Chris Yates Barbus Maximus MK I 11’9″ split cane barbel rod.

Made in 1997, this rod is in exceptional condition and has been used very lightly. The specification and built quality is as high as possible.

Why is the MK I so in vogue again? Well, it provides you with a rod that has ample length for line control, a sensitive tip for bite detection and to enable you to safely use reel lines as light as 4 pounds breaking  strain. The hollow-built split cane middle provides steady, progressive power. The number and  spacing of the rings enables float fishing and ledgering. The detachable handle format places one ferrule only in the rod’s action, and despite being a long rod, it isn’t too much of a bother to transport.

You can use this rod with absolute confidence and pleasure for barbel fishing and it’s a super chub rod. I’d choose it for tench, perch and if you insist, large bream. So, a technically and  practically superior rod that no connoisseur of fine split cane rods should be without.

The split cane blank was precision built using the best combination of skilled hand work and close tolerance tapering. The metal work is nickel silver throughout and was all made here in our workshop. The finish is flawless. All rings are the very best hard chrome plated stainless steel. They won’t rust, groove or crack as there are no fragile ceramic or agate centres. Technically, this is a very sophisticated rod indeed. Aesthetically, it is extremely elegant and good looking. The bamboo (flame tempered vintage Tonkin poles bought from Oliver’s of Knebworth) has a delightful light caramel colour and the scarlet tipped bottle green Pearsall’s silk whippings have a gorgeous translucent glow.

Specification.11’9″ 2-piece + detachable  26″ split cane handle. To our most refined taper design, the blank was precision made to tolerances of +/- one thousandth of an inch using flame tempered, hand-split and straightened vintage Tonkin bamboo. The tip is solid built and the middle is hollow built.

Ferrules and handle metalwork are made in-house from nickel silver. The ferrules are blued and lacquered and retain their hand turned hardwood and cork stoppers.

Rings are hard chrome plated stainless steel bridge pattern throughout, whipped with scarlet tipped varnish impregnated bottle green Pearsall’s silk. A hook keeper ring secured by a hand forged nickel silver strap is fitted.

The Flor grade cork handle has an elegant elongated onion shaped top and the finely knurled nickel silver butt cap is engraved with the maker’s details. The nickel silver sliding reel bands have matching convex knurling.

The Indian ink inscription reads: The Chris Yates Barbus Maximus.

The rod comes in its tailor made dark green bag with bronze finished press stud fastening and a pocket in the flap for the stoppers.