A bamboo rod not only influences the experience of the angler, but informs and expands his exercise and pursuit. As a rod-maker my goal is to build the finest fly rods possible, in terms of both craftsmanship and performance. I strive to capture and instill a "spirit" or approach to fly fishing that imparts an integrated philosophy and elevates one's mindfulness. My philosophy, shaped by my experience, study and reflection, is informed not only by elemental laws. In my view, there are three disciplines that govern rod construction: The physics of casting, the methods of construction, and the human dynamic essential to rod-building.

Casting and the laws that govern it are as constant as the laws of nature; they apply under all circumstances. Driven by a lever or fly rod, propelling a fly is subject to the forces of gravity, wind-dynamitic and air resistance. These factors are constants in the equation of rod construction. It is critical to understand this when designing and building a bamboo rod. The reality is that we do more than cast with a bamboo fly rod. We mend line, play fish and also have aesthetic and traditional sensibilities to keep in mind.

There are many aspects to a rod's design and construction. All of the variables taken as a whole are complex, but taken together they can contribute to maximizing the inherent strength of bamboo. As a material, bamboo -a natural product-furthers the challenge of rod-building with its inherent inconsistencies. This presents the craftsman with an additional level of complexity, and nuances of which a builder must be mindful. Many rod-builders produce aesthetically beautiful rods, but only the most accomplished are able to master the variable characteristics of bamboo. It is a rare craftsman who is able to realize a conceived action within a finished rod.

One of the great challenges I see as a rod-maker is the struggle to maximize the potential of the bamboo in terms of realizing its greatest power-to-strength ratio. Overcoming a rod's inertia is critical. By reducing weight in the mids and tips, a rod-builder can significantly improve the dampening effect as the rod loads and unloads during the casting stroke and thus produce a better casting rod. Many things affect the power-to-weight ratio such as taper and hollow cutting dimensions, heat treating, moisture retention, flaming, adhesives, varnish, guide spacing, ferrule selection, and so forth. I look at each of the processes individually to ultimately craft a perfectly finished rod with precise action. I chose to work in six strip construction for several reasons. Many people think that four and five-sided rods are easier to build, but in reality the opposite is true. The wider flats of four and five-sided rods are harder to straighten, varnish, plane and wrap, and they also present unique problems in ferruling. Hollow cutting is another consideration.

In four and five-sided rods, due to the sharper angles of the splines, a sufficient amount of bamboo must remain for glue to find purchase and seat the rod at the various intersections where the splines join each other. Thus, hollow cutting cannot be as deep as is desired, which is especially noticeable in longer rods. Solid four and five-sided rods have an advantage over six-sided rods in terms of their inherent power-to-weight ratio: Due to their greater volume of power fibers, they are more powerful in the same line weights and lengths vis-a-vis hexagonal rods. However, with the hollow cutting advantages in six-sided rods, the power differences are nearly nullified, and because of this I have elected to exclusively build six-sided rods. Essentially, the manipulation of a rod's interior dimensions can control its action much the same way as the outer dimension does. But the real benefit is the removal of weight. Bamboo rods that are hollow cut offer an action that dampens and recovers beautifully in the casting stroke as a result of reduced inertia. This results in longer, lighter and faster rods.

A skilled rod-builder must be more than a proficient caster in order to master rod-building. He must understand the relationship between the rod and the angler, the fish and environmental conditions. Through careful attention to processes and materials, he must be able to transfer his knowledge into an object that is at once a piece of art, a functioning tool and also an object emblematic of the spiritual undercurrent of fly fishing.

A fine bamboo rod inspires more than angling, and we all understand this on various levels. My ideas about rod building were changed when I began to study the relationship between Japanese craftsmen and their tools. For several years I worked at the Andre Puyans Fly Fishing Schools in Idaho and had the opportunity to meet several Japanese rod-builders and anglers. Hirobumi Miyo and T.K. Wantanabe were men who influenced my thought and work, and inspired me to look deeper into the relationships between fisherman, environment, and the tools we use to interact with those spheres.

Initially overwhelmed by their artfulness, skill on the water and their reverence for craftsmanship, I was motivated to learn more about Japanese craftsmen, intrigued by the fact that various methods of construction -and the rod maker himself-influence the ways people use a rod. I began to think about how my rods would affect people, and studying the philosophy of Japanese Artisans crystallized my ideas about rod-building. Clearly, many anglers are passionate about bamboo rods and regard them as almost mystical for their properties. Why? If this was strictly about casting we would be using rods made of modern materials. In terms of the finished rod and its composition, the craftsman's influence on the way people approach fly-fishing cannot be over-stated. As I mentioned, each rod-builder imbues a fly rod with a "spirit", in much the same way that a piece of art inspires feelings or ideas. A building could, for example, inspire feelings of comfort, or foreboding. A hand-made fly rod is a reflection of the essence of the artist, and each rod-maker builds rods that mirror the constitution of the craftsman. Accordingly, a significant amount of my character and spirit are implanted in every rod I build.

The "spirit" in each rod has a subtle and often times profound influence on how the angler uses his tool. Mindful of this, I have carefully considered the composition and craftsmanship of my rods. Through them, I hope to share something that will inspire you to approach angling with confidence, tranquility and discipline.

Sincerely,

Linnéa Rod Company

This rod is named after Caples Creek where I learned to fly fish, and is a personal favorite. I designed it as a three-piece to facilitate ease of transport. Just lash the case right to your pack. It has a positive action that is designed for fishing small Sierra streams and lakes. $2150.00

Quick and accurate, the 813-2 is a great rod to use for spring creek applications when a lighter rod is desired. It's a positive-casting three-weight that throws tight loops and is perfect for fishing small flies on still water. $1950.00

This rod is my salute to Olan "John" Soininen, a great mentor and friend. John was a very giving person who spent a lot of time teaching me to cast and fish. An outstanding tournament caster and avid Bass fisherman, we spent countless hours together. He liked rods that could do it all: roll cast, mend line and play fish. In accordance with John's wishes, the 834-2 OJS has the medium-slow action he liked. This rod was fun to conceive and is another one of my favorites. Although designed for spring creek fishing, I don't ever remember fishing for trout with John. This stick brings to mind one of the most generous and talented anglers I have ever had the pleasure to know. $1950.00

This is a medium-fast rod designed for spring creek fishing. I like to fish this rod on Hat Creek when the Baetis emerge or on Bone Fish Flats on the Henry's Fork when the Callibaetis Spinners are falling. The rod throws tight loops and is perfect for accurate casting when stalking large rising fish. This rod comes with a reel seat insert made from Choke Cherry, a shrub native to the Island Park area. According to René Harrop, the shrub was used by local native peoples for making bows and other weapons. René gave me some of this beautiful wood in 1995 and I continue to use it for my 844-2. Without question, I consider this to be my signature rod. $1950.00

A bamboo rod inspired by my great mentor and friend Andre M. Puyans, this is my tribute to a master. Andy and I discussed the specs for this stick while driving to Idaho in 1998. The 845-2 AP casts with unusual accuracy, and many people who have used this rod describe it as medium-fast. It is an excellent rod for stalking trout. In 1991 Andy gave me a piece of beautiful French walnut he had kept in a press for 25 years, and every 845-2 AP comes with a walnut reel seat insert. The wood is exquisite, and production of this rod is limited. $1950.00

I designed this stick for fishing the fall run of steelhead in our California costal rivers. Use it with dry lines and floating or hitched flies. It comes with a detachable fighting butt. $1950.00

My favorite rod to use when fishing the Lower Klamath, this rod loves long casts with shooting heads, and is ideal for covering big water. The rod comes with a removable fighting butt. Fish it with a #7 head. $1950.00

I fish my 897-2 when I want to land the bass and the stump it's holding next to! You can really "put the wood to a fish" with this rod. It's a powerful piece designed for casting large bugs. $1950.00

When fishing shooting heads for large winter run coastal steelhead, this is the rod to use. It comes with detachable fighting butt. Try fishing it with a #8 head. $2250.00

A versatile piece great for fishing BC steelhead, I also like to use it for stripers. This elegant rod throws beautiful long casts. It comes with a detachable fighting butt. $1950.00

This stick is not for the meek. I designed the 939-3 for fishing the Bay with a #10 shooting head and big flies for large game fish like stripers. This rod doesn't cast: it "goes off." $2250.00