Bamboo Fly Rods - Direct Price — Headwaters Bamboo

Choose your rod

Hand-built and ready to fish.

Every rod is built in our workshop. Most models ship from stock within 1–3 business days; if a rod is on backorder, we typically ship within 2–4 weeks. Your 30% discount is already applied at checkout.

★ Most popular. Start here.

All-around

Henrys Fork 7'9" 5wt

Paul H. Young Para 14

A 5-weight that does it all. Dries on the riffle, a long leader on flat water, enough backbone for a windy afternoon. If you own one bamboo rod, most anglers pick this.

$420.00 $600.00 Save 30%

★ 4.9 · 175 reviews

30-day trial on the water · Lifetime warranty

Henrys Fork 7'9" 5wt, Paul H. Young Para 14 taper
Agate stripping guide, nickel silver ferrules
Hand-wrapped silk, two matched tips
Cordura tube and rod sock included
Most models ship from stock in 1–3 business days; backorders typically 2–4 weeks.

Medium rivers

Gallatin 7'6' 4wt

Payne 100

A step up in reach with the same delicate touch. Spring creeks, medium freestone, and anywhere you want to fish a longer leader.

$420.00 $600.00 Save 30%

★ 4.9 · 175 reviews

30-day trial on the water · Lifetime warranty

Gallatin 7'6' 4wt, Payne 100 taper
Agate stripping guide, nickel silver ferrules
Hand-wrapped silk, two matched tips
Cordura tube and rod sock included
Most models ship from stock in 1–3 business days; backorders typically 2–4 weeks.

All-around

Rogue 7'6" 5wt

Phillipson Peerless

The easiest bamboo to step into from graphite. A touch faster than most cane, so you keep the casting stroke you already own. A 5-weight for most trout water.

$420.00 $600.00 Save 30%

★ 4.9 · 175 reviews

30-day trial on the water · Lifetime warranty

Rogue 7'6" 5wt, Phillipson Peerless taper
Agate stripping guide, nickel silver ferrules
Hand-wrapped silk, two matched tips
Cordura tube and rod sock included
Most models ship from stock in 1–3 business days; backorders typically 2–4 weeks.

All-around

Beaverhead 7'0" 4wt

Payne 98

A versatile short rod. Small rivers to medium water, dries to soft hackles. Easy to love and hard to outgrow.

$420.00 $600.00 Save 30%

★ 4.9 · 175 reviews

30-day trial on the water · Lifetime warranty

Beaverhead 7'0" 4wt, Payne 98 taper
Agate stripping guide, nickel silver ferrules
Hand-wrapped silk, two matched tips
Cordura tube and rod sock included
Most models ship from stock in 1–3 business days; backorders typically 2–4 weeks.

Small streams

Grande Ronde 6'6" 3wt

Dickerson 6611

Tight quarters and overhung banks. Built for delicate dry-fly work on small water where precision matters more than reach.

$420.00 $600.00 Save 30%

★ 4.9 · 175 reviews

30-day trial on the water · Lifetime warranty

Grande Ronde 6'6" 3wt, Dickerson 6611 taper
Agate stripping guide, nickel silver ferrules
Hand-wrapped silk, two matched tips
Cordura tube and rod sock included
Most models ship from stock in 1–3 business days; backorders typically 2–4 weeks.

Big water

Deschutes 8'0" 6wt

Dickerson 8014

Bigger flies and bigger drifts. Pulls double duty on larger western rivers. Streamers, big dries, and anywhere you need extra reach and power.

$420.00 $600.00 Save 30%

★ 4.9 · 175 reviews

30-day trial on the water · Lifetime warranty

Deschutes 8'0" 6wt, Dickerson 8014 taper
Agate stripping guide, nickel silver ferrules
Hand-wrapped silk, two matched tips
Cordura tube and rod sock included
Most models ship from stock in 1–3 business days; backorders typically 2–4 weeks.

Big western rivers

McKenzie 8'6" 5wt

Granger 8642

Distance when you need it. The longer blank loads deep and delivers nymph rigs and big drifts on large western rivers.

$525.00 $750.00 Save 30%

★ 4.9 · 175 reviews

30-day trial on the water · Lifetime warranty

McKenzie 8'6" 5wt, Granger 8642 taper
Agate stripping guide, nickel silver ferrules
Hand-wrapped silk, two matched tips
Cordura tube and rod sock included
Most models ship from stock in 1–3 business days; backorders typically 2–4 weeks.

Why Headwaters

Not your grandfather's bamboo price.

Most bamboo rods cost $1,500 to $4,000 with a year wait. Here's why ours don't.

Direct Price

We build in volume and sell direct. No dealer network, no retailer markup chain. What you pay is what the rod costs to build, plus a fair workshop margin.

Weeks, Not Seasons

These rods are built in our workshop, not a custom list measured in seasons. Most models ship from stock within 1–3 business days; if a rod is on backorder, we typically ship within 2–4 weeks.

30-Day Trial, Lifetime Warranty

Fish it for 30 days on your water. If it's not the rod you've been waiting for, return it for a full refund. And if anything ever fails in the build, we fix it. That's how confident we are.

24+ Years of Craft

Tonkin cane, hand-planed hex sections, tapers drawn from Garrison, Payne, and Young. Built the way they were designed to be fished.

What anglers say

4.9 stars across 175 verified buyers.

From first-time bamboo casters to lifelong dry-fly fishers.

★★★★★

"This is my third Headwaters rod. Each one has impressed me well above its price point. My first one was bought 18 years ago and is still in superb shape after many days on the water. I've cast much more expensive rods which aren't finished as nicely and don't fish as well."

— Josh K., verified buyer

★★★★★

"Bought a Headwaters rod as my first bamboo rod years ago and still love it. I own 5 other bamboo rods now and have cast so many more. This rod is still one of my favorites. Great way to get into bamboo at a great price."

— Bill Z., verified buyer

★★★★★

"Great bamboo rod for the money. Action is as described. Finish and wraps are good. Comes in a sock and nice case."

— Charles D., verified buyer

Common questions

Before you add to cart.

Bamboo isn't a replacement, it's a different feel. The slower load and natural flex of Tonkin cane does something graphite can't, especially on small to medium water with dry flies. Most anglers who try it fish both. The Rogue and the Henrys Fork are the easiest to step into if you're coming from a fast graphite rod.

Most bamboo rods are one-at-a-time custom builds sold through dealers. We build in our own workshop, sell direct, and price at what it costs us to build, plus a fair margin. No retailer markup, no custom waitlist. A rod that costs $2,000 through the usual channel is under $1,000 here with your discount applied.

Fish it for 30 days. If it's not the rod you hoped for, return it for a full refund. We'd rather you love it or get your money back than have a rod sitting in the corner. No restocking fee, no hassle.

Most models ship from stock within 1–3 business days. If a rod is on backorder, we typically ship within 2–4 weeks, and we tell you up front, not a vague "soon." Your rod arrives in a protective tube ready to fish.

Tonkin cane is one of the strongest natural materials per pound. These rods get fished hard on freestone streams, high desert rivers, and coastal water. Treat it like any fine fly rod and it'll fish for decades. Most bamboo rods outlive their owners.

Match the rod to your water, or use the filter above. Short rods (6'6" to 7') for small streams and tight cover. Mid-length (7' to 7'9") for most trout fishing, the versatile choice. Longer rods for larger rivers and bigger water. Not sure? The Henrys Fork 7'9" 5wt is where most anglers start, and many never leave.

The bamboo rod you'vebeen thinking about.

Paul H. Young Para 14

Hand-built and ready to fish.

Paul H. Young Para 14

Payne 100

Phillipson Peerless

Payne 98

Dickerson 6611

Dickerson 8014

Granger 8642

Not your grandfather's bamboo price.

4.9 stars across 175 verified buyers.

Before you add to cart.

The bamboo rod you've
been thinking about.