Built once. Fished for life.
Rods built to be handed down, since 1959.
See Our RodsA family business that has built fishing rods since 1959 the same way: by people who won't stop until it's right.
Call 01450 390308 or email enquiries@bruceandwalker.co.uk
Ken Walker, James Bruce and Arthur Oglesby, with a letter from Arthur to Ken, January 1982.
A Bruce & Walker rod holds its value because it holds its worth: on the river, season after season, and in the hands of whoever fishes it next.
Made in the Borders, where an honesty box still means something. Bruce & Walker rods are built the way we fish: fairly, honestly, and with care for the river and the people on it.
From the shipyard to the boardroom, the river has always been where everyone stands equal. Bruce & Walker builds rods for discerning anglers of all stripes: built to be handed on.
We've been experimenting with carbon fibre since the 1960s, and it was at the heart of our range by 1974 — the same shed-and-notebook persistence behind Dunlop's tyre and Whittle's jet engine: world-beating ideas built on failure after failure, until one held. Every blank is still hand-rolled onto tapered steel mandrels, section by section, to your exact specification.
The Carbon We Use
We use the highest quality components — Flor grade cork, premium carbon, and componentry selected to last a lifetime or longer, as Bruce & Walker rods often do.
We take quality control seriously. Our manufacturing process includes multiple quality checks at every stage of build.
We can incorporate your ideas into an heirloom design — custom colours, materials, and personal touches, built to order.
Keeping the traditions alive, whilst ensuring future generations can enjoy the thrill of angling as anglers have for generations.
We take repairs seriously, and maintain many original components. Because we have the original tooling, in many cases we can also build Legacy rods.
Every blank rolled, cured and finished in our own workshop.
Bruce & Walker is a family business. It began in the 1950s as B James & Son, a tackle shop in Ealing, London, run by Jim Bruce Snr. His son, Jim Bruce Jnr, learned the trade and became a maker of split cane rods of some renown, later taking over the business himself. The family moved to Upwood, near Huntingdon, where Jim met Mr Ken Walker, an engineer, inventor and blacksmith by trade, who built the workshop's machinery. The two became lifelong friends, and the business was incorporated as Bruce & Walker in 1959.
Through the 1960s and 70s the company built a reputation for high-quality hand-built rods, including classic models like the Hexagraph, the Loch Lomond spinning rod and the Hugh Falkus Spey rods.
In 1983 Ken's daughter, Kay, and son-in-law, Brian Potter, joined the family business. Both keen fishers, Kay had been raised with a fishing rod in one hand and a 12 bore in the other. Brian and Kay married, and Brian learnt every stage of hand-making fishing rods under the tutelage of both Jim and Ken. Jim retired in 1995; Ken continued working alongside them until he retired at 75, when Kay and Brian took over fully.
The fourth generation to steer Bruce & Walker fishing rods is current owner Neil Fox, continuing the tradition — rods are still designed and made here, by me. I source British first, and only look abroad when I can't find what I need here.
Our factory is located in Hawick, in the bonnie Scottish Borders. We love our customers, so feel free to visit during our opening hours.
Bruce and Walker
17C Commercial Road, Hawick TD9 7AQ, UK
01450 390308
enquiries@bruceandwalker.co.uk
Hours: Monday to Thursday 9am–5pm
Friday 9am–12 noon
Weekends by appointment
In the workshop, Hawick.
Two-part polyurethane finish. Swatches are indicative of colour only — contact us for an exact sample.
Black
Black-Blue
Black-Green
RAL 6003 Olive Green
These are our standard colours, included in the rod price. Any other RAL Classic or RAL Metallic colour can be painted for an extra £75 + UK VAT — choose it when you build your rod, or get in touch to discuss options.
Not limited to the standard range above — here's a custom turquoise finish with burgundy whippings, one example of what's possible on a bespoke build.
Looking for a rod? See our full range and current pricing. Ordering from North America, Japan, or Norway? Find your local distributor.
Bruce & Walker
Commercial Road, Hawick TD9 7AQ, UK
Phone: 01450 390308
Email: enquiries@bruceandwalker.co.uk
Hours: Monday to Thursday 9am–5pm
Friday 9am–12 noon
Weekends by appointment
We love our customers, so feel free to visit during our opening hours.
Have a general question, want a bespoke rod, or need a repair on a rod you already own? Use our enquiries page and we'll route it to the right place.
Go to Enquiries