The Traditional Fisherman's Forum

Another wonderful picture of BB in his garde with rod and reel courtesy of Mike Wilson.............

Another lovely picture Mike.

Is that the famous centrepin that Dick Walker made for BB that Len Arbury now owns.

Thanks Stu for posting this.

Gents - note the rod and reel in this staged photo I took in BB's back garden in the early 80's. The rod was a Mark IV made by Dick. It was in a poor state with its butt ring damaged, frayed whipping and a missing top ring. I soon sorted out the top ring and whipping but the butt ring was white agate not ruby. I phoned Dick and he found a replacement as all mine were ruby. Dick did comment that he thought perhaps the replacement was from the original batch way back in the 50's

BB had used the rod for Bass fishing on the coast!!!

The reel is interesting. It was one of two made by Dick. If you look closely at the following pictures you will see the reel on Dick's workshop table. What are the rods in the corner? One of the reels was given to BB the other to Jack Thorndyke. The reel too had been misused and the drum didn't revolve when I found it. It was also full of sand however, cleaned up well as you can see in the final photo.

The last I heard Chris Sandford owned the rod and Len Arbery the reel.

Mike

More wonderful pictures supplied by Mike relating to this wonderful story!!!

Dick in his Workshop.............



Inside the Reel........



Rod and Reel restored..........

Brilliant Mike. :hat:

Look closely at the inside and note the brake with its rubber insert [ex bicycle] which bears down on the raised rim to slow the carp down. The central gear [cog] is ex lawnmower [ Lloyds ].

Mike

Ingenius!!! :hat:

Only slightly off-topic: BB's father was rector of Lamport in Northamptonshire for many years and was a very keen folk music and dance revivalist. Here's a photo of him as fiddler for the Nene Valley Morris Men:

I once held the centerpin that walker made for him. On the banks of redmire. Brilliant.

Just read through this thread. I wonder whatever happened to the rod and reel. From what Ive read BBs tackle was pretty low key, so that may be it.

He's holding two rods in the photo, wonder what the other one was?