FAQ
Why does it take so long to build a bamboo rod?
It’s a time-intensive craft. There are hundreds and hundreds of steps that go into building a bamboo fly rod, all of which need to be executed perfectly for the rod to be of superior quality. Many of these steps also require some considerable downtime — when we are waiting for glue or varnish to dry for example — and there aren’t really any shortcuts to most of these.
I want to learn how to build bamboo rods — do you offer classes?
Unfortunately no, though it’s not because we wouldn’t like to. In fact, we love it that people are interested in the craft and want to learn. The reason we don’t is simply because it’s time that we should probably be spending on building rods.
I’m a bit confused about your models and which rod options go with them — can you help clarify that?
Of course! As custom rod builders we pride ourselves on being able to tailor rods very specifically to a customer’s aesthetic and performance standards. Thus, we like to make sure that we offer an array of options when it comes to various elements of the rod. That said, we’ve also been doing this for a long time and have settled on certain standards which we don’t like to deviate from a whole lot. Wraps are a good example. We consider the wrap colors on our Spring Creek, Hunt Pattern, and Spinoza rods to be a big part of what makes them special. It’s part of the model. Other things — grips for example — we think should be very much left to the discretion of the customer. In short, when it comes to options, it sort of depends. Take a look at our model pages to get a better sense of what we mean.
Do you have a waiting list? Do I need to consult with my cardiologist to make sure that I’ll actually be around long enough to fish the rod I have on order?
Do we ever. Keeping up with demand is a never-ending struggle (though obviously a good problem to have). Our waiting list has fluctuated anywhere from 3-5 years, though we’re working like the devil to get it down to a more manageable size. The most critical factor that determines when your rod will be ready is our cutting schedule. If we’re about to cut bamboo for 7″#4 Spring Creeks, and that’s what you want, then the wait can be relatively short. If your model is not on our cutting horizon it can take a bit longer, though probably not so much so that your cardiologist needs to be involved.
What sort of guarantee do you have for your rods?
We stand behind the quality of our rods and will take responsibility for any defects in craftsmanship. Should you break your rod we can often repair it for a fee (depending on the nature and extent of the damage). After you have received your rod we also offer a week’s grace period, in which you can return it for a full refund if it is not what you had hoped for (we’re proud to say that in 35 years of building rods we’ve yet to have a customer ask to return one).
How did you get involved in rod building?
It’s a longer story, but the trimmed down version is here. Like many rodmakers I more-or-less stumbled into the craft. I broke an old fiberglass rod when I was in my early twenties and someone suggested that I go see a couple of guys who built rods near where I lived in western Massachusetts thinking they might be able to repair it. The “guys” were Tom Maxwell and Tom Dorsey. I went in to see them about the repair job, and was so intrigued by what they were doing that I kept coming back. Eventually they offered me an apprenticeship at $6 an hour and I never looked back.
Do you have other people helping you? I’ve noticed this site says “we” a lot but it sounds like it’s a one-man operation?
We’re a family business, a sort of one-man-plus operation. I do the rodbuilding, Junior helps out with a number of things when he has the time (ferrules, rod tubes, cane prep, and this website among others), and my wife is there for general support, moral and otherwise.
Bamboo rods are expensive — you must make a lot of money!
Ha — we wish! Not to put too fine a point on it but anyone who takes up rodbuilding to get rich is a bloody fool. We do it for the same reason that any craftsman or artist does what they do — we simply love crafting something of beauty for people to enjoy. We’re very fortunate to have made a living doing this — many others aren’t so lucky.
How many rods do you build a year?
It depends on the year, but usually no fewer than a dozen, and no more than 16 or 18.
Are most of the people who buy your rods collectors? Do people actually fish them?
Some are collectors, and nearly all are bamboo rod enthusiasts. We don’t know the precise breakdown but we do know that many many people do fish our rods. Properly cared for there is no reason not to fish a rod unless you are a die-hard collector and wish to maintain its mint condition. Of course many people collect rods for pleasure and investment, and some of our customers do this as well.
Macolm Gladwell says that a person has to do something for 10,000 hours in order to become a virtuoso. How many hours do you have?
Let’s see: 35 years, times 48-ish weeks a year, times 45 hours a week. That’s roughly 75,600 hours. Take that Malcolm!
Where do you fish?
We’ve fished a lot of places over the years, but have certainly developed a few favorites. We fish for trout in the northeast, and are particularly fond of the Catskills and central Pennsylvania. One of the great things about building rods is that many of our customers invite us to go fishing, and we’ve been fortunate to see some great water. We also do an annual salmon fishing trip to the maritime provinces for a few weeks, but you’ll have to pay us a lot of money to get us to tell you precisely where. We’ve already said too much.
Do you sell bamboo rods from other makers?
Yes. Being bamboo enthusiasts we’ve naturally acquired a fair number of rods over the years. And while we don’t really fancy ourselves full-time dealers (for the obvious reason that we’ve already got a full-timed gig going) we do offer a limited selection of non-Spinoza rods from time to time. One of the best things to do is to check back here frequently, or better yet, put yourself on our mailing list.
Do you do repair-work?
Unfortunately no. Or at least not on rods from other makers (except in very unusual circumstances). If you are one of those unfortunate souls who has backed over your Spinoza rod with a car, or unwittingly jammed it pole-vault style into the ground, then we can usually repair it for a modest fee depending upon the extent of the damage.
Do you take rods on consignment?
Yes, and you can find our guidelines for doing so here. Typically we do this on a somewhat limited basis given our busy rodbuilding schedule. If you are interested in this possibility please contact us.
Do you do rod appraisals?
Yes, but also in a limited volume and we charge a fee for doing so. If you are interested in having your rod appraised, please contact us. We are almost always able to give both an accurate description of the rod’s condition as well as a an accurate assessment of its maker and origin.
My grandpa had an old rod which I just found lying in the attic. Am I now a millionaire?
It’s pretty unlikely though some old rods are worth quite a bit of money. We are frequently contacted by those who stumble across such finds, but the majority of them are relatively low quality, having been built in the postwar years at high production numbers. Still, it can’t hurt to have it appraised.
Isn’t graphite stronger — why would someone want a bamboo rod?
Be careful who you ask this to — bamboo rod enthusiasts are enthusiasts for a reason, and they don’t take lightly to heretics! In all seriousness, there are a number of reasons for making the switch. Some people like the tradition and craftsmanship (not something you find on outsourced graphite rods) and there are also aesthetic reasons: a bamboo rod can be an extraordinarily beautiful thing. Aside from general performance (something that we take quite seriously as builders) we think one of the most important is “feel”: nothing, and we mean nothing, compares to fighting a fish on a bamboo rod.
I’m hooked – how can I learn more and keep better tabs on what you’re up to?
Glad you asked, dear reader. The best thing to do is to tune into our blog, where we post all sorts of things, ranging from the latest announcement from the shop, to observations about bamboo rod building and tips of the trade, to dispatches from our latest R&D trips.
Does the Spinoza Rod Company have a mascot?
Yes, and her name is Izzy. She’s a one year old black labrador and still very much a puppy. We’re hoping to bring her on our salmon fishing trip next fall to see if she’s as good a fishing dog as she is a shop dog.
