I receive requests for appraisal of vintage fly rods from all over the world.

Although I always try to give a sensible answer I must say that I am not an expert simply because I don't have a regular, dayly exposure to antique fly rods and tackle like professionals have.

You need to have years in the trade to get knowledgeable. Read books, catalogs, attend auctions or visit auction sites, meet colleagues and bamboo rod makers in person, write articles...Only then you start to get an immediate feeling about vintage fly rods.

But, for the rest of us, impatient to get answers, here are some points I would like to share:

• Yes, antique bamboo rods are unique and sought-after collection pieces. But you won't become a millionaire if you have or find one!
• Many, many bamboo rods in the past were also made for the mass market and so they were and still are cheap bargains. Moreover, many US soldiers brought home many souvenir bamboo rods from Japan at the end of the II War World and these are also very cheap, no-interest fly rods (they were not even split cane rods, but simply bamboo sticks).
• Check for trade marks, numbers, signaturess, look at the metal parts, control the quality of the metal parts, the binding (
• Consider contacting real professionals. I talked about them in many of my articles on this website. But here is a short listing:

for Colorado cane rods the definitive expert is Mr Michael D. Clark (my interview with him is here: http://www.upon-bamboo-fly-fishing-rods-and-reels.com/michael-sinclair.html)

Then Jeff Wagner (himself a rodmaker and antique dealer, www.wagnerrods.com ),

Bill Harms (rod maker and cane rods historian, he wrote a book on Vincent Marinaro, www.wmharmsrods.com)

Another expert is Mr Rick D. Sorensen (www.westslopefly.com) .

Good general reference books for an introduction are for instance these one:

1. Classic & Antique Fly-Fishing Tackle: A Guide for Collectors & Anglers

2. Old Fishing Lures & Tackle: Identification & Value Guide

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