Fishing rods have been around for centuries now. There is no definite date that suggests it's invention. Centuries ago a stick was used to fish, later these bits of sticks were tapered, turned and joined. They were always made from wood. Often these bits of sticks bend during fishing due to the weight of the fish, and remained that way. In the 18th century a new wood from India called bamboo was discovered. This new wood was not heavy, nor did it break and the best part was that it sprang back in to it's original shape instead of bending. With this discovery, rodmakers experimented and came up with newer ways to make the split cane fishing rod which were to be known for their strength, lightness and resilience. Making these rods can take up to four months.

The process is tiresome. First the bamboo pole is tempered. Unblemished, and straight tonkin cane from China is used. The knots stand at least 10 feet apart. The wood is stabilized and moisture driven out over a soft flame without weakening or scorching it. A knife and a mallet are used to split the wood into 12 to 24 strips. Both the sides of the knot need to be sand and filed. Rehear the wood to reset the perfectly straight shape. The strips are then laid out with diagrams showing where which joint would be. They are then machine straightened.

Then you stick them together with glue meant for this purpose. Tie a twine first clockwise and then anti- clockwise then hang them to dry out straight. Sand the sides of the bamboo rod and its true power fibers are shown. After the handle is fitted and the steel is hardened, the rod is then varnished several times to a finish that is truly immaculate.

Just as how quickly the split cane fishing rod had taken the world by storm, that quickly it faded in to the back ground too with rods that were made from fibre glass. There are quite a few people even today who like the split cane fishing rod because there is no better material than this when it comes to river and stream fishing. This rod is known for its accuracy and delicacy and therefore is said to be best for casting either for short range or long line casting. The balance in these rods is the talk of the town. It is said that if a fish were to be hooked on a well balanced split cane rod, the movements of the fish fighting to set itself free is communicated powerfully down the line right into the hands of the anglers.

The bamboo combined with nickel and cork makes the split cane fishing rod not only look like a piece of art but also proves to be highly effective giving many years of pleasure and satisfaction to it's owner. These rods come in both contemporary and vintage designs. Some rodmakers also offer to make a custom made split cane fishing rod.