Ciemiega, Tom - The Dart, 4wt.


  • For your consideration is a Tom Ciemiega "The Dart" bamboo fly rod. This is a 5' 11" 2/2 4wt weighing 2.90 oz. In the late 1950s, Tom Ciemiega started working in Paul Young’s shop tying flies. Paul taught Tom his secrets of the trade on the weekends over a four year tutelage. Tom once traded 80 dozen hand tied flies to Paul for a “Martha Marie." All sections are full length and straight.

    The cane has a rich flamed tempering with deep auburn wraps. Well proportioned cigar grip measures 5" in length. Classic nickel silver cap and ring over a beautifully modeled wood insert complimenting the cane tempering. The ferrules come close to completely setting – a cleaning will correct this. The action is on the fast side and bends deep into the butt section. This rod appears to have been lightly fished or possibly lawn cast only.

  • Model: The Dart
    Length: 5' 11"
    Configuration: 2/2
    Weight:  2.90 oz.
    Line:  4 weight
    Serial Number: NA

    From the article "Tom Ciemiega Cane/Bamboo Rod Artisan"

    When he (Tom) and his wife Shirley became engaged to be married, Shirley bought Tom a Paul Young, seven and a half foot ‘Midge’ bamboo rod for an engagement present. He continued to visit Paul’s shop every chance that he got. On some of the visits, he even met people like Ted Williams, Joan Wulff, and Ernie Schweibert. Over the years, with the demands of a family, his working career and other pursuits, Tom never quite got to the rod making.

    (In the late 1990's), forty years since his association with Paul Young, Tom decided that if he were to ever take up bamboo rod making, it was “either do it now or forget about it.” He poured over his notes from his days with Paul Young. Today, Tom constructs some of the finest cane rods ever to hit a stream in the hands of fly-fishers. To cast one of his meticulously built bamboo poles is to be able to study artwork in form and function. The rods not only perform flawlessly, casting forty or more feet of line effortlessly, they are perfect in their appearance as well.