bamboo pole

Question
Dear Joe i was wondering if you can help me I have recently come across a six sided one peice 9-0' salt water bamboo rod made by monatgue. could you tell me why it only has 3 eyes and two of them are back to back .What was the function of the 3rd eye (on top side). and as i understand these production rods do not have much value this rod s not restored and in grat shape is it worth over a hunderd bucks
thank you for youe time
Walt Smith

Answer
Hi Walter,

What you have is most likely a surf casting rod from the 1930s-1940s time period.  It is a one piece rod as far as the bamboo shaft is concerned, but the wooden handle will detach from the rod shaft at the reel seat.  Most of the early rods of this type did separate at a ferrule built into the reel seat.  Since yours has the opposing eyes on the shaft, it is certain that it comes apart at the seat.  It may be "frozen" together from dirt and corrosion.  It can be loosened with mild heat applied to the ferrule (reel seat), or if necessary, a few drops of penetrating oil.  Any dirt or corrosion will clean up with elbow grease and "0000" steel wool.  The reel seat is what is called German Silver or nickel silver which is brass that is nickel plated.  Excessive cleaning might rub through the plating, but it would really take some doing.

The eyes that are back-to-back serve a purpose.  The tiptop guide should be of a design that allows line to enter from either side of the rod.  The back-to-back guides allow you to remove the rod shaft and turn it around to use the other side for a while.  In other words you can fish the rod from both sides by turning the bamboo shaft in the ferrule.  Bamboo can develop a set or curve due to over stressing the bamboo fibers in one direction.  The theory here is that by turning the rod shaft over from time to time, you will even out the stresses on the fibers and keep the rod shaft straight.

As to why these rods only came with three guides, it is probably because it was less expensive to make them this way...less labor and time involved in wrapping and finishing guides.  The rod would perform better with more guides and a modern spacing of those guides.  Any competent rod maker can help you modernize the rod if you wish to fish with it.

Value depends on condition of the rod.  Great shape to you might be rated Very Good by an appraiser or Excellent depending on a close inspection of the rod.  For your purposes, value in Good-Very Good condition would be in the $50-$60 range; in Excellent-Mint condition in the $90-$110 range.  To be evaluated at or above $100, the rod would need to be essentially new.

These older surf and boat rods are experiencing a revival and values are improving.  Typically, in recent years you can buy these rods for about half of the values listed above...or less.  It is good to see them on the move upward as they are fine fishing rods.

Thanks,  Joe