Offering surprisingly slick performance as well as that personal touch, split cane fly rods have enjoyed something of a cult revival in recent times. Dominic Garnett met up with rod builder and cane devotee Luke Bannister to sample some beautiful handmade blanks at first hand. Pictures by Rob Darby.
In this age of mass-produced goods and space age materials it is a refreshing surprise to find craftsmanship using traditional materials still thriving. How many of us own a tailor made suit, let alone a uniquely made fly rod I wonder? Enter Luke Bannister: for many years he has been honing and perfecting his rod making skills, bucking the trend of imported carbon blanks with painstakingly produced cane rods.
But why cane? Can we put it down to pure nostalgia? The common misconception is that cane is just for collectors, a poor performer compared to modern materials. Beautiful yes, practical no. Handle a well made modern blank however and the truth is quite different. “It’s all about the feel of the material” says Luke. “It is ideal for casting flies on wild rivers. Play a good fish on cane and you’ll see what I mean.”
Meeting up with Luke on the River Ottery near Launceston (on the Westcountry Angling Passport Scheme), I’m impressed not just with his passion for traditional rod making, but his commitment to bringing this classic material bang up to date. His 7ft 4 weight stream rod, for example, is a point in case. Using a hollow design, the blank is pleasantly crisp and whilst possessing the distinctive feel of cane, it is a responsive tool that compares favourably with carbon. Indeed, it casts comfortably even for those accustomed to carbon.
“The hollow build speeds the recovery up” explains Luke. “The thinking was to adapt to more modern casting styles, with the power delivered quicker. Anyone who fishes carbon can easily adjust.” Sure enough, I find this one easy going with no need to rethink my usual casting action.
The other Bannister rod we cast today, a solid 7ft 3 weight, is a different beast with a more classic feel. “This is the rod for short line and roll casting,” affirms Luke. The action is certainly gentler and requires a slower cast. For those tired of rapid actioned modern blanks it seems perfect for presenting dry flies with a subtle, unhurried delivery.
Conditions look good on the river as we are greeted by the sort of sweet, sunny morning that seems like a rare novelty after weeks of typically British up-and-down weather. The Ottery here, a Tamar Tributary, is a typical Westcountry river; clear, wild and inviting, if a little overgrown in places. We engage in a little observation before diving in and quickly spot some of the Ottery trout population. The fish seem cagey, perhaps startled by the blue skies and clear water that have been such a rarity of late. Backing away from these decidedly spooky fish, we stroll further downstream to start our morning's fishing.
Short Odds
Surveying some of the stream's well bushed little pools, it quickly becomes obvious why a short rod is called for. “These rods are ideal for small streams” says Luke. “A length of seven to eight feet really is the optimum for cane. There is a saying that a cane rod should have a very good reason not to be between seven and eight feet in length.” Although he has built rods up to nine feet, he admits that when a cane blank gets to this length the material isn’t nearly as crisp or practical. Having trotted with classic cane rods, I’d be inclined to agree- they get quite unwieldy.
With a both modern and more traditional blanks in use it seems fitting that we go the same way with fly choices; whilst I start on a dark emerger pattern Luke selects a small March Brown. Although classically a wet fly, he just loves fishing these dry, with a touch of floatant added. Sometimes the fly lands upright in lifelike fashion, on other casts it gets more damp and settles in more splayed pattern like a spinner; either way the trout seem to find it appetising.
With scant room to swing a cat let alone a fly rod, the cane proves well up to the task. The Bannister blanks load easily and roll cast beautifully, better than carbon, I’m quickly convinced. The real test will be playing a trout though- which prove tricky to begin with. These “crafty little buggers”, as we refer to the first fleeing samples, are fiendishly spooky in the shallower water and we quickly agree that the faster water at the head of the pools should be our best bet for less wary fish. Luke is the first to strike, his March Brown snaffled by a small brownie, the cane jolting pleasingly in the rod maker’s hands. “Just wait till you hook a bigger one” he quips.
My turn comes as the river opens out a little, a side cast flipping the line towards a tempting looking bend. Sure enough, I get the gratifying sensation of the cane dancing into life. How might I describe the fight? Different certainly. Solid. Alive, I’m tempted to say. But these are just words, something that can never do full justice to the feel of a lively trout on a handmade rod.
As we enjoy an interesting morning’s fishing, I’m keen to find out exactly how Luke’s passion for working with cane began. He first encountered rod building through borrowing books from an enthusiastic friend. One of these was Richard Walker’s Rod Building for Amateurs. “The first one I made was awful!” he admits, “but I found the process fascinating. It still caught fish and that first model really sparked my interest.” He gained further knowledge from the likes of Robin Heyworth and slowly but surely refined his skills. Over a decade later he is still just as passionate about the whole art. “Every single part of the process of building is almost a trade in itself” he explains. Each rod takes a staggering forty hours of work over a six week period. “You need the right mindset” says Luke “It is precision work. You need razor sharp tools and the proportions have to be spot on.”
The final results are certainly pleasing on the eye, beautifully finished and hand signed. I’m also rather taken by the clear eye fixings which look less fussy than coloured whipping. Luke uses white silk for a supremely smart, clear finish, the result of careful experimentation with epoxy mixes. It’s the personal touch and tailor made feel that appeal the most perhaps. “All my rods are made to order” he says. “Each blank is made for the specific customer, rather than someone going into a shop and saying ‘Ok, I’ll take that one’. It’s not unusual to spend a couple of hours discussing requirements.”
As we slowly work upstream on the Lyd, the trout become more obliging. From late morning onwards the river seems to wake up and one or two better trout turn up. With the hollow tip rod bending beautifully into each fish I don’t miss my usual little wand one bit. It may seem a strange analogy, but playing fish on cane as opposed to carbon is a little like comparing a smooth but rather bland modern car to an old classic; one may go a little faster and look slicker, but you feel the speed more and enjoy the character of the older vehicle better. I find myself wondering if in our endless quest for high tech materials and advancement we might have overlooked not only the qualities but the sheer pleasure of more traditional materials.
What seems sure however is that cane is making a quiet comeback, finding new fans as well as preaching to the converted. “There has been a real resurgence in interest” Luke affirms, “and the increased interest in small river fishing is a major factor. With projects like the Westcountry Angling Passport and Wye and Usk scheme, river fishing has improved tremendously and these are just the tools to fish with.” The rods can also be used on stillwaters however, and although cane isn’t perfect for long, fast actioned rods, Luke does make an eight and a half foot blank that is a pleasure to use with wet fly tactics on lakes and has even tamed the odd bass.
Make no mistake; contrary to common assumptions, cane rods are not just about nostalgia. They are a joy to use and perform surprisingly well, with craftsmen like Bannister proving that this classic material belongs on the riverbank and not just the display cabinet.
Further Information:
Based in Bude, Cornwall, Luke Bannister makes cane rods to order. He is always willing to discuss customers’ own requirements to provide you with the perfect, personalised rod. For more information, take a look at his site www.splitcane.co.uk where you’ll find more about his craft, including videos of river fishing with the rods in action.
Dom and Luke fished on the Westcountry Angling Passport scheme - an excellent, not-for-profit project where wild fishing starts at just £6 a day with a simple token system. See www.westcountryangling.com
Read more of Dom’s work, including his regular blog and an exclusive sample from his most recent book of fishing tales “Crooked Lines” (available for just £9.99 or £4.99 as a special Amazon Kindle edition) at www.dgfishing.co.uk