Milward's "Spincraft Major"

[AshbyCut]

The tale is in the "General Traditional Coarse Fishing Chat" section ... but here are the pictures.

Bought as a last minute bid at an ebay starting price of £19.99 (no-one else bid) ... I bought this 9ft, 2 piece rod in original makers bag as I read on a quick google search it would make a nice rod for margin work for carp ... and at that price I could happily use it in very snaggy swims.

As stated in the ebay listing one of the agate guides (they are all agate) had a metal problem (see pic) ... and I found the agate in the butt guide was cracked ... so all guides will be replaced as a winter project.

Any other info on this rod gratefully received.

[AshbyCut]

A bit of measuring up with a digital caliper has shown that the tapers on my "Spincraft Major" are "similar" to a Chapman's Mk 4 1 1/2lb test curve.

Butt Section :-
Milward's :- 56" in length. Butt section 0.410 @ 12 ". 0.432 @ 24".
Chapman's :- 60" in length. Butt section 0.397 @ 12". 0.433 @ 24".

Top Section :-
Milward's :- 55" in length. 0.193" @ 12". 0.251" @ 24". 0.291" @ 36". 0.345" @ 52".
Chapman's :- 60" in length. 0.184" @ 12". 0.230" @ 24". 0.254" @ 36". 0.337" @ 57".

This has given me an ideal basis to judge spacings of replacement of the guides to make it a rod for margin carp fishing ... but I stand to be corrected, gentlemen, as usual.

[Nobby]

Bu**er, I missed that!

Top rods are Milwards, always built up to a quality, not down to a price.


It might be hard finding new agate rings though.......


Dare I suggest modern unlined ones?

[AshbyCut]

Nobby, Sir ... I was amazed no-one else made a bid.

I was thinking of retaining the original tip guide using the 406s 'Chrome game guides with Hardlon centre' on the Chapman's site, using 2 Number 8's, a 10, and a 12 on the top section, and a 16 and 20 on the butt section.

My intention would be to use the rod with either my Speedia, or my '70's Shakespeare 2210 II.

[Nobby]

Sounds like a plan...not sure about the Speedia for bigger carp, though. Then again, folk do use them for barbel.

I'd look at something from Grice and Young, like a Gypsy D'Or...tough as old boots.

[Snape]

Sounds like a plan...not sure about the Speedia for bigger carp, though. Then again, folk do use them for barbel.

I'd look at something from Grice and Young, like a Gypsy D'Or...tough as old boots.

The wide drum Speedia is fine for big carp. A friend of mine has had quite a few Redmire 20s to 28lb in heavy weed conditions with one.

[Greentura]

Nobby, Sir ... I was amazed no-one else made a bid.

I was thinking of retaining the original tip guide using the 406s 'Chrome game guides with Hardlon centre' on the Chapman's site, using 2 Number 8's, a 10, and a 12 on the top section, and a 16 and 20 on the butt section.

My intention would be to use the rod with either my Speedia, or my '70's Shakespeare 2210 II.

I have rebuilt a couple of rods with 406s's and they really look the part, other last one being a stalking rod built on a mk4 blank that had 4" snapped off the top and another 4" hacksawn from the bottom so the sections were thd same, I paid nothing for it as it came with a bag of rods and I only wanted the bag, this was just a bonus and the other rods, 3 composite carp rods, we're donated to a local kids fishing club. The only thing I'm going to change is the tip guide, it's too small and after using it I decided it just looked wrong.

As Nobby said, a more robust reel might sit better on it, the humble trudex maybe :thumb:

[AshbyCut]

Sounds like a plan...not sure about the Speedia for bigger carp, though

As my biggest carp on cane to date is a single at about 3/4 lb (no-one told it it wasn't a roach) ... I think the Speedia will cope !!!

I've only targeted carp a couple of times, and that with modern tackle, a couple of years ago ... with a pb of 11lb 0oz.

The purpose of the Milward's (and the Norco) is to rectify this with cane.

[AshbyCut]

As Nobby said, a more robust reel might sit better on it, the humble trudex maybe :thumb:

I'm already making plans, Sir, and reassurance about the guides is most welcome from you both.

[AshbyCut]

Quick update ... order for the guides placed with John Chapman this afternoon.

I shall be keeping the original 9mm id agate tip guide, and using 2 x 8mm, 2 x 10mm, and 2 x 12mm on the tip section, and a 16mm and 20mm on the butt section.

As a spacing guide I'll be using the specifications given on the Chapman's website for their 10 foot "Peter Stone Ledgerstrike," and adjusting to match the 9 foot length on the Spincraft Major.