Sunday's fish pictures

The "Pejerrey" or (Basalichthys bonariensis) is also knowed as "Silver arrow". This fish is one of the most popular fish here in Argentina. You can find it at lakes, rivers and also into the sea. They grows up to 2/3 pounds, about 30 inches. Normal fish are 15/20 inches long. It´s very popular because is very good to eat. It's fished with floating lines (not fly fishing ones) with 3 or 5 bouys and with the hooks very near the surface. Last year we made a try with fly fishing, using a #4 rod a floating line and little epoxy flies (like little shads), our surprise was great when we got a lot of them with great fight and high air acrobatics like Salmon. We need a little more of investigation because this fish moves on great schools and there are a little hard to find... but we will do in the mean time.

Saturday's Rod in action sequences

Years ago when I decided to begun to export my rods into new countries I received this email, from a man that I only know from his famous newsletter "The Planing Form", Mr. Ron Barch.

Good Morning,
My name is Ron Barch and I am the editor of an intenational newsletter called The Planing Form. The newsletter links split bamboo rod makers from 15 countries.
A friend told me about your website and I find it most interesting, especially your use of native bamboo. You are the first makers to seem to have success with cane other than Arundianarai amabilis. I wish I could travel to Argentina to cast of one your rods.
Also, your use of a new ferrule design makes your rods unique in the commercial market. We have used such ferrules in North America but never on rods for sale to the public.
I would very much like to tell my readers more about your split bamboo rods and constructions processes. Any added information or printed material you could send me would be most appreciated. If you would like to know more about me check out the website aldercreekpublishing.com
Also, if you send me your mailing address I will send you some copies of The Planing Form newsletter.
One more question. Do have representatives in North America? If so I could contact them and maybe get a chance to cast one of your rods.

Best Regards,
Ron Barch/editor
The Planing Form newsletter

At that time I had sent 3 rods for evaluation to Mr. Art Lee, Mr. Ernest Swchiebert and Mr. Martin J. Keane. Another one was my first "Guru Rod" that goes to Mr. Sante Giuliani (Banjo).
I decided to send a new one to Ron, because his knowledge about rodmaking and rodmakers will gave me also a great evaluation about my work.
I decided to send him a CFH836 8' 3" #6 Hollow Build Series.





This was the article that was published by Ron after the rod was received and evaluated.







Thank you very much Ron... this are great memories for me and for the pictures I know that you´re enjoying that rod.

Big Storm... Salmon memories

After a big storm here in Buenos Aires, my server was down for the last 5 days. This gave me the time to refresh some memories and the following was the first that cames to mind.

Location: Patagonia, San Martin de los Andes, Currhue Lake.
At that time the Currhue was a great lake with a big population of Salmo Salar Sebago (Landlocked Salmon).
I was there with Sebastian and Florencia my big children. At that time 6 and 4 years. We arrived to that lake early in the morning after a long and difficult trip.
We took some coffee and I decided to go to the other bank of the lake because nobody goes there. We start with a long walk across the forest and I took on my back a big pack full of toys and babysitter stuff.
In the middle of the trip we have to cross a bridge over a small creek called Arroyo Verde (Green Creek). I decided to follow the creek and get his source into the lake. After walking about 20 minutes we had to cross a big tree fallen into the river. So I help Sebas to cross and carry Florencia at my back and start the job. In the middle of the cross I saw something that bring my attention, two shadows under the tree. The light wasn't good so my imagination work and work. I told the children to stop making noise for a minute or two and let me confirm my suspects. A little ray of sunlight helps me at that time and I saw two beautiful Salmon under the big tree. A couple about 5 lb. for the male and over 8 lb for the female.
I told the children that I like to make some cast there so we made the camp about 20 meters from that tree. 8 o’clock.
My wife wasn't there so I know that it would be a difficult job. That was the middle of the forest so the child’s were haunted.
I arranged my rod, an Orvis Battenkill 4 ¾ (Joe Brooks Favorite) and my Orvis CFO IV reel. Greased my line and start to think about the best way to approach that fish.
At that time I had a big amount of flies into more than eight boxes into my vest. The fish were just under the tree; they were still there like statues. No moves, no feed, nothing…
I studied the situation… a down river approach was impossible
because of the tree, so I went up river and start a cast with a little Hare ear’s but the line doesn’t get the right depth and the fish don’t move. I don’t like to keep you here reading all the day long so I will make a synthesis.
The day goes, and at midday we take a lunch and some problems starts because all the toys were used, all the sings were singed, and my patience as babysitter was lost.
In the first part of the day I changed my fly about twenty times so I was in the need of a new strategy. I decide that a good nap was a good point to start the change. We sleep up to 16 pm and after that everything becomes new for the children and they start
playing again.
I decided to go down stream and make some cast upstream.
Y tied and cast some dries without results. I cast a big nymph and this one disturbed the fish and makes them go.
Imagine I spend about 10 hours with this fish and in a minute magically they disappear.
I stay there immobile looking at the empty spot, I was a beginner at that moment, but my pride was hurt.
I called the child’s and begun to put the place in order to go. Collecting a big amount of paper and bottles and working in that place like a gardener because I need time to give a chance to the fish to return there.
This creek was very narrow so I supposed that they could not find a better place and with a little of time and quiet they’ll return.
30 minutes later I ask my child’s for the last opportunity and we went there to take another look. Yes… they were there!!!
Now with a big amount of pressure because of the two little spectators saying “Now Daddy”, “you can take them now?” “Come on Daddy”, I start my approach again.
The fish were a little in front of the tree now but it was a difficult cast again because the tree don’t let me pass the fly, but I decided to try my last chance.
I tied a big Honey Blonde, look for the best place to make the cast and put my mind into the target. I made the cast and stop the fly right in front of the tree. A second pass, and the big male take it. What a beautiful take!!! The child’s shout and run and I feel like a proud fisherman and like an hero.
I took the fish out, imagine the children faces. What an adventure… I released the fish and he goes deep into the water.
I took a look to the tree and the female was still there. Why not? I thought and decided to repeat the cast. And yes… she took it. After a great fight Sebastian took this picture. What a day!!!



Nearly 14 hours fishing for the fish and nothing. Them in 6 minutes I got them with only two casts.
That day was great, fishing with children is great, salmon are great, memories are great, fly fishing is great and life is great.

Thoughts about taper design

I love to cast any bamboo rod.
I got more than fish doing that.
I mean that I really enjoy walking a river with my rods. Is not the same when for one cause or another I need to use another type of rod. There's something missing... At that times I need fish or I feel that my day was lost.
However when I use my bamboo rod I enjoy each cast, each looking and each fish.



As a caster, I enjoy every cast. Everything that my rod turns into a loop, but as a fly fisherman I need a little more... One of the learns that I got from more than 35 years fishing bamboo rods is that I want my fly 80 per cent of the time, in the water. I look for rods that let me do that in no more than one or two cast. So when is time for taper design, I look for 3 basics.

1) Balance
2) Response
3) Confidence



1) Balance not only point into a good weight proportion, also I look for it when I need short or longer cast and also when I need a slow cast or a fast one. This make that your rod that is heavier than a "G", feels lighter at the end of the day.
"Bamboo rods are heavier than "G" rods". I´m tired to heard about this conclusion. What you get from one and what for the other? How many false cast you need to do with one and how many with the other? When you take a fish... hows performs one and how the other?
I got my own thought, yes bamboo rods are heavier but... at the end of the day I´m not tired as that days when I fish "G" when I finished not only tired but bored also.

2) Response = power transference. This is not but to obtain exactly what I request to it. Sometimes, specially when we are in the middle of a "hatch" our targets are moving from one point to another, here the angles change, the wind change and sometimes we need to change our cast in the air. If you can do it, that is response... Short or long, slow or fast, right or left just in seconds...

3) Confidence is what push me to get one rod over another to fish different kinds of waters. This is not a property owned by the rod, we acquire this feeling after many years of use or just in a minute. This depends in the communion between you, your rod and the selection of the right stuff, line, leader and fly.

More about tapers design?

Why... Bamboo?

Why we love Bamboo rods?
Why we look at them as pieces of art?
Why we take care of them with such kind of protective feeling?
Why at winter time, we take them out of their tubes only to take a look?
Why we walk proudly when we go into the river with one of them?
Why we always want a search for a new acquisition to our collection?
Why we wait up to 4 years to get one on order from an "x" rod maker?

Well to many whys...

I believe that something has to do with the attraction that "man" has had with wood. Wood was the first supplier of heat and lighting. As all "natural materials" it gave us a special "touch" and we feel protected.
It would seem that wood has transmitted to us a warm and confidence sensation over centuries.
Think that when we want to make some place "warm" always the wood is there, like a living room or the interior of a sophisticated car. Another important issue seems to be the "unique" properties of any bamboo rod, because all have their own "character" their own "soul".
Just imagine for one second if your woman or your children were all the same, same looking, same name, same character... I already know... I'm exaggerating, but think for a moment, what would make us love, pro weave or take care of them... What make our family or our friends so special?.
And now, what happen with graphite rods?. We know that they are many other over there with the same character, the same looking and if something happen we can get a new one. That's why we don't feel the same for them.
Another thought is the pleasure to own a part of history with us. We know that any rod was made with care and protection, with properties methods and we know that they are irreplaceable, and we are the "guards" for this "tradition".
Well to much for today, is raining the shop is alone and I need to write just what it comes to mind. I'll love to know your thoughts about this "whys", so please use the "comments" button and we can arrive to some conclusion.

(Picture by Sante Giuliani)