A new project for Andrew!
Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2016 8:34 pm
So excited I am going to burst! I visited Andrew yesterday to have a chat about a special rod commission for a forthcoming birthday. It is still a way off (2017), but it does have a 'nought' in it, so 'book early to avoid disappointment' is my motto. So my name is in the little red book but first a few other thoughts...
...I had met Andrew a couple of times before, including a cane and pin day on the Trent, but it was a day at Redditch I particularly recall when the germ of an idea was planted. We had a chat about some rods on Andrew's stand and it was an Arun that I remember most, marvelling at the exquisite finish and beautifully shaped handle.
Two other events are important as well; holding what was once Bill Quinlan's very early Avocet which truly was a light and crisp Southwell wand and then Richard Cleavers 's eleven foot 'Artisan' made by Paul Cook - just magic in the hand.
Anyhow I went to see Andrew yesterday on the way back from Leeds and before we started talking my ideas we walked through some rods on his stand.
Carpathia no. II - chaps, this is THE most perfect cane carp rod I have EVER held and that includes catching high double commons on one of Edward's early finest creations (not my rod sadly...). I don't know who will be the owner of this rod but you have something very special. Andrew, I suspect quite a modest man by nature, could not control himself in telling me how pleased he was with the rod and I utterly agree with him.
Then we had a look at an Avocet. A heavier build than the very early one that I held, Andrew explained to me that the very early Avocets were a lighter build than this, the later rods were more with a barbel in mind and this one (whipped in green I recall) was a stunning reproduction.
We then looked at an Avon Perfection, very pale cane and light in the hand. Getting closer to my needs but this was a more all through action, so what was my brief?
- a roach and dace rod, perhaps grayling
- eleven foot six (I was thinking eleven nine but, as Andrew said, that three inches can make a difference in how it feels in the hand)
- two piece, quite a short handle
- hollow built wherever possible, as light as can be
- but as crisp as possible with a fast but progressive action
- think canal rod
- imagine hemp and tares, or hemp and caster, aiming for pound plussers!
- high bells but running down to a very small size at the tip and a nice small tip ring
- handle as per the Arun
Andrew referenced an Aspindale he had the tapers to, something that belongs to a friend and a total 'one-off' albeit my rod won't be quite so fast tapered.
A very bespoke rod is my vision but you just know, from looking at the rods in his rack, that Andrew creates magic in his workshop.
Now, I don't want to wish my life away, but...
...I had met Andrew a couple of times before, including a cane and pin day on the Trent, but it was a day at Redditch I particularly recall when the germ of an idea was planted. We had a chat about some rods on Andrew's stand and it was an Arun that I remember most, marvelling at the exquisite finish and beautifully shaped handle.
Two other events are important as well; holding what was once Bill Quinlan's very early Avocet which truly was a light and crisp Southwell wand and then Richard Cleavers 's eleven foot 'Artisan' made by Paul Cook - just magic in the hand.
Anyhow I went to see Andrew yesterday on the way back from Leeds and before we started talking my ideas we walked through some rods on his stand.
Carpathia no. II - chaps, this is THE most perfect cane carp rod I have EVER held and that includes catching high double commons on one of Edward's early finest creations (not my rod sadly...). I don't know who will be the owner of this rod but you have something very special. Andrew, I suspect quite a modest man by nature, could not control himself in telling me how pleased he was with the rod and I utterly agree with him.
Then we had a look at an Avocet. A heavier build than the very early one that I held, Andrew explained to me that the very early Avocets were a lighter build than this, the later rods were more with a barbel in mind and this one (whipped in green I recall) was a stunning reproduction.
We then looked at an Avon Perfection, very pale cane and light in the hand. Getting closer to my needs but this was a more all through action, so what was my brief?
- a roach and dace rod, perhaps grayling
- eleven foot six (I was thinking eleven nine but, as Andrew said, that three inches can make a difference in how it feels in the hand)
- two piece, quite a short handle
- hollow built wherever possible, as light as can be
- but as crisp as possible with a fast but progressive action
- think canal rod
- imagine hemp and tares, or hemp and caster, aiming for pound plussers!
- high bells but running down to a very small size at the tip and a nice small tip ring
- handle as per the Arun
Andrew referenced an Aspindale he had the tapers to, something that belongs to a friend and a total 'one-off' albeit my rod won't be quite so fast tapered.
A very bespoke rod is my vision but you just know, from looking at the rods in his rack, that Andrew creates magic in his workshop.
Now, I don't want to wish my life away, but...
