Both spar varnish and linseed oil get brittle over time, but I don't know if an exterior coating that if brittle would affect the overall flexibility of the bamboo rod. Redduck's advice seems like the best. Contact the Kittery, Maine via Google to get service from an expert. Jim

No need to search for the grand-daddy. You have already been blessed. Congrats.

I've read that if one thing doesn't work, try changing your tactic. Success fishing is just a combination of different variables that change daily. Try different times of the day; different vertical depths, different retrieving speeds, etc. It's fair to say that the more time you put in, the more experience you accumulate. Good luck.