For all the years I've collected Kentucky reels, I've often wondered who made the rods that were used with them. I guess I just assumed there were some undiscovered bamboo/split cane rod makers in Kentucky that were simply overshadowed by their New York and New England brethren like H.L. Leonard and Thomas Chubb who made the fancier split cane, tapered quadrate fly rods.
It never occurred to me that those Kentucky outdoorsmen simply made their own fishing poles...that is, until I read Betty Barr's and Don Kleier's "Pops' Stories" in the July "Reel News."
The description of how Pops bought cane poles at the local store and constructed a reel seat with black cloth tape, and then bought #3 cotton line and wire eyelets, which were secured to the pole with thread and glue, was a real "Duh!" moment for me.
Thanks, Betty and Don for an insightful and historically-accurate feature story.