This is a vintage 8 foot carbon fibre fly rod rated for a #6 line. Built on a Fenwick HMG blank from the USA by Caudle & Rivaz Ltd, a well known rod building company in Wales. These blanks were made from about 1974 and 1976 and were some of the very earliest carbon fibre rods. This one appears to be a first generation blank with a reinforced graphite ferrule. The model number - GFL 96.6 F - refers to the length of the rod in inches.

A similar Fenwick rod was used by Maxine McCormack to win - at the age of 14 - the Women's World Fly Casting Accuracy Championship.

The cork handle is in excellent condition for its age, suggesting the rod hasn't seen much use. The snake guides are also very good although it looks as if it has been re-ringed and the whippings aren't particularly well done. New, non-vintage rod bag.

By modern standards, this feels a soft and gentle rod for a #6 line. I think it would handle a #4 or #5 line too. Chris Korich, who is MaxineMcCormick's casting coach, recommends these types of rods for learners because of the feel.

The reel fitting is very narrow and will only take a reel with a slim reel seat. It's fine with my reel (Orvis Battenkill BBS) but I don't think it would take anything with a hefty seat.

On Caudle & Rivaz:

Owen Caudle's original partner in Caudle and Rivaz was his old friend Geoffrey Rivas, formerly a water bailiff at Hungerford, Berks., c. 1984, and the Chairman for the Hungerford town water, the Kennet. Owen Caudle was a grammar school teacher and rod builder. Caudle and Rivaz was founded in 1976. They later conducted their business in Wales making cane and composite rods to a high standard from outsourced, quality components.