Hardy C.C. DeFrance Gladstone Series 7'0" 3wt Fly Rod

"The most famous of all the split bamboo rods built by Hardy Bros. must be the CC de France half the fascination lying in its oddball name, although even if it had a more conventional moniker it would have to rank as one of the all time classic production bamboo rods.

The CC de France was marketed in seven and eight foot lengths for half a century between 1911 and 1961 and proved to be very popular, but nowadays few owners realise that the rod was built for and named after a competition whose vice chairman was none other than Louis Bouglé. The casting club was started by Prince Pierre Arenberg, who organised a spinning competition in the Bois de Boulogne in the spring of 1909 which was well attended by fishermen from all over Europe.

Astonishing though it is to relate, a century after it first went into production, Hardy still make the Casting Club de France, so it is possible to own a little piece of history."