Cane Products Page

My interest in fishing is the basis of all the rods I make. I do not make and sell any rod tapers that I have not personally used on the stream. When I build a rod with a new taper I fish it myself and also loan it out to friends for their opinions. My passion is for the small spring creeks in my home area of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa. I sell a few rods on special order. I do not have any rods in stock. When I get an order for a rod I make that rod and ship it. I have made rods from 6’-3” to 8’-7” in tapers that are slow to medium fast. I am not looking for the perfect rod. I believe there are a lot of good tapers and that I have built and fished a lot of them. At the present time for my own use I am experimenting with very aggressive hollowing of longer rods for the purpose of reducing weight in them so they can be fished comfortably all day. I built my first rod from a kit from Herter’s in 1946. It was a glass bait caster. I have never gotten over my love of rodmaking and at the present time have made over 125 bamboo rods from fly rods to bait casters and spinning rods. If you would like to order a rod we need to discuss your needs. I feel this is best done by coming over, casting a few rods and talking about it in person. If this is not possible the telephone is the next best thing. 612-781-1254

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Dave,

"Your rod exceeded every bit of (the high) expectation I had towards it. It´s beautifully made, absolute classic appearance, perfectly aesthetic.

The 5 wt. 8´7" fits my fishing needs just like a glove - so glad I followed your knowledgeable recommendations. And the rod is light as a feather. Unbelievable how light a rod that long can get.

It is also a pure pleasure to cast. Smooth, powerful and precise. Allways a straight line, no shock-waves whatsoever.

And you built one hell of a fish catching tool here. The 4 1/2 lbs. Rainbow trout I recently caught in the rapid waters of the Goiserer Traun in Austria did not have a bit of a chance, no matter how the fish and the current bent your rod. What about "confidence" as the ultimate benefit a hand-built rod can possibly deliver?

Thanks so much for this rod Dave. It will stay with me as long as I will be able to fish.

Andy Schumacher

Berlin, Germany

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"Your rods are among the best I have felt and seen in the realm of the individual rodmaker around the country. Keep it going!"

Jerry Kustich

Former bamboo rodmaker H.L. Winston Rod Co.

Now one of the "Boo Boys" at Sweetwater Rods

http://www.sweetwaterrods.com

Author: "At the River's Edge" and "Fly Fishing For Great Lakes Steelhead"

"A Wisp In The Wind"

Dave Norling's bamboo fly rods are the best in the world.

Margaret Norling

Dave's Mom

The fluted method of hollowing developed by Lew Stoner to allow for extra gluing surfaces has been out dated by today's new miracle epoxy adhesives. I have therefore eliminated the flute and at present am hollowing the rod as per the photo. This latest modification in my rods has been successfully tested for a number of years and results in a further reduction in weight

DAVE NORLING'S BAMBOO FLY RODS

I believe that any bamboo rod maker who is careful in his selection of

cane, understands tapers, and is meticulous in his attention to the

details of construction, will produce a serviceable fly rod. But, this

is mere craftsmanship.

The true value of any piece of artwork is found in the heart and soul

of the artist that creates it, and I can think of no other medium,

where this is more true, than bamboo. I've fished a few bamboo rods...

and in the hands of a competent angler... they all get the job done.

Precious few have spoken to me in the process.

Dave Norling is an artist who breaths life into each of his creations.

Each rod that he offers, comes to us from not only his hands and

experience... but from his heart and soul. When I pull one of Dave's

rods from it's tube, and string it up... it whispers a promise. When I

roll out the first buttery loop... it speaks to me. When I fish... it

sings.

Perhaps, Saint Francis of Assisi said it best... "He who works with his

hands is a laborer. He who works with his hands and head is a

craftsman. He who works with his hands, and his head, and his heart is

an artist.

My days on the water are too few to fish with any thing less.

~ Bob White

In addition to being a fine wildlife artist Bob was a fishing guide in Alaska and Argentina for many years. He was Fly Rod and Reel's "guide of the year" in 1988 with his picture on the cover of that magazine. To check out his web site click on the Whitefiish logo above.

All the rods I fish with have been made by men I respect. When I take one to
a stream or river, I take the maker along. It keeps me from getting lonely,
teaches me respect for craftsmanship and leads me to be joyful and to honor
the depth of each person's love of fly fishing, including my own. Dave
Norling has been making bamboo fly rods for less than a decade, but in
important ways he has been preparing for the building of each one of them
for his entire lifetime. I own three Norling rods, a four-, five- and
six-weight. I have another on order and will probably own as many of them as
Dave will build for me. They have grace, subtle power and a wonderful sense
of humor, just like their builder.

Tom Helgeson
Editor/Publisher
Midwest Fly Fishing magazine

"When I first got one of Dave's bamboo rods, I was afraid to use it.
Just kept it on my office wall as a special piece of art. But when Dave
promised me that if I broke it (while fishing, of course) he would make
another for me. And so when I tried it on the stream, it was so lovely
to handle it's my regular now. It's light, snappy, feels good
(especially when there's a trout on), and it's beautiful. Throws a line
out with precision. I regret I lost two years without it. And now when
I'm not fishing, it's hanging in its special place on my office wall.
But only when I'm not fishing. Tom Waters

"Fishing in locations where the hand of man

has never set foot"