Hooked Up Designs Magazine December 2016 | Page 74

Above: Bill Oyster shows one of his students some of
the finer details of making a split bamboo fly rod.

MAKING CUSTOM FLY RODS
from raw bamboo
Many people say they build custom fishing rods, but
they usually just attach components to manufactured
blanks and add fancy wrapping to it.
However, Bill Oyster, owner of Oyster Fine Bamboo
Fly Rods in Blue Ridge, Ga., starts from raw bamboo.
His least expensive rod sells for about $2,400. Some
of his creations sell for five figures to such distinguished
anglers as former President Jimmy Carter.
“Bamboo is the traditional material for American
fly fishers going back to the 19th century,” Oyster remarked. “For more than a century, American-made
split bamboo rods were the worldwide standard for fly
rods. This is our heritage, our samurai sword.”
Oyster starts with raw bamboo from China and
splits it into strips. Then, he planes the strips into triangles and glues them into hexagon-shaped rod halves.
After that, he makes the grip, adds guides, ferrules
and other parts before varnishing it.
When not building custom fly rods, Oyster teaches
others how to do it. He holds 13 classes a year, each
with about eight students. Each student starts with a
raw bamboo stalk. Six days later, each student walks
out of the workshop with a unique split bamboo fly rod
ready for fishing.
“Taking the class is cheaper than buying a custom
rod and the students get the satisfaction of building
it themselves,” Oyster explained. “The students do
all the work themselves from beginning to end. They
can pick the kind of rod that they want. Some people
like an ultralight creek rod and some want to build a
heavy saltwater rod. They all decorate their rods and
do whatever cosmetic work they want.”
Some students stay at Oyster’s Cast and Blast Inn
above his workshop in historic downtown Blue Ridge.
For more on the Cast and Blast Inn or Oyster’s rods
and classes, see www.oysterbamboo.com.
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HOOKED UP

DECEMBE

“Once the sun hits the water, trout get down in the deeper, darker
holes near cut banks,” Oyster explained. “Most often, trout will be holding near the bottom and may not come up for a dry fly. Let the fly drift
along right above the bottom so it doesn’t snag. If the strike indicator or
floating indicator fly stops moving or twitches, set the hook.”
While anglers typically catch the biggest fish near the bottom, sometimes a trout rises to take a dry fly, particularly in the spring. In the summer, surrounding fields produce huge quantities of grasshoppers. Many
fall into the creek, so a grasshopper pattern works well during hotter
months through early fall. Big trout might also grab a Woolly Bugger or
streamer that looks like a baitfish, especially when browns turn more aggressive in the fall and respond to bigger temptations. Throw a variety of
temptations to see what fish want that day.
Anglers could catch a trophy trout anytime on Noontootla Creek, but
the best action for big fish usually occurs in the fall and spring. Anglers
fishing the creek from November through March might also enjoy a castand-blast option, catching trophy trout and shooting bobwhite quail in
the same day.
“The cast and blast option is a lot of fun, but after a day walking the
fields and mountains for birds and wading the creek for trout, people
sleep well that night,” Kaser quipped. “We’ve been very fortunate that the
birds we get are very strong, good flyers.”
Sportsmen may choose either a guided or unguided hunt for quail or
pheasant. Guided hunts usually consist of one guide with a dog and two
shooters, but non-shooters can tag along. For unguided hunts, sportsmen
can bring their own dogs and roam their designated section at their leisure. However, the farm does not provide kennels to board dogs.
Many farm visitors stay at the Farmstead Lodge, also called “Granddad’s House.” This 4-bedroom, 3-bath ranch house can comfortably
sleep eight people in single beds. Another 2-bedroom cabin can sleep
four people. Both structures come with all the comforts of home. A large
back deck on the cabin overlooks the creek.
For more information on Noontootla Creek Farms, call 706-838-0585 or see
http://ncfga.net. Blue Ridge Fly Fishing (706-258-4080, www.blueridgeflyfishing.com) can arrange guides for public and private waters in the area including Noontootla Creek.
For area information, call Jode Mull of the Fannin County Chamber of Commerce and Welcome Center at 1-800-899-MTNS (6867) or see www.blueridgemountains.com.

R 2016

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