Some views from 1839 on U.S. rodmaking

[Steve]

The judges remarked on the rods of W.W. Messer & Co. exhibited at the second fair of the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanic Association, held in Boston in 1839. Their comments, readable here, provide a little insight on the state of U.S. rodmaking at the time.

[RonG]

[Steve]

I think it would really be cool to be able to say you have a rod made out of sassafras.

What's stopping you from making one?

[RonG]

[Midway Tommy D]

It appears the "Committee" was an "America First" advocate.

[Steve]

Skill set?

[Mike N]

I think it would really be cool to be able to say you have a rod made out of sassafras.

Ron, according to this 1915 article, at least one of Daniel Webster’s rods was built from sassafras, by his guide “Trout” Dennison.

[RonG]

Hey Mike, that's interesting. Thanks for showing that.

[Paul Roberts]

Interesting, and fun, reads.

Lots of sassafras here. But I’m not likely to step much further back than fiberglass. Not much has changed I guess, in that I had to import my S-Glass from New Zealand.

[Steve]

"...the seasoned [sassafras] wood combines lightness and toughness in a higher degree, than almost any other wood, and is therefore preferred for the purpose of making the smaller joints of fishing-rods."
A Report on the Trees and Shrubs Growing Naturally in the Forests of Massachusetts. Boston: Dutton & Wentworth, 1846, pg. 321

"The wood of sassafras is light and tough.The long limbs are cut and stripped by country boys going fishing, who know what trees yield the best fishing rods."
Julia E. Rogers, Trees That Every Child Should Know. New York: Grosset & Dunlap, 1909, pg. 200

For those who want to develop the skill set required for rodmaking, here's some advice from 1869.

[Paul Roberts]

Interesting. Hmmmm... Another facet to my hobby?

[Steve]

I think it would really be cool to be able to say you have a rod made out of sassafras.
What's stopping you from making one?

At least one person took the hint:

[john elder]

We used to chew on a sassafras stick while fishing and i tried once to make sassafras tea… can’t say it was worth a second try

[Paul Roberts]

Sassafras, for soda or tea, was banned due to a carcinogenic component. I recently looked this up thinking I might try some sassafras tea. Maybe not.

But a sassafras fishing rod, just for fun? Perhaps. I did make some fly rods from goldenrod. They were quite nice to cast with, but of course lacked hoop strength. I have made a number of selfbows from hickory, ash, and juniper. Enjoyed that quite a bit.