About Chris Clemes

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Chris Clemes grew up in Cape Town, fishing the mountain streams of the Western Cape throughout school and university. After moving to the United Kingdom he worked for Orvis on Dover Street in Mayfair for two years before founding Chris Clemes Fly Rods in 2009.

The company was built on a simple principle: that a fly rod should be made to be fished, not admired behind glass. Chris spent years testing blanks and tapers, working with some of the most experienced rod builders in the United Kingdom — including one with over 40 years of split cane experience — to develop each model to the standard he was looking for.

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A Personal Process

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Every commission begins with a conversation. Chris speaks directly with each customer to understand their fishing, their rivers and their requirements, and helps them design a rod that is genuinely their own. Where possible he offers personal casting demonstrations through our stockists before a commission is placed. As he puts it — it makes a huge difference to be able to talk clients through the various rod uses, actions, styles and finishes.

Chris divides his time between the UK workshop in Burgess Hill, West Sussex, and South Africa, where our rods are available through Stream & Sea in Paarl and Hand Made Life in Franschhoek. He fishes the English chalkstreams — the Wiltshire Avon, the Kennet and the Lambourne — as well as the Zambezi and the mountain streams of the Western Cape.

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Farlows, Pall Mall

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Chris Clemes Fly Rods are proud makers of the Farlows 175th Anniversary Split Cane Fly Rod. Our rods are stocked at Farlows, 9 Pall Mall, London — one of the world's oldest and most respected fly fishing retailers.

Heritage Crafts Association

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Split cane rod making is listed as an endangered craft by the Heritage Crafts Association. We are proud members and committed to keeping this tradition alive in England.