Barder Rod Co Chris Yates The Bishop 11’ 2-piece carp rod c1997

Although it has been used once (it landed a carp of over thirty pounds) I am happy to confirm that this rod is in mint condition throughout.

As readers of my informative and modest rod descriptions will know, I have a particular liking for Bishop carp rods of this period. Mine is from the 1996 vintage. I was asked to sell its twin a while ago, and my description of it was so passionate that the owner decided not to sell it after all. A pity, as I was all set to buy it myself.

This rod is, if anything, even finer. We have not altered the taper profile of the Bishop since the early 1990s, so the action is consistent from rod to rod. Some have been built with varying degrees of power, according to their owners’ requirements, but they share what we firmly believe is the best all round carp rod action yet made.

Finished without intermediate whippings but with the highest specification available, this is a superbly elegant, classy and functional rod. It has been correctly stored for twenty two years since its one and only outing and I should say that it has matured very nicely. You can almost feel the tension in its fibres, so poised and alert is it, eager to be taken to a carp lake or barbel river at the earliest opportunity.

I don’t want to boast or anything, but by 1997 we really were good, and this is a rod not to be missed. By acquiring it, you’ll save yourself a two year wait and £350. You’d be mad not to.

Specification.

Hand made split cane blank, flame tempered vintage bamboo (from the very large stock of poles I bought from Oliver’s of Knebworth).

26” Flor grade cork handle with an ‘onion’ shaped top.

Finely knurled nickel silver handle fittings. The butt cap is engraved with our maker details.

Nickel silver ferrules, blued and lacquered and fitted with a hand-turned hardwood and cork stopper.

Amberfin butt and tip rings, hard chrome plated stainless steel intermediate bridge rings and a hook keeper ring secured by a hand-forged nickel silver strap.

Transparent bottle green varnish-impregnated Pearsall’s silk whippings, tipped with extremely fine Pearsall’s scarlet (shade 11A) accents.

The rod retains its flawless hand applied yacht varnish finish.

The Indian ink inscription reads: The Chris Yates Bishop 11’

The rod comes in its tailor made bag with bronzed press-stud fastenings and a pocket in the flap for the ferrule stopper.

Test curve: 1¾ lbs.

Casting weights: up to 1¾ oz.

Reel lines: 8 – 12 pounds breaking strain.