Before the invention of the ‘split cane’ rod natural wood was the only choice of material available for building a fishing rod. The likes of Isaac Walton fished with 19ft rods made of Ash, Chestnut, Oak or Hazel that would have been very heavy and difficult to maneuver. However the early pioneers proceeded with the tools available until eventually Greenheart became the wood of choice, as it possessed both strength and flexibility and could be carved to a fine point or ‘taper’. To lighten the rod and increase handling some of the sections would have been hollowed by passing a hot wire through the center.
It was likely the early 19th century when the ‘split cane’ rod was developed. One of the first documented makings of such a rod came from the USA in 1845. Samuel Philippe, a violinmaker from Pennsylvania, used his knowledge and skills as a master-craftsman to split cane and then laminated the 4 pieces together.
Eventually the cane rods would be split into 6 pieces, planed to a taper and laminated. This saw the birth of the split cane rod.
Likely the most famous and original purpose built carp rod would be Richard Walkers’ MKIV made of split cane in the 1940’s. Richard built this rod out of necessity, as there were no purpose built rods available at the time capable of landing the large and powerful fish that he pursued. He made about 8 of the models himself from hand before they were taken to B. James of Ealing in England for production. The first 15 rods were hand signed and the only rods made to the exact original specifications. There are only 5 known to still be in existence. The Richard Walker MKIV rod was incredibly popular amongst Carp Anglers in the U.K for many years and it wasn’t until the 1960’s that things began to change.
By the 1960’s Carp rods were being manufactured in Fiberglass. The first Fiberglass rods were built to the exact action specifications as Walker’s MKIV and were 10 feet in length with a 1-3/4lb test curve. This was eventually ‘stepped up’ to a 2-1/2lb test curve rating until the mid 70’s when Anglers started to request a rod that would cast further distances and so an 11ft 2-3/4lb test curve fiberglass rod was produced.
In 1978 Carbon Fiber (Graphite) was introduced into the rod manufacturing process. Unfortunately the first prototypes all broke as the materials used did not contain resins but eventually the process was perfected and the graphite rod was born. The rod is manufactured through taking the carbon fiber material that is cut into shape and then rolled onto a steel mandrel (the taper of the mandrel will determine the taper of the rod). This is then heated to great temperatures and allowed to cool. The steel mandrel is then removed, which takes 7 tons of pressure, and the hollow graphite blank is left. This process has revolutionized the modern carp rods and in the mid 80’s master rod builders such as Dr Steve Harrison and Nick Buss started experimenting with the carp rod and its function and design which brings us to the present day.
