka rdorman on F&S.com) to finally send us a rod worthy of appraisal. Roy wrote:

Not sure how old this is, but my dad passed it down to me when he moved to Florida last year. He picked it up at an auction some time ago. I've never fished with it, and I have no intentions of doing so either. It is a Montague Sunbeam bamboo fly rod.

Maybe you don't intend to fish this rod, Mr. Dorman, but Dr. Todd Larson of The Whitefish Press and "Fishing For History" blog suggests you reconsider. Dr. Todd says:

"You have a bamboo fly rod manufactured by one of the most prolific of all rod companies--the Montague Rod & Reel Company of Montague City, Massachusetts. The firm was formed in the 1880s and expanded in 1891 with the purchase of Thos. H. Chubb's rod factory in Post Mills, Vermont. They ran Chubb as a separate division until the early 1930s, when the firm was purchased by Paul Johnson's Ocean City Manufacturing Company of Philadelphia. They made millions of inexpensive to moderately priced rods, and lately people have come to appreciate the qualities of fly rods like your Sunbeam. Your Sunbeam is a late 1930s model, and was made in four lengths between 8 and 9.5 feet. They range in value from around $150-$175 for a nice condition (two piece, two tips) 8 footer to less than $100 for a nice condition 9 1/2 footer. And I suggest you think about taking this rod fishing. Nothing--and I mean NOTHING--beats the feel of a bamboo fly rod in your hands. For a 1940 catalog cut of your Sunbeam rod, click here."

I've only fished with bamboo a few times, and while it takes some getting used to, I agree that the feel of a cane pole is something every flycaster should experience. Nice find, Roy. Enjoy the new Cabelas' 50th Anniversary Fillet Knife headed your way. 

If you've already sent me photos of your vintage tackle, keep checking every Thursday to see if I chose it for an appraisal by Dr. Todd. If you haven't and want to enter the contest, email photos of your old tackle to fstackle@gmail.com, along with your name, mailing address, and story of how you acquired the gear. If I use it in a Thursday post, you get a limited edition Cabelas' 50th Anniversary Fillet Knife made by Buck Knives (left, $80). 

Comments (12)

from KNX wrote 36 weeks 1 hour ago

I recently acquired a bamboo fly rod from 1940 to 1950. Can I fish with it without wrecking the rod? Does it need any special care?

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from buckhunter wrote 36 weeks 1 hour ago

I have been tempted to send in photos of my small collection of bamboo rods. None of my rods have any serious value other than the feeling I get fishing with a rod made 70-80 years ago. My favorites are a Goodwin Granger made in Denver CO. in the mid-30's and a Bill Stanley Favorite. Keep the bamboo coming. Love to see what has survived.

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from vasportsman wrote 36 weeks 14 min ago

Absolutely adore my Montague Rapidan bamboo rod that was passed down to me by my dad, who received it from his. Desperately needs some restoration but it is by far the best rod I've ever used. Great post!

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from the Preacher wrote 35 weeks 6 days ago

Fish the rod.
Pass the knife down to your kids.

90% of fly rods aren't broken while fishing anyways, they are broken by doors, ceiling fans, cousins, and boxes falling off of shelves. Treat it well when not fishing, but enjoy it. Maybe you can pass down the knife and the rod.

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from Sayfu wrote 35 weeks 6 days ago

Sure you can fish them...just hope you are a very good caster because they are very difficult to cast well. I prefer a much better tool to get the job done, and enjoy the lighter weight of graphite, and what it can do. Most of that bamboo took a bad "SET". You can lean it up against a wall for a period of time and try to straighten them out. The good ones that remained in a nice case probably have little "set" in them. If you want to refurbish
the guide coatings use Marine Spar Varnish. I received a very nice English bamboo rod when I left a job, and it hangs on my wall with an antique reel, and line displayed threaded through the guides.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Tom-Tom wrote 35 weeks 6 days ago

You still find bamboo flyrods at estate auctions and few people if any bid on them to use. When asked why they wanted it, most say they want it for decoration purposes, or because it has sentimental value. The next most common reason was to re-sell it on ebay. No one wanted to fish with it. My advice, Roy, is to use it at least a couple of times as you owe it to yourself to experience the feeling.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from rdorman wrote 35 weeks 5 days ago

i've cast it and it is beautiful...with your convincing i might muster up the courage to take it out

+2 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from rdorman wrote 35 weeks 5 days ago

my dad wanted me to take it out too i told him i didn't want to break it...so i'm gonna take it out on some open water(few branches to hit) for some trout

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from whitefishpress wrote 35 weeks 5 days ago

Roy,

I can't tell you how happy that makes me that you took this rod out and casted it. Now all you need to do is hook a fish on it and I think you'll be hooked on fishing bamboo! It's a wonderful way to connect to the past. Just remember to take it easy, don't force things, and your rod should handle very nicely. -- Dr. Todd

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from whitefishpress wrote 35 weeks 5 days ago

KNX -- it depends on the condition of the rod. Many 1940s and 1950s bamboo rods can be fished, but a lot of them were Japanese imported rods and simply don't hold up well. If you post the name of the rod along with details (length, condition, etc.) perhaps I can let you know if I think it can be fished...

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Sayfu wrote 35 weeks 5 days ago

Here is another fact about bamboo. After the Korean War, our ships returned with empty cargo holds...they brought nothing back accept...many of the ships holds were packed with bamboo that was dirt cheap. Many bamboo rods were then made from these stalks producing cheap rods. The best of the rod makers, ....(ie) Orvis, Thomas and Thomas, Leonard co., etc. used the very best bamboo, 2nd tips went with them, and nice cases. Even back then, a good bamboo rod would go for over $1,000.00 You can still buy a fine Orvis made rod for $2,200.00 the last time I looked in an Orvis catalog for those that want to feel how a very good bamboo rod casts.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from John Rathbone wrote 7 weeks 3 days ago

I attended a bamboo fly rod refinishing workshop at the Catskill Fly Fishing Center & Museum last weekend (31 March 2012) and was searching the internet for info about my Montague rod. I ended up at this vintage tackle page. My father gave me the Montague "Sunbeam" when I was in my mid-teens, about half-past the last century. He had a Montague "Fishking" which was well-enough worn that I took it to the workshop. I shall remount the guides, repair the cork, and refinish it -- and fully intend to re-introduce it to our CNY streams -- along with my "Sunbeam" which is in extremely good condition. Considering both our ages, it is in much better condition than I! (But, to be honest, it has not had the same wear and tear.) Just thought you'd like to know that there's another "Sunbeam" out there.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

Post a Comment

 

All submitted comments are subject to the rules set forth in our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

from rdorman wrote 35 weeks 5 days ago

i've cast it and it is beautiful...with your convincing i might muster up the courage to take it out

+2 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from buckhunter wrote 36 weeks 1 hour ago

I have been tempted to send in photos of my small collection of bamboo rods. None of my rods have any serious value other than the feeling I get fishing with a rod made 70-80 years ago. My favorites are a Goodwin Granger made in Denver CO. in the mid-30's and a Bill Stanley Favorite. Keep the bamboo coming. Love to see what has survived.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from vasportsman wrote 36 weeks 14 min ago

Absolutely adore my Montague Rapidan bamboo rod that was passed down to me by my dad, who received it from his. Desperately needs some restoration but it is by far the best rod I've ever used. Great post!

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from the Preacher wrote 35 weeks 6 days ago

Fish the rod.
Pass the knife down to your kids.

90% of fly rods aren't broken while fishing anyways, they are broken by doors, ceiling fans, cousins, and boxes falling off of shelves. Treat it well when not fishing, but enjoy it. Maybe you can pass down the knife and the rod.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Sayfu wrote 35 weeks 6 days ago

Sure you can fish them...just hope you are a very good caster because they are very difficult to cast well. I prefer a much better tool to get the job done, and enjoy the lighter weight of graphite, and what it can do. Most of that bamboo took a bad "SET". You can lean it up against a wall for a period of time and try to straighten them out. The good ones that remained in a nice case probably have little "set" in them. If you want to refurbish
the guide coatings use Marine Spar Varnish. I received a very nice English bamboo rod when I left a job, and it hangs on my wall with an antique reel, and line displayed threaded through the guides.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Tom-Tom wrote 35 weeks 6 days ago

You still find bamboo flyrods at estate auctions and few people if any bid on them to use. When asked why they wanted it, most say they want it for decoration purposes, or because it has sentimental value. The next most common reason was to re-sell it on ebay. No one wanted to fish with it. My advice, Roy, is to use it at least a couple of times as you owe it to yourself to experience the feeling.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from KNX wrote 36 weeks 1 hour ago

I recently acquired a bamboo fly rod from 1940 to 1950. Can I fish with it without wrecking the rod? Does it need any special care?

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from rdorman wrote 35 weeks 5 days ago

my dad wanted me to take it out too i told him i didn't want to break it...so i'm gonna take it out on some open water(few branches to hit) for some trout

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from whitefishpress wrote 35 weeks 5 days ago

Roy,

I can't tell you how happy that makes me that you took this rod out and casted it. Now all you need to do is hook a fish on it and I think you'll be hooked on fishing bamboo! It's a wonderful way to connect to the past. Just remember to take it easy, don't force things, and your rod should handle very nicely. -- Dr. Todd

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from whitefishpress wrote 35 weeks 5 days ago

KNX -- it depends on the condition of the rod. Many 1940s and 1950s bamboo rods can be fished, but a lot of them were Japanese imported rods and simply don't hold up well. If you post the name of the rod along with details (length, condition, etc.) perhaps I can let you know if I think it can be fished...

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Sayfu wrote 35 weeks 5 days ago

Here is another fact about bamboo. After the Korean War, our ships returned with empty cargo holds...they brought nothing back accept...many of the ships holds were packed with bamboo that was dirt cheap. Many bamboo rods were then made from these stalks producing cheap rods. The best of the rod makers, ....(ie) Orvis, Thomas and Thomas, Leonard co., etc. used the very best bamboo, 2nd tips went with them, and nice cases. Even back then, a good bamboo rod would go for over $1,000.00 You can still buy a fine Orvis made rod for $2,200.00 the last time I looked in an Orvis catalog for those that want to feel how a very good bamboo rod casts.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from John Rathbone wrote 7 weeks 3 days ago

I attended a bamboo fly rod refinishing workshop at the Catskill Fly Fishing Center & Museum last weekend (31 March 2012) and was searching the internet for info about my Montague rod. I ended up at this vintage tackle page. My father gave me the Montague "Sunbeam" when I was in my mid-teens, about half-past the last century. He had a Montague "Fishking" which was well-enough worn that I took it to the workshop. I shall remount the guides, repair the cork, and refinish it -- and fully intend to re-introduce it to our CNY streams -- along with my "Sunbeam" which is in extremely good condition. Considering both our ages, it is in much better condition than I! (But, to be honest, it has not had the same wear and tear.) Just thought you'd like to know that there's another "Sunbeam" out there.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

Post a Comment

 

All submitted comments are subject to the rules set forth in our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.