For over 50 years, the Fenwick name has been a legend among fishermen all over the world. The company’s fascinating history dates back to the Pacific Northwest in the late 40’s where men returning from the “big war” had only one thing on their minds: to get back to the sport of fishing they so loved. Washington State would become the spawning ground where names like Don Green, Clarence Shoff, Lamiglas and Fenwick would write the first chapters of the history of the modern fishing rod.

It was 1952 in Kent, Washington that a group of five Seattle businessmen and avid flyfishermen formed a fishing rod company using the new fiberglass blanks that were becoming available at the time.

As the young company searched for a site to build its innovative new rods they found an unused double garage at a friend’s home on Lake Fenwick near Kent. As the founders readied for production, it was suggested that their young company adopt the name of the lake where their rods would be built, and with that idea the Fenwick brand was born.

With the Clock family’s purchase of Fenwick in the 1960’s, and the emergence of competitive bass fishing as a specialized tournament sport around the country, the change of Fenwick occurred.  A dynamic leader and enthusiastic marketer, Phil Clock, recognized this trend, reorganized the company and moved the Fenwick operations to Westminster in 1967.  By this time Fenwick was buying up all the blanks Don Green could make, so in 1968 Fenwick absorbed the Grizzly Blank operation and Don Green joined the company for a second time.  Now, with two talented engineers and the imaginative leadership of Phil Clock, Fenwick developed some of the first rods designed exclusively for the competitive bass fisherman.  With new rods like the famous Lunkerstick™, Fenwick quickly gained a great reputation among bass fisherman as it had among fly rod, spinning and saltwater anglers.

Guided by Phil Clock’s instincts, energetic personality, drive and leadership, Fenwick quickly became know world-wide for producing the highest quality rods for, in Clock’s words, “the above average fisherman” and commanded nearly half of the fishing rod market.

With the arrival of the 70’s an exciting new material caught the imagination of the rod designers everywhere.  This amazing material was not only lighter and stronger than fiberglass, it was stiffer as well.  The new material was graphite.  It was just what they were looking for and in 1973, Fenwick became the first rod manufacturer to introduce an all-graphite fishing rod, the now world famous HMG.  It stood for High Modulus Graphite, and it was a technology that would not only revolutionize the method of making fishing rods; it would revolutionize the way anglers fished as well.

In addition to the introduction of the first graphite rod, Fenwick continued focusing on specific markets creating new types of technique-specific rods and new ways to fish.  For example, The Fenwick Flippin Stick™, was invented by Fenwick to create an entirely new method of bass fishing.  During these years, the name Fenwick grew to be more than just a manufacturer of fine rods.  It stood as a badge for all fishermen who shared a passion for progressive sport fishing and was the symbol of their highest aspirations and values.

Like our founders, our customers believe that there are few things in their lives more essential than fishing. For them no other activity offers the same emotional and psychological satisfaction. They are students of their sport, constantly experimenting with new tools and technologies with which to refine their techniques. These are fishermen who measure success not just by the quantity of their catch, but by the quality as well. Every rod we build represents a lifelong contract between us and its owner to deliver a lifetime of satisfying fishing experiences where ever and whenever they fish.

Today, Fenwick’s tradition of technology continues to meet the specialized needs of avid anglers. Contemporary fishermen are no longer generalists. They’re specialists – bass fisherman, walleye fisherman, fly fisherman, saltwater fisherman… avid anglers who identify themselves by a specific technique or species. In response, Fenwick’s tradition of technology continues to drive its designers, engineers and pro staffers to develop sophisticated fishing rods specifically designed for specialized applications. It’s why, for over half a century, Fenwick rods have been known, and will always be known, in the words of one of our founders, as “the most thought-out fishing rods in the world.”