The name Fenwick is synonymous with high-quality fishing rods and is known by fishermen around the world. Since its beginnings in 1952, Fenwick has produced rods for what it calls "the above average fisherman." The rods were first made from fiberglass and then graphite. According to the company website, Fenwick rods are "the most thought-out rods in the world."
History
In 1952, a group of five Seattle businessmen, who were also fishermen, formed a rod-making company in a friend's garage on the shore of Lake Fenwick in Washington. Using fiberglass, a material that was becoming popular, they began producing the innovative new rods in their garage "factory."
Clock Family Purchase
The Clock family purchased Fenwick in the 1960s and the company started to change. Phil Clock recognized the rising popularity of tournament bass fishing and began producing rods specifically designed for this, including the legendary Fenwick "Lunkerstick." The official Fenwick website claims that with Phil Clock at the helm, the company "commanded nearly half of the fishing rod market."
Graphite
In the 1970s, an exciting new material appeared on the scene. Graphite was lighter, stronger and stiffer than fiberglass and, in 1973, Fenwick was the first company to introduce an all-graphite rod. This was known as the "High Modulus Graphite" rod, or "HMG." Graphite would go on to revolutionize the way that most rods would be made.
Specific Markets
After the introduction of graphite rods, Fenwick started focusing on "technique-specific" rods, including the "Fenwick Flippin' Stick,'' designed specifically for bass fishing. According to the Fenwick website, the company came to represent "progressive thinking" in fishing equipment.
Fenwick Today
Today, Fenwick continues to design and create specialized rods for anglers, whether those are bass, walleye, fly-fishermen or saltwater anglers. Fenwick continues to strive to produce the "most thought-out fishing rods in the world."
Tags: bass fishing, began producing, Fenwick continues, Fenwick website, fishing rods
