Joe is right about the growing season being important. I have harvested quite a bit of phragmites around the country including Joe's neck of the woods around Salt Lake City. It's important to give it as much chance to mature as possible. I usually cut within a week of the first frost in northern areas as it deteriorates quickly after it goes dormant for the winter. If you cut some that isn't mature, it will shrivel as it dries and get a wrinkly appearance. If it doesn't wrinkle its probably good to go. When harvesting phragmites, look for the tallest culms with the narrowest diameter base. The walls get thinner the higher up the culm you go so ideally you want your arrow from the lowest section of the culm. Phragmites is high in spine for its weight so you'll want some pretty dense wood for the foreshaft to bring the weight up. A knock insert is a good idea as well. I use bamboo skewers that just fit inside the phragmites, slid all the way into the node, superglued and sinew wrapped. Phragmites is the most delicate shafting I use, but if done correctly, will make some fine shooting arrows. Josh
