890
So, this was the first of the ‘Aero’ rods I had bought and probably even handled, and I loved it. To me it was the perfect old rod for fishing for crucians, roach, rudd and the like, so I started to use it. It was a strong contender for being my favourite for the job, quite an accolade as I also owned a fabulous Wallis Wizard made by Andrew Davis.
A wrongly named 891
It wasn’t long after that I heard about another 890 which happened to reside in my old home town of Leamington Spa. I was due a visit, so I told the chap I would have it. It was short in the tip by a couple of inches but I had already sourced a new one from Chapmans, so I went ahead with the purchase. Although we didn’t know each other we had many mutual friends and acquaintances and even used the same tackle shop, W H Norris. When I compared it to my other one it was a 6” longer and a beefier rod so, despite being clearly written 890, it is an 891. With its brand new tip this is the rod I use when fishing for crucians if I am likely to encounter a nuisance carp. That happened first time out when I used in on the TFF crucian day in March, when an 11.11 carp snaffled my bait. Despite some ooh’s and aah’s from the gallery behind me, including Wal, it came back needle straight.
Now I was on a roll! I saw an advert for a very original 13ft early Avon, I bought it sold unseen. When I received it I found it too heavy and unbalanced so I immediately sold it on, rather than have it converted to a more useable rod. You win some, you lose some.
The dice continued to roll and one day in May I was looking at a selling site when I spotted a cane rod with just a single out of focus photo’. The description was virtually useless but someone had asked if there was a name on it and the reply was, ‘Aspindale’. The person didn’t follow up on it so I checked the post code of the seller and it was Redditch. When I visited the tackle fair a couple of weeks later I collected it and paid the asking price of £5. Again Wal did the business on it and I now have a very early, possibly unique, 8ft pike rod, which will be great for boat fishing.
8ft Pike rod
Still in May I had the opportunity to waggle an ultra rare 11ft, 2 piece, Aero 894 and I loved it. There was no way I could justify the purchase of one, as I have a few large commitments this year and next. There are holidays, a significant birthday for my wife and a special reel to save up for. Then one afternoon fate came calling while I was on the internet. I was browsing that well known internet site and what should pop up, an Aero 894. It had a moderate asking price and invited offers. I quickly assessed the pictures and made a sensible offer. I wanted the vendor to be pleased enough to accept it before someone else saw it. Sure enough, within an hour of it appearing, my offer had been accepted. Now I own my 4th Aspindale Bro’s in about 10 months.
894, as found
I took the rod to the cane and ‘pin event last weekend and was able to show it to a few eminent cane specialists. One such expert was Andrew Davis and he confirmed what I thought, it is a fine rod indeed. It is straight, free from de-lamination, with tight ferrule and all new replacement rings. No doubt it will worked on to bring it up to scratch when Wal’s workshop reopens again in the winter.
Wal immediately sighted down the rod once the hook was removed...ram rod straight!
That's the one I used to have but I couldn't remember the name of it. Thanks for the memory jogger Bumble. 
