Here we will feature the vintage split cane fishing rods we add to our collection, slowly we will add more and more as we find good rods. European anglers often refer to wooden fishing rods as Split Cane and here in North America we often call them bamboo rods. No matter the name, this material was the most used for fishing rods from the mid to late 1800’s up to the 1950’s. In the 1950’s fibreglass became all the rage and the Split Cane started to become a thing of the past. The best of the best Split Cane rods used “Tonkin Cane” (Arundinaria Amsbillis) This bamboo was found on a small area of just under 50,000 acres in the Tonkin Gulf of Guangdong China. Due to the density of the fiber in this bamboo the rods hold their shape better and are far stronger than rods which used Calcutta Cane. Split cane rods were crafted with precision and care with tight tolerances and very fine silk thread for the wrapping on the guides. Varnished and gripped with cork, often taking a craftsman over 45 or more hours to build a rod.