Barder Rod Co. Chris Yates ‘The Bishop’ carp rod.

Although twenty three years old, this delectable Chris Yates Bishop carp rod shows very little signs of use and has no cosmetic blemishes.

A special order rod, it was built with a 1½ pound test curve instead of the usual 1¾. It has special and very attractive amber silk whippings throughout, including graduated intermediates, and nickel silver fittings throughout.

At eleven feet in length with superb balance thanks to its crisp action and nickel silver handle fittings, this is very close in function to the Chris Yates MK II Barbus Maximus. It will fish for carp delightfully with 8 – 10 pound line, and handle barbel too. A versatile rod then, and in possession of all its youthful vigour and cosmic energy.

I’d like it for myself. Its looks please me and its action and line rating would suit my fishing for chub, elusive barbel and kittenish river carp. However, as I’ve used the term cosmic energy and the phrase kittenish in the course of this write-up, it would be wise for you to buy it.

I believe I have covered its specification in the description above and the photo captions, but for the stickler:

11′ 2-piece flame tempered hand split and straightened vintage Tonkin bamboo, tapered to a tolerance of +/- one thousandth of a inch. Perfectly straight.

Finely knurled nickel silver handle fittings to the 26″ long slim cork handle, which has a shallot shaped top. Very elegant and sweeter than the onion.

The splint end ferrule is blued and lacquered, retains a comfortable fit & has its hand-turned wood and cork stopper.

The rings are Amberfin butt and tip with hard chrome plated bridge intermediate rings. Whippings are varnish-impregnated amber silk, including the graduated intermediates. The Indian ink inscription includes the date of completion (1999). The hook keeper ring is secured by a hand-forged nickle silver strap.

The rod comes in its tailor made bag with traditional tape fastenings.