Some fly rods are built to catch fish.
Others are built to tell a story.
We’re honored to announce that J.A.Henry Rod & Reel Co. is once again partnering with renowned bamboo rod builder Ron Barch on what may become the most historically significant rod we’ve ever created.
Together, we’ll be building a one-of-a-kind split Tonkin bamboo fly rod inspired by one of the most famous brook trout rods in history—the 9-foot, 4-inch bamboo fly rod used by Dr. J.W. Cook to land the legendary 34-inch, 14.8-pound World Record Brook Trout from Ontario’s Nipigon River in 1915.
More than a century later, Dr. Cook’s original rod remains preserved at the Nipigon Museum. During our recent visit to Nipigon in May of 2026, we were fortunate to receive a private tour of the museum, where we were given rare access to examine the historic rod up close. We photographed every detail, carefully documented its proportions, and recorded the measurements needed to faithfully capture its unmistakable character.
While this rod will pay tribute to the appearance and spirit of Dr. Cook’s original, it will be built using modern bamboo rod-making techniques and components. The result will be a rod that honors history while remaining a high-performance Steelhead/Coaster rod —constructed to spend its days on the water, not behind glass.
To complete the package, the rod will be paired with a 1939 Hardy Bouglé Heritage fly reel—a fitting companion that reflects the timeless elegance of classic fly fishing while offering modern reliability.
Like every truly special rod, it deserves a home worthy of its story. The finished rod and reel will be presented in a handcrafted display case built from reclaimed Michigan barn wood, continuing our tradition of preserving history through craftsmanship.
But perhaps the most meaningful part of this project is its purpose.
This one-of-a-kind outfit will be gifted to an individual who makes a qualifying direct donation to Trout Unlimited’s Coaster Initiative. Every dollar raised will go directly toward restoring wild Coaster Brook Trout to the Great Lakes waters they once called home.
There is something profoundly fitting about that connection. Dr. Cook’s legendary brook trout came from the Nipigon River—a river that remains the benchmark for giant native brook trout. Today, efforts are underway to restore those same native fish to waters throughout the Lake Superior watershed, including the streams and shorelines of Northern Michigan where Coasters once thrived.
Our hope is that this project does more than celebrate a remarkable piece of fly-fishing history. We hope it inspires people to invest in the future of these incredible fish. Imagine a day when wild Coaster Brook Trout once again migrate along the shores of Northern Michigan and return to their native streams to spawn. Imagine future generations experiencing one of the Great Lakes’ most iconic native fish not as a story from the past, but as a thriving part of Michigan’s future. That’s a legacy worth building.
Over the coming months, we’ll be sharing the entire journey—from selecting the bamboo and hand-planing each strip to crafting the reclaimed barn wood case and completing the final presentation. We expect the rod to be finished in November, just in time for the steelhead run.
If this project speaks to you, we’d love to hear from you. If you’re interested in making the qualifying donation to receive this one-of-a-kind rod and reel outfit, or if you’d like to discuss commissioning a similar custom bamboo rod of your own, please reach out to us. We’d be honored to talk with you. jahenryusa@gmail.com
This won’t simply be another bamboo rod.
It will be a tribute to one of fly fishing’s greatest stories—and a commitment to writing the next chapter in the story of the Coaster Brook Trout.