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What materials were used to make early fly-fishing rods?
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fishing
The most popular gamefish in the United States is the largemouth bass, and boats are specially designed for bass fishing.
Early fly-fishing rods were initially constructed from solid wood, typically using native species such as hickory or willow.1
As the sport evolved, these heavy woods were eventually superseded by more elastic, imported varieties, including lancewood and greenheart. By the mid-19th century, split bamboo—imported from China—became the preferred material because it offered superior delicacy and pliancy compared to wood. This material remained the standard for fly-fishing rods until the period following World War II, when it was largely replaced by fiberglass and, eventually, carbon fiber and graphite in the 1970s.21