In this episode of the Mastering Rod Building Podcast, Bill Falconer talks with master bamboo rod builder and engraver Bill Oyster of Oyster Bamboo Fly Rods about bamboo craftsmanship, building rods at the highest level, and the weeklong class in Blue Ridge, Georgia that fulfills Bill’s 30-year dream of making a split-cane fly rod.
Bill and Bill walk through how Oyster got his start—from fly fishing as an escape after bicycle racing and a life-changing accident, to teaching himself bamboo rodmaking from books, building his first 7-foot 3/4-weight, and eventually turning a surprise wave of early orders into a full-time shop.
They also break down what makes Oyster’s classes unique—finishing a complete rod in six days with all tools and materials provided, optional upgrades like engraving and extra tips, and the community aspect that keeps students coming back year after year.
They close with a quick history lesson on split-cane bamboo as an American-born craft, plus why modern bamboo rods belong in today’s fishing—including serious saltwater applications like redfish, specks, and beyond—and tease a follow-up episode after Bill and Aaron complete the class.
Mastering Rod Building is brought to you by Anglers Resource — your source for genuine Fuji Tackle components.
Where to buy genuine FUJI®️ rod components (Area Distributors)
- Japan: FIRST Corporation — https://first-fuji.co.jp/ • [email protected]
- American Continent (North & South America): Anglers Resource — https://anglersresource.net/ • [email protected]
- Oceania: Frogleys Offshore — https://fujitackle.com.au • [email protected]
- Spain/Czech/Finland/Sweden/Estonia/Latvia/Poland/Denmark/Belgium/Germany/Netherlands/Ireland/Luxembourg/France/Portugal/UK/Norway/Belarus/Ukraine/Russia:: CALICO S.A. (Kalikunnan) — https://kalikunnan.com/ • [email protected]
- Europe: MAJORA Intelligent Fishing (FUJI Tackle Italy) — https://www.fujitackle.it • [email protected]
- Asia: KOWA Company, Ltd. — [email protected]
