Bamboo casting rod

Question
Hi Joe, I was hoping you could shed some light on this bamboo fishing pole I acquired at the swap meet. The pole is a two peice hexigonal bamboo, 7'8" long it has 4 porclin or ceramic guides. The shaft base is 3/4 inch across. It has a cork handle, and is decorated with thread every inch of the pole. The pole has no markings as to  when or where it was made. maybe custom?? The pole came with a pfluger everlaster surf casting reel. A thumb burner equipt with a leather patch drag. both peices are in good shape. I paid $55.00 for the set. I was wondering about the possible manufacturer and estimated value.  I can send more pics if these don't work for you. Thanks - Jay

Answer
Hi James,

Best guess without a makers label on it would be a surf rod or trolling rod for saltwater fishing.  Probably made by one of the large production firms like Montague or Horrocks-Ibbotson around the 1930s or so.  The guides are most likely agate lined and the intermediate wraps may or may not be decorative.  The rod is old enough that the intermediates may be functional in that they help reinforce the glue used to hold the bamboo strips together.  Most old glues were animal based products and did not have the long life and power of our modern glues so these intermediate wraps were added to rods to reinforce the shaft and keep the strips from delaminating.

You can send some photos to [email protected] and I'll review them for you.  I may be able to pin down the maker of the rod from the photos.  No pictures came through with this question.

You paid about what the rod and reel are worth in Good condition.  If it is in Very Good condition perhaps a bit more; in Excellent condition maybe closer to $100.  As long as it is in good shape with no obvious damage, it should work fine and be fishable.

Thanks,  Joe