I bought two near identical float rods by Sundridge from Cash Converters, cost about ten quid for the two. One had a full cork handle and the other, probably manufactured the next season when duplon became the must have fashion accessory, a full duplon handle.
Both had friction rings to secure the reel.
I used the pair for one season, often at the same time when fishing the canal, and I fell in love with the full cork handled rod and decidedly out of love with the duplon handled thing.
It just had no charm and no feel. Slimy even.
The full cork rod got nicked and I nearly cried like a baby, it was the best float rod I ever owned and irreplaceable, but now the full duplon effort is the rod I have to use for all my float fishing. The difference between loving and hating a rod is a matter entirely of how it feels in the hand.
One day I will buy a shed load of cork shives and happily spend a few hours hacking the plastic rubbish off all my rods and refitting them all with a proper material. I might even go into business transforming unloved rods into loved ones just by doing the same for others.
There can be no doubt that cork is king.
