I came across this forum whilst researching an old Marco Silver Monarch rod that I was restoring and realised that there are a few old friends registered on here. I moved to France from Sth Yorkshire just over 7 years ago and used to trample the banks of the 'Yorkshire Avon' aka River Dearne although I see that my old mate has forsaken the mighty barbels of that beautiful small river and now stalks gudgeon in a smelly old canal.
The French pecheurs always show a lot of interest in my old cane rods and centrepin reels. They do not have any history of the coarse fishing tackle that we take for granted being more disposed to their 'grande cannes'. The only running line tackle they favour are either tiny, size 1000 outfits when bait fishing for trout or heavy predator tackle that is usually carried out with a crude telescopic rod and the cheapest reel they can find. I first realised this when I left my Chapmans 500 and Trudex leaned up outside a boulangerie whilst buying a loaf to use mullet fishing. When I came out of the shop there were three old chaps grouped around the rod and wanted to know all about it. That has been reflected in other situations.
I am hoping to be able to contribute positively to the forum and look forward to picking your collective brains about future purchases and projects.
A bien tot.
to the forum 
