Draft:Chris Clemes Fly Rods
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Chris Clemes Fly Rods is a London-based maker of handmade split cane (bamboo) fly rods. Founded in 2009 by South African-born rod maker Chris Clemes, the company produces bespoke fly fishing rods using traditional construction methods.[1]
Submission declined on 17 April 2026 by VortexPhantom (talk).
Where to get help
How to improve a draft
You can also browse Wikipedia:Featured articles and Wikipedia:Good articles to find examples of Wikipedia's best writing on topics similar to your proposed article. Improving your odds of a speedy review To improve your odds of a faster review, tag your draft with relevant WikiProject tags using the button below. This will let reviewers know a new draft has been submitted in their area of interest. For instance, if you wrote about a female astronomer, you would want to add the Biography, Astronomy, and Women scientists tags. Editor resources
|  |
Comment: Draft submitted with COI disclosure — author is founder of the subject company.
- Comment: Draft submitted with COI disclosure — author is founder of the subject company.
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Fishing tackle manufacturing |
| Founded | 2009 in London, England |
| Founder | Chris Clemes |
| Headquarters | London, England |
| Products | Handmade split cane fly rods |
| Website | chrisclemes |
History
Chris Clemes was born and raised in Cape Town, South Africa, where he grew up fishing the streams of the Western Cape.[1] After relocating to the United Kingdom, he worked for Orvis at their Dover Street store in Mayfair for two years before founding Chris Clemes Fly Rods in 2009.[1]
The company operates through direct commissions and a small number of specialist retail stockists. Its rods are stocked at Farlows of Pall Mall, London, one of the oldest fly fishing retailers in the world, established in 1840.[2] Chris Clemes Fly Rods was commissioned to build the Farlows 175th Anniversary Split Cane Fly Rod.[3] The company also supplies stockists in South Africa and ships internationally.[2]
Products
The company's core products are bespoke split cane fly rods in two ranges: the Harmony, a pre-designed two-piece rod, and the Symphony, a fully bespoke two-piece, two-tip rod built to the customer's specifications over a period of two to four months.[3] The range also includes the Sjambok, a compact S-glass rod designed for backcountry and mountain river fishing.[1]
Construction
The rods are built from Tonkin cane sourced from Guangdong, southern China. The construction process involves hand-splitting the cane into six strips, planing each strip to precise tapers, gluing and binding the strips into a hexagonal blank, and applying multiple coats of spar varnish. Hardware including guides, reel seats and ferrules is then fitted by hand. Each completed rod is flex-tested and cast-tested before delivery.[4]
The design of rod taper — the progressive change in cross-section along the rod's length — is central to the rod's casting characteristics and is tailored to each customer's fishing style.[3]
Media coverage
See also
- Fly fishing
- Bamboo fly rod
- Fly rod
- Tonkin cane
- Farlows
- provide significant coverage: discuss the subject in detail, excluding routine coverage like product launches, staff appointments, or financial reports and listings in databases or listicles;
- are reliable: from reputable outlets with editorial oversight;
- are independent: not connected to the subject, such as press releases, the subject's own website, or sponsored content.
Please add references that meet all three of these criteria. If none exist, the subject is not yet suitable for Wikipedia.