tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31335651Sat, 30 May 2026 14:06:58 +0000Shop TalkFishingMaking a RodTapersVideosSecret StuffHarry BoydLee KochMaking and fishing bamboo fly rodshttp://searcysowbug.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (David Bolin)Blogger196125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31335651.post-8042503999097105432Tue, 27 Sep 2016 22:54:00 +00002016-09-27T17:54:27.241-05:00If you're looking for information regarding the Southern Rodmakers Gathering (SRG), here's the link to the SRG blog.  Registration information and SRG history is all posted on the blog. www.southernrodmakers.blogspot.com I'm not posting to this site (Searcy_Sowbug) now.  There are still a lot of useful links listed with bamboo rodmaking information.  Feel free to look around if http://searcysowbug.blogspot.com/2016/09/the-southern-rodmakers-gathering.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (David Bolin)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31335651.post-7677230713388671016Tue, 22 Apr 2014 02:54:00 +00002014-04-21T21:54:15.187-05:00A new book is coming out from John Betts and Michael Hackney called Fly Lines - How to Make Them.  I've been looking forward to this book for several years after meeting Michael at CRR and visiting about the project.  Michael has been making the lines for a few years experimenting with different materials.  If you make your own bamboo fly rods, I'm sure you'll be interested in thishttp://searcysowbug.blogspot.com/2014/04/fly-lines-how-to-make-them.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (David Bolin)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31335651.post-5067659148027263360Thu, 06 Mar 2014 01:32:00 +00002014-03-05T19:32:33.875-06:00If you haven't found it yet, we've set up a new blog dedicated to SRG.  Everything you need to know about the Southern Rodmakers Gathering is posted there.  Here's the link: www.southernrodmakers.blogspot.comhttp://searcysowbug.blogspot.com/2014/03/new-srg-blog.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (David Bolin)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31335651.post-3006441079029985982Fri, 25 Oct 2013 00:12:00 +00002013-10-24T19:14:59.952-05:00Here's a link to Stevan Yasgur's SRG 2013 web album: https://picasaweb.google.com/107385705035721333138/SRG2013?authkey=Gv1sRgCIndlJDovdDtswEhttp://searcysowbug.blogspot.com/2013/10/srg-2013-pictures-from-yaz.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (David Bolin)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31335651.post-59137361317593054Thu, 24 Oct 2013 01:55:00 +00002013-10-23T20:55:00.259-05:00 http://searcysowbug.blogspot.com/2013/10/srg-2013-pictures.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (David Bolin)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31335651.post-7841695009671156017Wed, 07 Aug 2013 02:28:00 +00002013-08-06T21:28:14.218-05:00Photo by Jeff Graham: http://searcysowbug.blogspot.com/2013/08/colorado-rod-makers-reunion-2013-group.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (David Bolin)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31335651.post-8797944937457868759Wed, 31 Jul 2013 00:33:00 +00002013-07-30T19:33:53.989-05:00Registration is open for SRG 2013.  The dates are October 17, 18 & 19.  There will be a meet up for dinner somewhere in Mountain Home Wednesday evening the 16th for folks that will be arriving early.  Paul Craig is working on a location.  We'll post info when we know where we're meeting.  Here's a link to the registration form.  The registration fee is $60 again http://searcysowbug.blogspot.com/2013/07/southern-rodmakers-gathering-2013.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (David Bolin)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31335651.post-5648430080896754603Fri, 26 Jul 2013 01:34:00 +00002013-07-25T20:34:12.457-05:00Gary Young shared his ammonia toning process at the 2013 Colorado Rodmakers Reunion.  The results were impressive.  The rods he used in the demonstration are pictured below.  I would have taken more pictures of the rod blanks, but I was admiring the grips at the time.  If you're going to try this, be very careful handling the chemicals.  This is a toxic process.  Do http://searcysowbug.blogspot.com/2013/07/ammonia-toning-by-gary-young-at-crr-2013.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (David Bolin)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31335651.post-655181423011802218Thu, 25 Jul 2013 01:40:00 +00002013-07-24T20:40:22.480-05:00We're just back from the 2013 Colorado Rodmakers Reunion.  Had a great time catching up with friends and learning more about bamboo rodmaking.  Here's a few pictures from the gathering. http://searcysowbug.blogspot.com/2013/07/2013-colorado-rodmakers-reunion.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (David Bolin)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31335651.post-5756808703315476504Mon, 03 Dec 2012 01:26:00 +00002012-12-02T19:26:14.542-06:00There's a new book out at The Whitefish Press about bamboo rods and rodmaking by Erin Block.  Erin blogged her way through the making of her first bamboo fly rod.  I haven't read the book yet.  It's on my Christmas list.  I followed Erin through the build on Facebook.  She is a very talented writer and an enthusiastic fly fisher.  Check it out at Whitefish Press. http://searcysowbug.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-view-from-coal-creek-by-erin-block.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (David Bolin)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31335651.post-3125021810247119867Mon, 03 Dec 2012 01:00:00 +00002012-12-02T19:00:58.339-06:00It's been a while since I've posted on the blog.  But I don't think visitors  come here for my ramblings.  I'm way behind on SRG 2012 pictures.  Time to catch up.  We had a great time this year.  The weather was touch and go as usual.  Very windy Thursday and Friday, but perfect Saturday.  This gathering was as good as any I've attended.  Presentationshttp://searcysowbug.blogspot.com/2012/12/southern-rodmakers-gathering-2012.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (David Bolin)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31335651.post-2287937832989654976Sat, 04 Aug 2012 01:33:00 +00002012-08-03T20:33:38.540-05:00Harry BoydHere's a great splitting post from the Rodmaker's List if you missed it.  Harry Boyd is a full time rodmaker and CCI from Louisiana.  Good rods and rodmaking classes and great Boudreaux stories.  Here's a link to his web site.  http://www.canerods.com/ So, with Harry's permission, here's the post from the List: What I do is an amalgam of ideas gleaned from others and dreamedhttp://searcysowbug.blogspot.com/2012/08/splitting-by-harry-boyd.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (David Bolin)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31335651.post-3885699701345052496Sun, 13 May 2012 20:51:00 +00002012-05-13T15:51:51.326-05:00I had an opportunity to visit the White River Inn near Cotter a few days ago.  Moose and Tina are wonderful hosts and great cooks.  The lodge is a perfect place for special occasions that include some time on the White river.  Be sure to check them out the next time you're planning at trip to fish the White or Norfork.  http://www.thewhiteriverinn.com/http://searcysowbug.blogspot.com/2012/05/white-river-inn.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (David Bolin)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31335651.post-6496678346984996818Sun, 13 May 2012 20:26:00 +00002012-05-13T15:26:58.241-05:00http://searcysowbug.blogspot.com/2012/05/graceful-rise-kathy-scott.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (David Bolin)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31335651.post-2448220466319945408Wed, 28 Dec 2011 02:12:00 +00002011-12-27T20:12:55.866-06:00Check out Brian's video.  Brian guides on the North Fork of the White in Missouri.  There are more videos on his web site. http://searcysowbug.blogspot.com/2011/12/brian-wise-fly-fishing-ozarks.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (David Bolin)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31335651.post-1548782933741299708Mon, 24 Oct 2011 02:40:00 +00002011-10-24T20:16:23.012-05:00Shop TalkHere's a few pictures from SRG 2011. Another gathering in the archives and a long wait for next year.  We had 85 attendees from 24 states.  The KOA in that mortised butt looked really good (third picture).  The rod was made by a rodmaker in Japan for Jeff Hatton.  Very impressive rod. http://searcysowbug.blogspot.com/2011/10/srg-2011-pictures.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (David Bolin)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31335651.post-6921413880998114037Wed, 27 Jul 2011 00:54:00 +00002011-07-26T19:54:19.104-05:00Shop TalkThis heat wave has got me thinking of cooler fall weather. With fall comes the biggest event of the year for me...the Southern Rodmakers Gathering. Make that the eighth or ninth biggest event, after Mary's birthday, the kids birthday's, our anniversary, Christmas, etc... SRG is usually the third weekend of October, but, technically speaking, there are five weekends in October this year. So...http://searcysowbug.blogspot.com/2011/07/southern-rodmakers-gathering-srg-2011.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (David Bolin)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31335651.post-5291788320391500225Wed, 16 Feb 2011 01:18:00 +00002011-02-15T19:36:13.398-06:00Shop TalkI had an opportunity to meet David and Kathy at CRR a couple years ago. They were as kind and inviting as Kathy's books. But that's common among bamboo fly fishers. If you haven't been to a rod makers gathering you owe it to yourself to get out of the house for a few days and meet some really cool folks. David untangled the mystery of ferruled leaders for me in a brief conversation. I had http://searcysowbug.blogspot.com/2011/02/kathy-scotts-new-book.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (David Bolin)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31335651.post-7489946421179902219Sat, 04 Dec 2010 03:14:00 +00002010-12-03T21:14:16.015-06:00Shop TalkAlan Peterson, a student at Harding University produced a short video of my shop for a class project recently.  It's amazing what they can do with AV equipment.  I thought Alan did a great job.  Here's the video... Away From The Desk from The Link on Vimeo.http://searcysowbug.blogspot.com/2010/12/video-of-my-shop.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (David Bolin)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31335651.post-8417292762456668649Mon, 25 Oct 2010 02:18:00 +00002010-10-24T21:18:19.014-05:00Shop TalkAnother gathering is on it's way to the archives.  The weather was great, water was low, presentations were excellent, food was good, and the live band is almost ready for a record deal.  They just need a mandolin player that builds bamboo rods...maybe next year. Here's a few pictures.  I expect there will be a lot more on the SRG web site in the next week or two. http://searcysowbug.blogspot.com/2010/10/srg-2010-pictures.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (David Bolin)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31335651.post-4135581910946825119Thu, 21 Oct 2010 22:07:00 +00002010-10-21T17:07:37.228-05:00Shop TalkIt's day one at SRG.  Beautiful weather and lots of rods to cast.  We have 75 registered this year from 22 states.  If you're not here yet, you'd better hurry... http://searcysowbug.blogspot.com/2010/10/srg-day-one.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (David Bolin)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31335651.post-8453378913487851220Sat, 25 Sep 2010 21:57:00 +00002010-09-25T16:57:59.746-05:00Shop TalkThe gathering is October 21st - 23rd.  Registration deadline is October 8th.  Register now...or get an early start on cabin fever.http://searcysowbug.blogspot.com/2010/09/srg-2010-registration.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (David Bolin)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31335651.post-7976171867550189253Sun, 01 Aug 2010 00:24:00 +00002010-07-31T19:27:45.462-05:00Shop TalkSome secrets are best kept close to the vest.  But I'll let one slip this time.  I've been tying with tungsten beads for several years now.  It's always been a painful experience to pay for them at 25 cents a bead or more... until Jimmy T started carrying bulk beads in his fly shop a couple years ago.  Jimmy is a fly fishing guide.  So his fly shop is sparse.  It's http://searcysowbug.blogspot.com/2010/07/jimmy-ts-tungsten-beads.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (David Bolin)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31335651.post-8431655802683465066Thu, 01 Jul 2010 02:23:00 +00002010-08-11T20:16:38.114-05:00Shop TalkIt's time to register for the 2010 gathering!  Lowell Davis is working his way out of the SRG chairman's job this year.  Denis Dunderdale and Paul Craig are co-chairmen for 2010 and Bill Armon is the program coordinator.  I'm doing registration.  Fulton's lodge is a perfect place for a gathering, but space is limited.   If I remember correctly, attendance has been in the http://searcysowbug.blogspot.com/2010/06/southern-rodmakers-gathering-2010.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (David Bolin)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31335651.post-4788725900500927682Wed, 16 Jun 2010 00:44:00 +00002010-06-15T19:44:59.459-05:00Shop TalkBob's new book is available.  The first one was very interesting.  Lot's of testing and myth busting.  Looking forward to reading the new one.  Go direct to the order page here.  Or click the photo below to read more about it. http://searcysowbug.blogspot.com/2010/06/bob-milwards-new-book.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (David Bolin)