There has been quite a lot of interest lately from people wanting to try bamboo rodmaking for themselves. I have recently imported enough bamboo through Andy Royer at the Bamboo Broker to offer some for sale to Australian Rodmakers. The price (for 50-60mm culms) is $60 per culm, or $450 for a bundle of 10 (plus shipping). I also have a good stock of ferrules, reelseats and other rodmaking components. These will be available on the web soon - in the meantime, contact me for pricing.
I've added some new collectors grade rod pictures (under Rods) to the Gallery. One is a saltwater prototype with bamboo ferrules, the other a rod for Master Casting Instructor Peter Hayes.
With the improvement of the Australian Dollar compared to the US Dollar, I have reduced the Peerless Reel pricing!!!. Check out the "Other Products" and "Prices" page for more info. Take an extra $100 off when ordering a Peerless Reel and Terenzio or Phoenix Silk Line with a Rod!!!
Talented local award winning artist (and mad trout fisherman) Haydn Jenkins, has a painting exhibition coming up. All are welcome at the opening (see you there)! Details are:
Trout Streams, Yowies, Mania
An Exhibition By Haydn Jenkins
Venue: National Parks Snowy Region Visitors Centre (Theatrette/Gallery), CNR Kosciuszko Rd and Thredbo Tce Jindabyne
Opening Day: Saturday 17 May 3-5pm. Exhinbition dates 17 May - 18 June, 0830 am - 5 pm, 7 days
Click here for Flyer1 or Flyer2
Nick Reygaert is on the road again with the 3rd Annual Fly Fishing Film Festival (encompassing New Zealand, South Africa, and Australia). The Canberra show was this week and was a lot of fun. Check out the remaining dates at the Gin Clear website.
I'm just back from Peter Hayes Conclave on Brumbies Creek (see below). It was an amazing time. I learnt a lot and met up with some fantastic people. I managed to pass my FFF CCI Casting Instructor certification too! There is a full writeup of the Conclave coming up in the New Zealand Trout Fisher (issue 111), and Tasmanian Fishing and Boating News. Keep an eye out for next year's as spaces will fill fast.
I've added some new collectors grade rod pictures (under Rods) to the Gallery. I've also made some landing nets, featuring burl handles and bamboo hoops (on the Gallery under "Misc").
Peter Hayes is holding the inaugural Australian Fly Fishing Conclave at his lodge on Brumbies Creek from 19-21 April. There will be many acccomplished fly fishers conducting classes there, including (Peter Hayes of course), Muzz Wilson and Peter Morse. I will be doing 2 x 1 day workshops on introducing people to Cane Rods and Rodmaking. Places at the Conclave are limited and are close to selling out, but you may be able to secure one of the few remainng places by contacting Peter Hayes on 03 6397 5073 or via email at hayes@flyfishtasmania.com.au. This will be an annual event - if you miss out this year, keep an eye out for next year's! More details on the classes are in this PDF.
Adam Shirley, from 666AM Canberra Radio, and ABC TV, presented a story on my rods for Stateline on Friday 15 Feb. A transcript of the interview is here
Richard Snashall's video on Fly Fishing in the Snowy Mountains, produced for the ABC, has been added to YouTube. Check it out here. He has some other interesting videos there too!
Miri and I have just returned from a visit toNew Zealand's North Island. Miri grew up in the Taranaki region, so we get back there from time to time. Though not a mecca for international, or even Kiwi anglers, the region has a large number of rivers and streams which contain trout (mainly wild browns), averaging 2 1/2 to 4lb, with larger fish also turning up. A few rivers and lakes are managed as rainbow fisheries as well.
The region is dominated by the lone peak of Mt Taranaki. At over 2500m, it is 300m heigher than Mt Kosciuszko, but only some 30km from the coast. In Winter it is possible to snow ski on the Mountain and surf in the ocean on the same day. Maori legend says that Mt Taranaki used to live with the other Moutains, Tongariro, Ruapehu and Ngauruhoe, in the middle of the North Island. After Taranaki fell in love with Pihanga, the wife of Tongariro, a battle ensued, after which Taranaki was exiled to the West Coast (hence the name - Taranaki translates to "Gliding Peak"). Legend has it that one day, Taranki will return. All I can say is that I don't want to be in the way if it happens! As all the streams run down from it, spectacular views of the mountain up the stream you are fishing are everpresent.
The ringplain surrounding the mountain contains around 40 major trout streams, plus countless smaller streams and tributaries. Dairy farms cover much of the ringplain, so the rivers flow through a mix of pastoral land and native scrub patches. The dairying does contribute to algal growth in the middle/lower reaches of some streams, which in general are bouldery freestones, but more and more, rivers are being fenced off to allow native vegetation regrowth.
Both dry fly and ny'mphing are successful, though Miri and I fished almost exclusively with a dry on our trip, only changing to a nymph for fish that we couldn't move to a dry. Most of the fishing on was sight based, with fish holding in pocket water and runs, or cruising in pools. On the whole the fish weren't super selective, though with low water conditions, smaller, sparser flies around #14 worked better than big bushy wulffs and humpys. More important was a drag free presention, and as usual, the first cast was usually your best chance.
Miri and I shared a rod (a three piece 7'3" #5/6 "Monaro56"), with a Terenzio Artificial Silk #5, which was an ideal combination for the medium sized rivers and streams in the region.
Didymo is yet to be found in the North Island, but to play it safe, we each bought a new pair of Dunlop Volley sneakers (poor mans aquastealth?) to wade with on our trip, and cleaned and treated them each day. We left them in NZ at the end of the trip to simplify the return through quarantine in Australia. Some of the algae covered rock were a bit like wading on ice, but once you were used to it, it wasn't too much of a problem.
I have an article in the latest New Zealand Troutfisher magazine, asking Kiwi's whether it's worth them bringing a rod when they visit Australia!
Andrew Lowe, Melbourne based furniture maker, is producing beautiful fly boxes made from Australian timbers. Check out the "Other Products" page for more information.
I have an article on close range presentations in issue 50 of Flylife magazine . Diagrams for the knotless superglue connection mentioned can be found off my "Why Bamboo" page, or straight from here.
A poem of mine, "The Trout from Snowy River" (a fishing tribute to Banjo Patterson's "Man from Snowy River"), has been published in the Fall issue of "The Drake" magazine from America.
I have put some pictures of recent field testing pictures on the "Gallery" page. Season 2007/2008 is looking to be one of the best in many years. The whole region is benefitting from good rain.
We are offering a new range of full cowhide rod tubes and reel cases from Benowe. Check out out our "Other Products" page for more info.
One of my rods is featured on the cover of the August/September issue of "The New Zealand Troutfisher". Inside there is a feature article by Nick Reygaert on a days fishing we did together up in the mountains. Nick runs the Fly Fishing Film Festival in Australia and New Zealand each year.
I have put some pictures of recent rods on the "Gallery" page.
We are proud to announce the release of a classic, simple Australian fly reel, by Terry Hayden. This reel came about through my discussions with Australia's leading reelmaker Terry Hayden. I wanted an Australian reel that I could use and sell with my rods. Out of this came "The Snowy River" Reel. Look at the "Other Products" and "Gallery" pages for more information.
"The Artists Shed" is holding "Artisans of Queanbeyan", an exhibition the work of ten local crafstpeople, from the 6th to the 29th of July. Craftwork will include glasswork, iron sculpture, furniture, woodturning, textiles (and bamboo rods of course)! Official opening is at 6:30 pm on Thursday the 5th of July.
The Artists Shed is a combined working artists studio and gallery/exhibition space, located at 14 Foster Street In Queanbeyan (Phone: 02 6297 0336). The gallery holds diverse exhibitions throughout the year, as well as offering commissioned works from the artists in residence, and art lessons in a variety of media. Their website is at:
Due to the improvement in the Australian Dollar/US Dollar exchange rate, we are pleased to announce a price reduction for Peerless Traditional Trout Reels. The price is now $695 Aus. More details on Peerless Reels are on the "Other Products" page.
There are some new rod pictures and field testing shots on the gallery.
We are proud to offer artificial braided lines from Terenzio Zandri in Italy. These lines cast and feel like natural silk, but have less need for maintenance. Check out our "Other Products" page for more information.
Miri and I have just come back from a few days with Peter Hayes at his place on Brumbys Creek. Peter invited over twenty of the highest skilled casters and fly fishers from around the country for an end of season get together. There was lots of casting, fly tying with Muzz Wilson, casting, drinking, casting, eating, casting, talking, casting and even a little fishing. Did I mention the casting? Seriously, it was amazing to see the diverse casting styles among the folk there. One thing all these fantastic casters had in common was smooth, tight loops, and long lines.
It was also great to see a selection of my cane rods getting a real workout from these guys. Though many of my rods are primarily designed for close quarters presentations and feel, these guys had no troubles throwing a long, arrow loops, even with the six and a half foot four weights. Interestingly, the rods at either end of the scale (the fast 6'6" Monaro 45, and the smooth, deep loading Driggs based 7' #4/5), had a fairly even share of popularity.
Peter is a wonderful caster and the premier casting teacher in Australia. I learnt a lot from him over the course of the few days we were there. A few hours with Peter will make every hour on the stream or lake more productive and enjoyable. Each winter, when the trout season in Tasmania is closed, Peter travels the country with his casting school. Check out his website or contact him for details of this year's courses. Peter's lodge on Brumbys Creek also offers access to a wide range of stream and stillwater fishing during the fishing season. We even had a large brown trout dodging all the lines on the casting pool!
It was also really nice to catch up with old friends, as well as making some new ones. It was really nice to meet Mike Stevens, from Stevens Publishing. Mike publishes Tasmanian Fishing and Boating News, as well as many fine new and reprinted fishing books.
Keep an eye out for some articles in the various flyfishnig publications that will be coming out of the casting weekend on Brumbys.
A new Australian book on flycasting by Peter Wilson has been out on the market for a couple of months now. The book is a wonderful perspective on casting, with an Australian context. There is historical information on bamboo rodmaking (including some lovely pages featuring Launceston rodmaker Peter McKean and also yours truly). Peter has been involved with fly fishing and fly casting since before he can remember, and has reperesented Australia in World and Commonwealth casting championships. There is also an interesting chapter on guiding and being guided.
The folks at Flylife magazine have added the reviews of my rods and the Peerless reels to their website:
TARANSKY BAMBOO RODSMiri and I have just returned from two and a half weeks in the South Island of New Zealand. The trip was based around me being one of the judges of the "fly-shorts" short film competition. "Fly-shorts" is part of the "RISE" 2nd Annual Fly Fishing Film Festival (currently touring NZ and Australia) organised by Nick Reygaert.
Check out the gallery page for some pictures.
Judging and Films
The judging went well and left some time for the equally important fishing of my own! Check out the winning entries on the gin-clear website:
I've had a sneak peek at a couple of the main film features, which are:
Trout Bum Diaries - New Zealand
Running Down the Man (Flyfishing for Roosterfish)
A Foam Odyssey (Stu Tripney's revolutionary approach to fly design)
Again, more details are on the gin-clear site. These films are fantasic. Get along to a screening near you. The DVDs for sale will have some additional fantastic footage.
Fiordland
A sweetener for making the trip for the judging was an adventure into Fiordland with Nick Reygaert and Brad Harris (from Flylife). Brad is a fantastic photographer - check out his own site at BH Photo. We were lucky enough to have reasonable weather (over 6 metres of rain falls here each year, and it's not uncommon to get stuck in there for days, or weeks if things go really bad). The scenery was great, as was the fishing, and it was really good to spend some time with Nick and Brad. Keep an eye out in Flylife for some fantastic pictures and articles from the trip. I donated the mandatory few mls of blood to the thirsty sandflies...
Southland and Otago
Miri and I spent the rest of our time in NZ fishing various waters in Southand and Otago. The weather took a bit of revenge after the mild start to the trip, but we still saw plenty of fish and had a really good time. If your time is limited, I cannot recommend enough the value of hiring a good guide with local knowledge. There is no substitute for knowing the local waters and conditions.
Stu Tripney - Bionic Flies and guiding on the Mataura
While stocking up on flies and tackle in Athol, on the Mataura, we met Stu Tripney (who's film "A Foam Odyssey" is in the Film Festival) at his "World Famous" fly shop. After a very kind invitation we ended up spending a couple of days with him, and had a lot of laughs and interesting discussions about fishing. It's really interesting - Stu's flies are at the leading edge of fly design with foam and other synthetics, while I work with natural materials to make bamboo rods, but we share a lot in common when it comes to the passion for flyfishing. Stu is a leading guide in the area, and if you want to catch fish, and learn a lot, look him up for guiding as well as his "Bionic Flies":
http://www.stusflyshop.com (Stu's and wife Mel's Flyshop)
http://www.bionicflies.com (Stu's radical foam flies)
http://www.borntofish.co.nz (Stu's guiding info)
NZ fish and bamboo rods
The South Island NZ was a good opportunity to do some serious field testing of bamboo rods on larger fish in bigger waters. I fish in Fiordland, and the small to medium sized streams, with my 6'6" "Monaro 45" (with a DT#4 or #5 dependingon the conditions), while on larger rivers, particularly when resorting to nymphing, I used an 8'0" Paul Young "Boat Rod" taper (with a DT#6). Miri fished with a 7'3" "Monaro 56".
Bamboo handled the large NZ fish really well. It is important however (and I think this goes for graphite as well), to avoid high sticking the fish. Keeping the rod at a moderate (45 degrees, or even lower), protects the rod, and also uses the most powerful part of the rod (the butt), to fight the fish. Look at any video of people playing tarpon and other saltwater fish, and you can see how this really works.
Didymo
While didymo (rock snot), is still affecting many South Island rivers, thankfully, it doesn't seem to be having the major impact feared on the aquatic insects or fish condition. It is crucial, however, to clean and wash all of your equipment (boots, waders, rods, lines, flies etc etc) with approved solutions after fishing ANY waters in the South Island. DON'T assume just because a river hasn't been listed as affected that you don't have to wash your gear. We bought a plastic tub with a lid from a hardware store when we first arrived, and used a commercial, concentrated solution called "Snot Off" to clean our gear each day. It's not difficult and just becomes part of the routine. A rag soaked in correctly diluted "Snot Off" wiped over the bamboo rods is fine on the finish of the rod. Just make sure that you dry your rod off before storing it in the tube.
Also, it was very pleasing to see that Customs/Quarantine in Australia re treated our gear on arrival back in Australia. They were nice enough to let me go into the treatment room and help out doing the treatment (I was sweating a little over handing over $5000 worth of bamboo rods).
Sandflies, DEET, and rod varnish
While in Fiordland, I used a commercial sandlfy repellant, containing a large amount of DEET (NN-diethyl-m-toluamide). When purchasing it in a tackle shop, the guy said to tackle up first, and then apply the repellant to the backs of your hand, and spread it from there, as it MELTS PLASTIC (such as reel handles etc). Well I did my best to do that, though I did wonder how bad it is for HUMANS if it melts plastic. Anyway, I managed to transfer some onto the butt section of my rod, when carrying it, just above the grip, and it did blister the varnish and peel it a little. It also melted all the plastic buttons on my casio waterproof watch to the point that it it has affected its operation! So be warned!! Iterestingly, the bites I got through the DEET treated area itched for two weeks, while bites I received on untreated areas didn't itch at all. Maybe a coincidence, maybe not...
ABC radio and digital TV will be airing the Summer series of "Alpine Stories" from Monday 19 Feb, following on from the highly successful Winter Series. Richard Snashall, of Spinning Reel Audio Visual has written, filmed, and produced the wide ranging pieces on teh Australian alpine region. One of the segments includes Paul Bourne, Miri Robinson and me flyfishing. Keep an ear out on ABC radio (666 AM) in the Canberra region, or follow the links from Richard's website to view the pieces on the web.
While I am kept very busy making new rods, I do repair and restoration work from time to time. I was really excited to help our recently with a Kosmic circa 1891-2. Some pictures of the project can be seen on the gallery.
There are some new rod pictures and field testing shots on the gallery.
I've updated pricing for my rods. Please check out the prices page for details.
I will be in Melbourne this weekend. Anyone that wants to have a cast of some rods, and chat about bamboo, come on by.
The rods I hope to have with me are:
6' #2/3 - 1 piece - Full Action - Small Stream
6'6" #4/5/6 Monaro45 - 3 piece - Fast Action - Stream/River/Lake Dry Fly
6'6" #3/4/5 - 3 piece - Medium Action - Small Stream
6'3" #4/5 "Midge" Medium Fast - Small Stream
7'3" #4/5 "Driggs River" Medium Action - Stream/River
8' #5/6 "Paul Young Para 15" - 2 piece - Parabolic Action Dry/Wet
fly (2 different tips) - River/Lake
8' #6/7 "Paul Young Boat Rod" - 2 piece - Medium Fast Action - River/Lake
** Please note that I currently have a 15-18 month waiting list for rod orders. **
I'll also have some Peerless Reels and Phoenix Silk Lines to have a look at and cast.
Peter Hayes has just been in town for a series of his acclaimed casting schools. He and his team from Fly Fish Tasmania are also the leading guides in Tasmania. I caught up with Peter outside of class to talk bamboo and cast a bunch of rods. I highly recommend any bamboo rod owners to take one of Peter's casting courses - he can help you get the most out of your bamboo rod (and any other rod, for that matter). Anyone that thinks bamboo is "yesterday's material" should ask Peter, or watch him cast a full flyline or four inch loops with a six and a half foot bamboo rod!
I also had the chance to have dinner with Peter and long time friend Paul Bourne, from Snowy Monaro Fly Fishing. It was great to talk bamboo and fishing with these leading guides who fish and appreciate bamboo, and have a wealth of fishing and guiding knowledge and experience between them.
I've added a sweet six and a half footer to the lineup - very versatile, and smooth casting. Check out more details on the Rod Range page.
I've added a couple of eight footers to the range of tapers offered - both Paul Young based tapers - the Para 15 #5/6 and the Boat Rod #6/7. Eight feet is really the upper limit of where I believe bamboo is at it's best. These two rods are very different in action, but superb in their own way. Check out more details on the Rod Range page.
Recently I had a opportunity to see The Troubum Diaries (volume 1. Patagonia) at the Flyfishing Film Festival, brought around Australia by Nick Reygaert. It's a wonderful, progressive piece of work - awesome footage, fish, music, and humour. The only thing it lacked was a bamboo rod (ha ha). You can get hold of a copy of the DVD via Nick's production company, Oceania Productions.
Paul Bourne, from Snowy Monaro Fly Fishing, the premier guide in the Snowy Monaro region now ofers the option of guided fishing with bamboo. Many people know Paul from from as far back as his days guiding from Sautelle Lodge at Green Lake. Paul has 25 years of fly fishing experience in the region, and 12 years (since 1994) as a dedicated full time guide.
Paul is the hardest core fisherman I know, and uses his days off from guiding doing guess what? FISHING! It has been the supremest compliment to me that Paul has chosen to use my rods for his own personal fishing. He now has expanded his guiding rod range to include bamboo. This enables customers to experience the ultimate guided trout fshing experience - with bamboo!
Contact Paul for more information:
email: pbourne@snowy.net.au
web: http://www.snowymonaroflyfishing.com.au
phone: (02) 6452 7650
mobile: 0415 779 316
Postal:
PO Box 112
Cooma NSW 2630
Australia
Well, I'm biting the bullet and doing some work on the website. I try to spend as much time as possible away from the computer, making rods and fishing, but the time has come for a bit of an upgrade. Not that I make any apologies if I don't have the best website in the world - my goal is to make the best rods, so I focus my time on that! Please do email me if you find any of the links or pages not loading correctly though...
We are very proud to be able to offer Peerless Fly Reels to the Australian market. These are among the finest, classic fly reels in the world. Check out our Other Products page for more details.
We have updated our pricing - check out the Prices page for more details.
Some sample tapers for the Arundinaria Series (1 piece rods) have been added to the Rod Range page.
Details and pricing for Phoenix Silk Lines are now on the Other Products and Prices pages.
I've have some wonderful brown mallee seats made up in cap and ring, by CSE, and uplocking threaded, by Bellinger. Looking at an offcut of a piece of brown mallee, I was struck by the colouration and how it reminded me of a Brook Trout, so I carved up a little figure (don't worry, I won't quit my day job). There's a picture on the gallery page (below the shot of the reelseats). That timber it SO HARD. In the end I had to use metalworking tools (hacksaw, files and a dremel) to work it. Little wonder it is such a fantasic reel seat material.
I am proud to announce that I am now offering Phoenix Silk Lines, in addition to J. P. Thebault Silk Lines. Call for more information.
Some more beautiful engraving work from Dick Chapman is featured on the gallery.
The Victorian Fly Fisher's Association held it's Annual Cane Day last weekend. There was a wonderful turnout of both rods and people. Miri took som snaps which you can see on the gallery.
Haydn Jenkins was kind enough to wite a very favourable review of my rods in the latest edition of Flylife magazine, the premier Australian fly fishing publication!
I've just started competing in the Brunn Shield and ACT Fly Fisher's casting competitions with bamboo, just for a bit of fun. I've just been using my 6'6" Monaro 3 piece 4/5 weight fishing rod. I managed a 29.68 metre (33 yard) cast in the single handed distance - not bad for a little rod!
The ACT Fly Fishers Inc (my local club) is hosting the 2005 Australian Fly Casting Championships in Canberra from 22-25 April. Check out more details at the official website. The club has held the event previously (2002) with great success. If you're in the area, come by and have a look. There will be raffles, food, and you'll have the chance to see Australia's best casters in action. I'll be around the place helping out if you want to look me up too.
I've built some one piece rods in a range of tapers (a photo is on the gallery), and still have a few in stock. Contact me for more details.
Peter Hayes, Australian Fly Casting Champion, and representative of the Australian team in the World Flyfishing Championships, is featured with a bamboo rod and 2 kilo brown on the front cover of the Dec 04 - Jan 05 issue. The rod was made my friend and fellow rodmaker, Peter McKean, from Launceston. Inside, Peter Hayes extols the virtues of "short" (7 foot) rods, and bamboo. It's great to see one of our country's best fly fishermen putting in a good word for bamboo rods. Tasmanian Fishing and Boating News is put out by Stevens Publishing.
I've added some nice new pictures from Haydn Jenkins to the Gallery.
We use Snake Brand agate stripping guides, as well as their lightweight snake guides. We have recently been included under their rodmaker profiles page, available from their home page.
Thanks Mike!
Join the Australian Trout Foundation when you order an N. A. Taransky Bamboo Rod and receive a $20 discount on your rod. That's TWICE the ATF joining fee!
Quite a few people have asked for more information regarding the leader connection and DT line splice I mention under "Tackle Tips". I've added diagrams of how these are put together (apologies for the artwork - you should see my handwriting)! I should mention that these ideas are not my own, but I have settled on them for my own use. There are links to the diagrams under the "Why Bamboo?" page, where I've also added some notes on Rod Care.
More tapers added under the "Rod Range" page. There are heaps more still available on request, or contact me to assist you in designing your own rod!
I have acquired a set of swelled butt planing forms from Jeff Wager in the USA, for constructing abrupt Thomas & Thomas or Heddon style swells.
Early in 2005 I will be producing a number of one piece rods, in a selection of tapers. Some of these are already taken, but a couple may be available for immediate purchase. Keep an eye out here for an announcement.
We are proud to offer beautiful handcrafted leather rod tubes, reel cases, fly wallets and other accessories made by Benowe Australia. Check our "Other Products" page for more info.
Due to demand, we are offering Silk Flylines from J P Thebault in France. Check our "Other Products" page for more info.
We have sourced some beautiful Australian Hardwood Burl timber for cap and ring reelseats (Brown Mallee Burl and Red Mallee Burl). Check our "Gallery" page for photos.
Welcome! After building rods through word of mouth references for several years, we have put together this website to make N. A. Taransky Bamboo Rods more widely available.
