Carp, Barbel & Avon Rods - Split Cane
Barder rods are designed and made entirely in-house from the finest selected raw materials, their workmanship and function reflecting our uncompromising devotion to their production.
Rigorous quality control throughout the hundred hours of skilled craftsmanship needed to build each model creates rods that are the first choice for split cane connoisseurs.
Our carp, barbel and Avon rods are made in two series: the Chris Yates and the Richard Walker MK IVs. Please refer to Models & Prices for full details.
Since 1989, Chris Yates has been intimately involved in the design and field-testing of the rods bearing his name. They feature extensively in the Passion For Angling television series and descriptions of their exploits can be found in numerous books and articles. These exclusive and original rods represent excellent value for money.
“Regarding Edwards’s rods: I met Edward when he was working at Hardy’s in the mid-80s and we had a good discussion about split cane. I mentioned my favourite rods and said it was a pity no one was making any really good split cane at that time. Edward then told me about his plans to leave Hardy’s and create a new split cane collection, refining the design and construction until he had progressed to a new level of production.
Almost 20 years later, I can honestly say that Edward has completed his mission – in fact, he did that years ago. I have used his rods almost exclusively since ’91 and have caught some magnificent carp, barbel, chub, tench and perch on them. The fact that my old favourites are now gathering dust tells you all you need to know about the quality of Barder rods.”
From Chris Yates, 6th April 2006
For fifty years, Walker’s MK IV rods have been used by thousands of anglers. Historically, it is probably the most prolific rod ever designed. Indeed (as noted in The Bishop details), in 1980 Chris Yates landed his 51½ lb. record carp using an original Walker-built Avon. We believe that Richard Walker would be proud of our production of this classic rod.
Each of our rods has its details inscribed in Indian ink above the handle, comes in a best quality fitted cloth bag, and is issued with a special signed certificate of ownership. In the case of rods endorsed by Chris Yates, the certificates also bear his signature.
Gallery
Click to enlarge
Models
THE CHRIS YATES SERIES
| Model | Description | Reel lines |
|---|---|---|
|
The Bishop |
Two-piece 11' carp rod... Full details |
10 - 12 lbs. breaking strain |
|
The Barbus Maximus MKII |
Two-piece 11' barbel rod... Full details |
6 - 8 lbs. breaking strain |
|
The Merlin (also available as a three-piece rod) |
Two-piece 11' Avon rod... Full details |
3 - 6 lbs. breaking strain |
THE RICHARD WALKER MK IVs
| Model | Description | Reel lines |
|---|---|---|
|
Carp |
Two-piece 10' rod. Full details |
8 - 10 lbs. breaking strain |
|
Avon |
Two-piece 10' rod. Full details |
6 - 8 lbs. breaking strain |
Options
Whipping silk options
Unless otherwise stated, all of the options listed below include perfectly graduated and spaced intermediate whippings. The rod prices are not affected by choice of whippings.
- Transparent bottle green vintage Pearsall’s silk throughout, including intermediates, with fine crimson tippings to the main whippings. This is how we finished our earliest rods, including those used by Chris Yates in the Passion For Angling programmes, and it remains our most popular silk choice.
- Transparent Burgundy silk for the ring, ferrule and handle whippings, with subtle old gold intermediates, as seen in the illustrations.
- Transparent bottle green vintage Pearsall’s silk for the ring, ferrule and handle whippings, with subtle old gold intermediates.
- Transparent Burgundy silk throughout, including intermediates.
- Transparent bottle green silk throughout, including intermediates.
- Transparent chestnut brown silk throughout, including intermediates, with fine black tippings to the main whippings. This is a classic colour scheme that works particularly well on the MK IVs.
Optional extras
Nickel silver butt caps and sliding reel bands
These may be ordered with any of the above rods. They are extremely durable and attractive, but relatively heavy and best suited to the Bishop, MK IV carp and the Barbus Maximus.
Details
Suitably proportioned grade-A bamboo culms are selected for quality and then tempered by hand over an open flame. This process properly tempers the power fibres, drives out excess moisture, and imparts great resilience. As a consequence, the bamboo darkens beautifully, creating rich caramel tones.
The tempered culms are hand-split with the grain and the resulting strips are straightened with heat. We also heat-press and stagger the nodes, rendering them neat and strong.
Tapers for the six triangular strips of each section are precisely milled to our exact specifications, maintaining tolerances of +/- one thousandth of an inch. Ensuring that the power fibres are on the outside, these six 60 segments are then seamlessly and permanently bonded together with heat resistant, waterproof adhesive.
Butt caps are made from aerospace grade aluminium alloy, discreetly engraved with our logo, and fitted with a rubber button. Their delicate knurling and trim lines (also a feature of our sliding bands) emphasise the quality and refinement of these rods.
Handles are turned to a velvety finish from the best champagne grade cork shives. We only use the very rare and highest quality Flor grade cork.
A pair of sliding bands secure the reel. For lightness, durability and elegance, we also make and fit these precision turned, delicately knurled sliding bands from aerospace grade aluminium alloy. There is a subtle shoulder collar at the handle top and we whip on a hand-forged nickel silver strap to secure the hook keeper ring.
Waterproof splint-end ferrules are also made by us from the best hard-drawn waterproof 18% nickel silver. Hand-lapped to a perfect suction fit, they are then oxidized and fitted with a hand-turned wood and cork stopper. Uniquely, the fitting of these ferrules to the blank is so exact that the whippings over the splint ends will not crack.
Rings are made from hard-chromed stainless steel and Amberfin lined butt and tip rings are used for all of our coarse rods. Stand-off intermediate rings are used on the Merlin and MK IV Avon rods, while our exclusive pattern lightweight bridge intermediates are used on other models.
Silk whippings are all in subtly tasteful colours (refer to Coarse rods, Models & prices for details) and owing to our varnish, which actually saturates the silk; they are rendered permanently flexible and waterproof. Seamlessly hand-tied, these whippings are never bulbous or irregular.
Varnish is hand-applied to the cane blank and silk whippings, creating a lustrous, flawless, and translucent finish. This enhances the beauty of the rod and will protect it from the rigours of use for decades.
Each rod has its details inscribed in Indian ink above the handle, comes in a fitted cloth bag, and is issued with a special signed certificate of ownership. In the case of rods endorsed by Chris Yates, the certificates also bear his signature.
Prices & Ordering
Prices for 2021
All 2-piece models – £2,200
Merlin 3-piece model – £2,500
Nickel silver handle fittings – £100 extra
To give employment to the artisan.’
– Hilaire Belloc’s Lord Finchley
How to order.
All orders must be accompanied by a 1/3 non-refundable deposit. The balance is due on completion. Orders from outside the UK must be paid in UK pounds.
Payment may be made by electronic transfer, debit card, cheque to E. Barder Rod Co, cash in UK pounds, Visa or Mastercard. E Barder Rod Co bank details for payments will be supplied on request.
Carriage
On average, the cost of carriage, packing and in-transit insurance is £50 – £60. We will advise on shipping costs to countries outside the UK upon request.
We are not responsible for any import duties that may apply outside the UK.