Chris Yates ‘The Bishop’ Carp Rod c1995.

This is an absolutely exceptional example of my favourite carp rod. Mine was made a year after this one. The taper, which determines the rod’s action, is particularly good.

This is a very pure and clean Bishop (always a good thing) from what I now regard as a particularly good vintage. We were making the transition from buying in some metal work to making our own in 1995, so the splint end suction ferrules are from Beatson’s of Sheffield, but the conical alloy butt cap and knurled sliding reel bands were made in house.

The Bishop has been remarkably popular over the thirty six years that it has been in production. When one comes up for sale, it doesn’t usually hang around for long. If you order a new one, which you’re more than welcome to do, you’ll wait about two years for it. This one is available now, ready to use when the fishing season opens on the 16th of June.

Specification:

The 26” long handle has a mushroom shaped top.

The whippings are Pearsall’s size 40 varnish impregnated bottle green tipped with Pearsall’s Gossamer scarlet silk. Rings are hard chrome plated stainless steel bridge pattern with a lovely Agate lined nickel silver tip ring and an Amberfin butt ring.

There is a hook keeper ring whipped in above the handle top.

The Indian ink inscription is: The Chris Yates Bishop. E. Barder Rod Co~makers. 1995.

The female ferrule has its original hand turned poplar wood & cork stopper.

The rod comes in its tailored dark khaki-green bag with press stud fastenings and a pocket in the flap for the ferrule stopper.

Test Curve: 1¾ pounds +.

Reel lines: 8 -12 lbs +

Casting weights: Up to 2 ounces.

A very good looking rod with an impeccable original finish, its owner will enjoy years of energetic fishing with it if he or she so desires. I’ve been using mine a great deal for the past twenty+ years and it remains as straight and vigorous as ever. Highly recommended.