FISHING CRAFTS

BAMBOO ROD MAKING

Bamboo Fishing Rods are ideal for fly-fishing.  They are ideal for the most subtle and delicate of presentations, and for anglers who enjoy the rod's slow and very flexible action.  However, they are expensive because they take a long time to make and so much hand labor goes into them.  

• Handcraft Woodworks (Don Weber - Garrard Co.: Paint Lick)

Don Weber makes bamboo fly rods, Welsh stick chairs, and strip canoes. 

Video of Don Weber: The Highland Woodworker

FISH FLY TYING

Fly tying is the process of producing an artificial fly used by fly fishing anglers to catch fish.  It has been defined as the "simple process of binding various materials to a hook with thread". However, thread is no longer always necessary since modern materials such as UV-cured resins can be used to fix the materials to the hook.

FISHING LURES AND BAITS

A fishing lure is a type of artificial fishing bait used in angling.  Lures are designed to mimic prey animal and attract the attention of predatory fish, using appearances, movements, vibrations, bright reflections and flashy colors to appeal to the fish's predation instinct and entice it into striking. 

While most lures are commercially made, some are hand-made. That is the case in Fish Fly Tying, where hand-tying one's own fly lures to match the hatch is considered a challenge by many amateur entomologists.  Makers of Kentucky lures use great creativity in painting the bright patterns that may help attract fish.