GLADSTONE. Split Bamboo rod blanks; About R Chapman & Co. It seems that Foster's weren't the only ones capable of extravagant claims, by 1882 Leonard had been making split cane rods commercially for 11 years... W Woodfield and Sons, Redditch. Fine Quality Hand Split Bamboo Fly Rods. Hand crafted to an extremely high finish, they are a joy to fish with. Split cane fly fishing rods from other quality makers apart from those brands already named such as Hardy and Farlows. There are many cane rod makers in the USA and in mainland Europe, especially in Italy – unlike the UK these countries have very active organisations, arranging … Split cane rods were developed in the USA in the 1870s. Finally, the graps, or handle doesn't conform to any of the common shapes, cigar, Wells or half-Wells. Bamboo, cork and nickel silver combine to make a stunning object; a well finished cane rod is often referred to as a work of art, it is not. The British generally use the term "split cane." Fishing Rod Maker: Tackling the art of a split cane rod-maker. The butt lacks the terminal rubber buttons seen on some other rods, having only a blanking screw to close the butt-spear socket. “JJ” as the rod is called, is perfect for fishing the many small becks in the Yorkshire Dales and is a testament to Gary’s craft as a cane rod maker. A well designed taper transmits the energy of the casters arm down the fly line and out through the tippet; In Stock. Fosters of Ashbourne, Pezon and Michel, Alex Walker, Marcus Warwick, JJS Walker Bampton, Playfair, Andersons, Ogden Smith, Allcocks and many more…. New Split Bamboo Cast Rod Another Zhu original, which is a meticulously designed piece of work with Tonkin bamboo cane that we can’t get enough of. This "open" attitude leaves me indebted to … Most new technologies begin by imitating that which has gone before, it takes time for a thing to be accepted as and for itself. So is the entry in Foster's catalogue simply an "exaggeration" of the true story, i.e. A bamboo fly rod or a split cane rod is a fly fishing rod that is made from bamboo. Hook a fish on a well balanced cane rod and the whole set up comes alive like no other material. Restoration and Repair of Split Cane, Whole Cane and Greenheart Rods. The first Hardy rod to be illustrated here. You can see what tools and other items are required by viewing the materials list. Bamboo Rods. Rods with such steel cores were certainly made by Hardy's, Milwards, and Fosters and possibly many others, but the origin of the technique is much harder to pin down. About. The Angler, The Artist And The Alcedo Atthis, This scathing attack can be aimed at none other than Hardy's of Alnwick - note "h. my underline...  What becomes even more interesting is Fosters report of their products' success at the London International Fisheries Exhibition of 1883. As an individual maker, I can design and build each rod exactly as I feel it should be. The company still exists and has premises on Pall Mall. “JJ” My Perfect Small Becks Split Cane Fly Rod Vintage Reel Repair and accessories ROD RESTORATION AND REPAIR Repair and Restoration work undertaken on any rod REEL RESTORATION AND REPAIR Repair and Restoration work undertaken on any reel. Find local bamboo rod makers. Our efforts are focused on making the best rod that we can, using only the finest available materials. Famous makers of these rods over the years such as Hardy, Farlows, Milwards, Chapmans, B.James, Walker Bampton and Allcocks are just a few of the names that are sought after by collectors. Further, if you look at the first page, it was Hardy's that gained a Gold award for their trout rods AND there is no specific reference in the book to steel-centred fishing rods of any type. Search your area for nearby makers. Of course, once they began making fish hooks, it made sense to expand into other fishing goods and so Redditch became the major centre for the trade. Throughout the 1950’s and 60’s the Company introduced many innovative rod designs such as the Peter Stone Ledgerstrike and the Fred.J Taylor Roach Rod … The Bamboo Fly Rods History The story of the split cane bamboo fly rods actually starts just before the American Civil War. New Custom Rods, Repairs and Restorations. For stream and river flyfishing there is no better material. The "heyday" of bamboo fly rod production and use was an approximately 75-year period from the 1870s to the 1950s when fiberglass became the predominant material for fly rods. A Martin Bamboo Fly Rod. This extended to suction ferrules as well as split cane itself, and led to a whole gaggle of bizarre development in British rod making  one of which is the steel centre. An Interview with Edward Barder from The Edward Barder Rod Company. Rawson Fishing - Makers of Split Cane Fishing Rods, Fibreglass Fly Rods and Other Traditional Fishing Tackle. Frank began attending the Rodmakers Gatherings and filming Hoagy Carmichael demonstrating how to build a bamboo fly rod using Everett Garrison’s … Most split-cane bamboo fly rod makers use forms that are five to six feet in length. Including; Reels, Boxes, Lines, Nets, Wading Staffs, Priests, Rod Building and Repairs.. Norman Agutters Split Cane Fishing Rods and Tackle This was considered preferable to laying the rod on the ground during the prolonged periods when fishing was suspended because the silk line being used was being dried, often by draping it over bankside bushes to dry out in the sun. There is a sliding brass band reel seat, but instead of one band being fixed, both can be moved allowing some leeway in the placement of the reel. This was an option offered by a number of makers but is not often seen in surviving rods. Here is a case in point. Carbon & Glass Rods. Local makers understand the needs of the local angler. The rod also has proprietary bayonet lock ferrules. Andrew Davis split cane course rods and fly rods are hand made to order in the UK. Please read it carefully. Many companies offered line driers, for example and the now familiar perforations on the face of a reel spool were first introduced to help the line dry more quickly when in use. This button could be removed and replaced with a butt spear which could be thrust into the ground to hold the rod safely in an upright position. It was common for highly respected ‘rod makers’ to buy in completed split cane from specialist makers. Pictured at the right is a photo of my wife and I fishing with my first handcrafted rod. Foster's description of the range of handles available on their cane rods. Read Bob's New Book!!! Many bamboo and wood species were used as a building material before and during that period but bamboo soon became the popular and preferred material to use. SPLIT CANE RODS Split or Built cane rods have been used by anglers since the mid to late 1800's. Homer's had an address on Forrest Gate in London, and were better known for their taxidermy than for their tackle. I have a small split in the tip of one of my rods just above the top ferrule (not the tiptop). How do you make the handle of a cane rod work like that of the more familiar wooden rod? The guides have been replaced but from the ghosting seem likely to have been snake guides rather than the Hardy bridge guides seen on other similar rods of the time. The Taw made in Devonshire using traditional hand tools and techniques to produce the very highest quality bespoke split cane fly rods. I have broken 2 bamboo rods - actually 3 - one by viciously stabbing a rock whilst thrashing through a very bushy section on a stream, the other by inverting the rod, holding it by the tip and yanking down a branch with my reel to retrieve a fly!! This site is an attempt to link as many of today's bamboo rodmaker's, from around the world, on one website. Ultimately it is "just" a fishing rod, a highly effective and beautiful tool that will give many years of satisfaction and pleasure. In the right hands it will cast a long line accurately and delicately. The first fish taken on the rod was a beautiful 2½lb grayling that rose to a diminutive size 16 Red Tag. Custom Split Bamboo Fly Rods. Experience the quality of a custom handcrafted fly rod. Welcome. I am rod builder who specialises in restoring vintage, mainly split cane fishing rods to there former glory, with the intention of them being used for their intended purpose-fishing.With the ever increasing popularity of vintage fishing tackle and the growing number of collectors, this leaves a number of enthusiasts with two choices, either have a split cane rod made … All of my rods are built to order and you have control over everything from grip shape, guide colour and shade of silk as a standard. This Hardy rod is actually slightly earlier than the one illustrated above, serial no 59858 makes its manufacture date 1902. Fine Cane Rods - Bamboo Fly Fishing Homepage Rodmaking The making of split cane rods has a history going back over a hundred years and has included many famous names producing large numbers of rods by machine in the golden age along with many hand makers of which perhaps the most famous is Everett Garrison. You will find Foster's entry on the second page about two-thirds of the way down, in the Bronze awards section. Aside from the content reproduced here, the 1883 Exhibition Catalogue is a fascinating document available as a .pdf. My name is Don Green, I have been making and restoring bamboo rods since 1978. ... to meet the rod makers (in this case Harry, Jeff & Mark); hear them speak , … This is the Frontispiece from Foster's 1887 Catalogue, clearly showing images of medals gained at the 1883 Exhibition, yet there appears to be no correlation with the published jury result. Bamboo Rod Makers Welcome to bamboorodmakers.com. Welcome to the Split Bamboo Rod Company, Makers of finely handcrafted Spit Bamboo Fly Rods. I've chosen to include this rod at this point because it too shows some influence of American practice, notably the cone-shaped winding check and the use of Chinese red wraps when most British rods were being wrapped in black or claret. I hope you find something of interest and some useful information on this site. These are the two relevant consecutive pages from the Jury's adjudication. Gallery. However, on closer inspection, the Hardy bridge guides are handsomely wrapped with jasper silk tipped red where most other examples seem restricted to claret silk. A wide selection of modern and classic tapers are offered. Over 30 years experiance with the Famous Hardy Brothers and Tom Moran. Split Cane Rods by other makers - Thomas Turner Fishing Antiques. A split-cane fly rod begins with a stalk of dried bamboo, known as a “culm,” whose walls are made up of three parts: a thin outer wall called the enamel, the dense power fibers that give the material its strength and recovery rate, and finally the chalky pith. Each of our custom fly rods are hand split, planed and finished in the English tradition by our highly experienced rod makers. Established in the late 1940s by Charles and Ronald Chapman, the family firm of R.Chapman & Co. has been synonymous with the manufacture of bamboo fishing rods and blanks for over fifty years. In the early 20th century rod … A page from Foster's catalogue describing their graduated winch fitting. two piece 8’0” spinning rod for 8 - 12 lb. Another indication of an early date is the use of pigskin on the handle. Even though split bamboo rods had been imported from the USA since the late 1880's, there seems to have been an inherent mistrust of the medium among the British manufacturers. No other material casts like cane. Hopefully, this will ultimately become a … It has even been suggested that this might be by an American manufacturer, possibly Horrocks-Ibbotson rather than being  British-made. The company was established in 1887 and came to offer all manner of fishing requisites. Home ABOUT BRANDIN RODS ROD CATALOG RODS AND REELS CURRENTLY IN STOCK MODELS IN DEVELOPMENT CARE OF BAMBOO RODS NEWSLETTER LINKS STREET-LEVEL PHOTOS E.C. We also perform the highest quality repairs & restorations on fine antique rods. Walton in the "Compleat Angler" gave detailed instructions on the making of fish hooks from sewing needles and the industrial development of the process was a logical progression for the Redditch makers. ... and the rod maker will split it up to two dozen times to make the tapered strips that will be glued together to form a blank section. line, or three piece general 11’0” bottom rod, or 9’ fly rod for 6 weight line. The F. D. Kretchman Rod Co. started in 1993 and today crafts the finest Split Bamboo Fly Rods . Fitted with a 30″ cork handle, metal button butt cap, blued brass ferrules and a full set of ‘low bell’ rings. Farlow of London. ... Of course, every maker has his own way of doing certain things and they may want to keep a few little secrets, but for the most part, the making of bamboo rods is more out in the open than it ever has been. Fishing with a fly rod, the way we know it today, started between 1790 and 1845. Bamboo, cork and nickel silver combine to make a stunning object; a well finished cane rod is often referred to as a work of art, it is not. ... Tom was very pleased to leave his company name and his legacy to Calum Gladstone, his friend and fellow rod maker at Hardy Bros. Fly Rods. ‘Barbus Barbus’ is our own split cane taper designed specifically for Barbel. Mortised rods were well known in the USA, you can see examples of them in the American Rods section. a barefaced lie? There seems also to have been a family connection with another important London manufacturer/retailer, Sowerbutts, whose coarse fishing rods are often seen on the secondary market. In … As a parting shot, I include this page from Hardy's 1951 Catalogue, making reference to their 1883 Gold Medal. Millward of Redditch. Most importantly each custom rod which leaves our workshops is built to be fished, and to last for many years to come. Mortised butt cane rod. Broms, Stefan and Mats Öberg, Sweden: Scandcane.com Basically,this is why I make and fish cane rods. No other material looks like cane. No other material feels like cane. Basically,this is why I make and fish cane rods. Split bamboo fly rods, hand made from Tonkin Cane in Australia by Nick Taransky. However, unbeknown to many, there are still in existence, and … We are full time rodmakers, not hobbyists. Each one is carefully hand-made, one-at-a-time, to meet the desires of the most discriminating fly fishers. Most British made cane rods were equipped with a threaded socket in the butt of the rod, usually fitted with a rubber button. The need to dry silk lines both during and after a fishing session led to some remarkable and some familiar innovations. Welcome to Brandin Split-Cane Rods - I design rods with primarily two qualities in mind, smoothness and power. E.g. ... Makers logo area very carefully rubbed down to blend in with new varnish and any missing or part missing letters re … The Snake Rod and other stories from the rodmaker's bench. The answer is to combine the two. They were less frequently seen here, though as you can see from the enclosed advert, from Foster's 1887 catalogue, cedar inset handles, as well as leather covered handles, were offered. Rod Repair Service. It’s on the shorter end at 5’1 versus the other rods (which are all around 7’). Boström, Kennet, Sweden: Rackelhanen. Redditch became a centre for fishing tackle manufacture and wholesaling through the manufacture there of sewing needles. The all nickel-silver sliding band and cup reel seat is a direct copy of the American original, - you can see a similar reel seat used on a Leonard rod. Although Redditch grew significantly as a centre for tackle making through the nineteenth century, there had been a tradition of tackle makers and sellers in London since Izaak Walton's day. But if your temperament is running and gunning, bamboo isn’t for you. Frank Payne began building fiberglass and graphite rods in the early 1980’s and was introduced to bamboo by Dave Brandt (legendary fly tier and an illustrator of A Master’s Guide to Building A Bamboo Fly Rod by Everett Garrison & Hoagy B. Carmichael). Each cast is slower and deliberate, forcing you to slow down and become one with the setting around you. when a fish is hooked the movements and power of the fighting fish is communicated back down the line into the anglers hand; hook a 10" wild trout on a good 7ft 4wt and you will see why so many people are talking about cane rods. Although clearly a single-handed rod, this one is over 12' and is probably late nineteenth century. The first step in building your fly rod planing forms will be to place the two bars onto a flat surface and clamp them down (in this case, … Split Cane Fishing Rods and Game Fly Fishing Tackle Specialist Makers of Split Cane and Bamboo Rods and Tackle. If you have been searching for a custom bamboo fly rod, then you already know there are several cane rod makers in the US that sell stunningly, beautiful rods. Welcome to Gladstone Fly Rods. This one has earned its place here through another example of imitation, in this case, USA made cane rods. Possibly by another Redditch maker, Martinez and Bird,at first glance there is nothing particularly remarkable about this rod. Both Hardy Brothers and Fosters were represented at the Exhibition, showing items in a number of classes, Hardys won gold for their trout rods, Fosters achieved only a bronze medal in the same class, although their 1887 catalogue clearly states: Try as I might, I have searched the Jury returns from the exhibition and cannot find anything to corroborate Foster's claim. This site accesses and is available to all bamboo fly rod makers. We have dedicated ourselves to the art of handcrafting split cane flyrods for the discriminating angler. That rod is still in service today,it is also pictured in the photo below. Telephone: 0115 9736550 John MacPherson of Inverness. Behold the beauty and handling of a classic Split Cane Bamboo Fly Rod. If you walk into any angling shop, the world over, there will be a sea of mass-produced carbon-fibre fishing rods, racks and racks of them, light-weight, space-age, efficient, and yet, inevitably, soulless. In London terms, Farlow's were relatively new, founded in 1840 by Charles Farlow who was succeeded by his sons in the business in 1895. These blanks were sometimes made to the preparation and taper specification of the shop, but many appear to have been of a generic type for a purpose, e.g. Until this time rods had been made from whole cane or solid wood, and the split cane rod was a big improvement due to its lightness and flexibility (the ‘carbon fibre of the day’). The key-stock is sold in twelve foot lengths, so a single piece can be cut in half to create two six foot long sections. Why splitcane? Hardy Victor No1 Palakona 8′ split cane spinning casting rod with makers bag & tags £ 199.00 Rare Hardy “The No.1 Victor” Palakona Spinning Rod, No.E63048 with a built date 1947, 8’ 2 piece Palakona split cane, burgundy whipped clear agate guides throughout and tulip end ring, lock fast ferrule, 16” shaped cork handle with alloy screw winch fitting. Ultimately it is "just" a fishing rod, a highly effective and beautiful tool that will give many years of satisfaction and pleasure. This extended to suction ferrules as well as split cane itself, and led to a whole gaggle of bizarre development in British rod making one of which is the steel centre. The Edward Barder Rod Company, UK: Barder-rod.co.uk – Pre-owned Rods and Tackle – “Craft: Split Cane Fishing Rod Maker Edward Barder” Bauer, Simon, Germany: Sb-canerods.de – Borriero, Moreno, Italy: Mbrods.com. Every rod that I make is entirely hand made, no In the U.S., most use the term "bamboo." The home of Rawson Fishing(Previously Rawson & Perrin), makers of handmade split cane rods, fishing reels and other traditional fishing tackle. Split cane fly rods, also known as bamboo fly rods, are often viewed as beautiful keepsakes, too often stored behind glass cases and admired rather than fished with. Behold the beauty and handling of a classic Split Cane Bamboo Fly Rod. There are more … Welcome to Ryan Burns Rod Restorations. To make some sense of the rod making process here is a basic outline: Cane Selection, Initial Splitting, Node Staggering, Straightening and Flattening Nodes, Rough Planing, Pre-Beveling, Heat Treating, Taper Selection, Setting the Forms, Planing the Taper, Gluing, Sanding and Spline Identification, Ferruling, Grip Installation, Varnishing and Guide Installation, Proud smiles and satisfaction. Yet another affordable choice, this one comes with a high-quality handle and is only one piece. At 11′ long and in two sections it is perfect for most rivers that hold stocks of the hard fighting Barbel. Even though split bamboo rods had been imported from the USA since the late 1880's, there seems to have been an inherent mistrust of the medium among the British manufacturers. Bamboo fly rods are about cadence - the cadence of life itself. The belief was that a correctly tempered steel core, particularly in the butt section, would enable a fishing rod to recover more quickly during the cast, and would store more energy as a result, leading to easier and longer casting. It will tuck short neat roll casts into the quiet places where trout lie. Home. The answer is a simple one.