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Post by TarponCraz on Jan 21, 2008 22:38:21 GMT 8
Anthony,
Chee Yung has put it in writing what I can only feel but unable to put in words, in more than one ways. Tan Yit described it in another angle. If you still cannot grasp the concept, I think it is better for you to experience the process of creating the blanks from raw materials every step of the way yourself. In this way, you will see for yourself the beauty of grains as strips of bamboo comes off the form; when they are glued and cleaned to form the blanks. It is like giving birth to a beautiful child after the hard(painful) labour. The child is so beautiful that you would not want to put on heavy makeup on her to hide her beauty for others to second guess her.
The grains of fibres in bamboo are created by mother nature. Every culm of bamboo is different from the others. Even every strip is different from others even though are all split from the same culm. Thats why no two bamboo rods are identical in this respect.
If you still think it is not enough to give identity to the rod after going through the process, you have the prerogative to dress the blanks you so created whatever way you like.
Wong
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Post by alee on Jan 22, 2008 10:20:29 GMT 8
Wong,
I understand perfectly what you guys are talking about. I have expressed my appreciation in the artistry of bamboo rod building many times in other forums that it makes graphite rod building seems child-play. Until I have wielded one, I will not know how to appreciate it. So the day will come, hopefully, sooner than later and I will understand how you guys feel. No offence, as the reason I said that you guys were very mystical was simply how millions of other fishermen feel. So, your mission in this craft will be to put a bamboo rod in my hand and teach me how to feel "a touch of Zen".
Anthony Lee
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Post by Chee Yung on Feb 16, 2008 17:14:08 GMT 8
Hi Antony, Kicking myself for missing your famous 'Lou Hei' and the possible discussions on bamboo Just finished reading ' Casting A Spell' during my hiatus from the fishing grounds and therein I found some of the answers about bamboo rod's mystique. Bamboo rods represent, to a certain extent, perfection and the belief of sacrificing time for producing ' a useful thing of beauty'. This beauty is not merely aesthetics and marketing hype but the feeling that it was made just right. Bamboo fly rods are like violins and is one of those crafts that since its inception showed a way to commune with nature ( to some, Providence) that is unique. It was and will always be 'too troublesome to be worth the effort' for most but for some, its an expression of what makes us humans special. Ask any architect out there why he spent more years studying and working 24/7 than a doctor to be rejected by the Client all the time, be paid pittance and only produce a 'house' and you'll probably get a reply that kind-off says.... I didn't intend to be an architect but got pulled into this Great Tradition to be the Mother of the Arts.. and all that.. The truth is, I'm one such foolish architect who went for my aptitude test ( standard question: why do you want to do architecture?) and passed because I said.. to see the potential beautiful side of an environment and strive to make that happen. Money? well... money cant buy what I consider a craft well done!.. BTW, this value applies to many other professions as well. Join us and I promise it will temper character and be fun at the same time. CY
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Post by alee on Feb 18, 2008 11:33:50 GMT 8
CY,
My type of 'Yi Sung' can be eaten any time and not neccessary during CNY. Maybe we can have it at uncle Wong's place someday.
So you are an architect. Should have thought so. I have one in the family and if the govt. had not got me as a school teacher immediately after school, I could also be one today as that was my passion.
My Leorod is in the Q and when that happens, I will definitely tap on your expertise.
Cheers,
Anthony Lee
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Post by TarponCraz on Sept 2, 2008 11:19:24 GMT 8
LeoRod Story - Chapter IVGranger Aristocrat RetroBy request of a friend from our fly fishing fraternity in Singapore, I crafted a 7ft 2 piece Granger Aristocrat with 2 tips. The bamboo culm were darkly flamed to the appearance of a typical Granger. Despite of the dark flaming, the grain of the power fibres can be clearly seen as shown in the photo of the section in front of the handle. The Granger reel seat was stripped off an old rod and supplied by the owner. The handle was shaped to the shape of an old Aristocrat in my possession and a stripping guide with metal ring reminiscent to the one on my rod was used. Step-down Supper Swiss nickle silver ferrules were fitted. During a lawn cast to test it out, it felt like nothing in my hand but 60+ ft of 5 WT GPX line was laid in front of me with 3 false cast! I just don't know how to describe the action. Perhaps I will leave it to the owner to find out and describe it.
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Post by TarponCraz on Nov 7, 2010 12:21:09 GMT 8
LeoRod Story- Chapter V Blonde and Brunet TwinAbsent from this Forum for a long time BOB's! How's everyone. Like to introduce my latest twin to you BOB's here The one on top of the photo is blonde, LeoRod #006. It follows after Leonard Baby Catskill taper for 2WT/3WT lines. The one on the bottom is brunet, LeoRod #007, AKA licence to kill Bond! Its a Jim Payne 100 taper, dark flamed to light chocolate colour. Below is the cigar-shape handle on #006 with Nickel Silver sliding ring Leonard style reel seat with Zebra wood insert Inscriptions on #006 Amber Agate stripping guide on #006 The ferrules on #006 are or Super Swiss design in Nickel Silver. Noticed the wrapping on areas after the ferrules on both ends? They are specially wrapped in zig-zag pattern to provide gripping force to fit and dis-engaged the ferrules on noodle like canes! The beginning of life of #006 The completed work in whole view As for #007, the handle is half-well shaped slightly larger to match its bigger butt! Reel seat is Payne Inspired Nickel Silver sliding ring with Cocoboco wood insert Inscription on #007 Banded Agate stripping guide on #007 The ferrules are of stepped-down Super Swiss design in Nickel Silver First fish on 007 on first outing First fish on 006 on first outing After about a dozen fishes on 006, caught this 6-pounder on 006
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Post by BillyTeo on Nov 9, 2010 20:58:46 GMT 8
Uncle Wong, this saturday, catch a biggie with the noodle and post here. kekekeke...........
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Post by TarponCraz on Nov 10, 2010 21:10:19 GMT 8
Billy, the 006 is the noodle! It canned the 6 pounder!
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Post by Chee Yung on Nov 12, 2010 6:32:23 GMT 8
Wonderful work Uncle I love the Payne ... cast right across NZ river with no effort and well, tried that noodle with Billy's silk... super smooth like ramen...hehehe It would have been fun to have hooked that giant toman that halved Uncle's PB last week... become fishhead noodle ;D CY
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