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Hand-Engraved Bamboo Rods
By Caroline Eubanks
I've long followed my dad to his Southeastern fishing tournaments, but it wasn't until I met Georgia rod maker Bill Oyster, that I learned about the art behind the sport. Oyster's fresh and saltwater fly rods are crafted from a single culm of Tonkin bamboo, considered the sport's gold standard. Each rod takes at least 50 hours to complete, with carefully split strips planed to 1/1000th of an inch; guides are attached with fine silk thread.
The surface is smoothed, and a Portuguese cork handle is added.
Then, Oyster's artistry shines, as he uses a microscope to hand engrave the reel seat and ferrules with intricate fishing scenes, family crests or portraits of pets, made of nickel silver with the option of adding 24-karat-gold inlay. Oyster has made rods for the likes of President Jimmy Carter (who he took fishing in the rivers around the Soque River in North Georgia). These artfully crafted rods become family heirlooms passed down for generations. There's nothing like them.