other rods

[ItchenRoach]

evening all just finished reading understanding barbel by fred crouch ,and I am toying with seeking out one of his rods.i have found an advert in a old barbel fisher magazine circa spring 2001 for the fred crouch barbel perfection made by sharpes rods I would be interested if any members have owned this rod and your thoughts please.

[Chubman]

hi ray, i have one of fred crouchs rods made by chapmans of ware, the kennet perfection, only 6 made i understand, if you want to give it a waggle just let me know

[ItchenRoach]

thanks geff that would be great see you down the river soon.

[Tengisgol]

This was a small business that took over the Scottie name and logo, previously Sharpes Scottie rods in Aberdeen*, and made rods somewhere in Hertfordshire. The company name I believe was J Weaver and Sons and at some point around the 1990’s involved two cousins; Gary Timms and Phil Hawker. I was an acquaintance at the time.

Edit-this could well have been late eighties, time flies! Looks like it was Harrow in Middlesex - Close!

Gary was a keen (and successful) barbel angler and they collaborated with Fred Crouch to produce the rod you are talking about, based I think on his favourite Kennet Perfection, and with Tony Miles on a modern range called the ‘Supreme’.

It didn’t last too long sadly.

I recall they were nice hand-crafted rods and I believe hand-planed in their workshop, where the experience was historically building fly rods.

I’d have a waggle of a few rods and maybe look out an original Kennet Perfection - and other similar rods - before making a purchase.

*my memory is faded so I can’t guarantee accuracy on any of this and particularly the history and genesis of the brands and how they tied in with Sharpes of Aberdeen etc.

[ItchenRoach]

thanks tengisgol the contact address in the advert is sharpes rods Rayners lane harrow Middlesex does this ring any bells,they list six split cane rods including a chris ball allrounder.

[Bob Brookes]

The Sharpes Fred Crouch rods were made in the 1980's and the initial run was limited to 25. I acquired a pair of them (No's 11 & 12 from memory) but when I got them I soon realised that they were not for me. They were too 'floppy' for me and not powerful enough for my river Trent fishing, even when a double was a good fish.
They certainly wouldn't be suitable now that the average size of Trent barbel is much bigger. I am not sure where you would be doing your fishing, so they may be fine for you.

[Snape]

One of my first cane rods was a Sharpes 'Scottie' Fred Crouch barbel perfection.
It was 2 piece plus handle and was, I think 11' 6" long.
I used it a lot and caught barbel to about 8lb with it and it coped very well. I had it made to my specifications but ended up not liking it having chosen to have the impregnated version and the whipping colours weren't right for the cane colour so I sold it about 8 years ago.
I paid about £250 in the early 90s and it was worth it.

[Olly]

Didn't Sharpes sell of just their Scottie coarse section?

Fred Crouch rods have been made by Paul Cook plus Sharpes Scottie (Weaver) but I cannot remember Chapmans making some - probably due to so few made!

If my memory serves me correctly there were 2 different Fred Crouch rods made by Sharpes/Weaver - an Avon type + the longer version?

[Tengisgol]

thanks tengisgol the contact address in the advert is sharpes rods Rayners lane harrow Middlesex does this ring any bells,they list six split cane rods including a chris ball allrounder.

Yes, that sounds about right.

[Tengisgol]

The Sharpes Fred Crouch rods were made in the 1980's and the initial run was limited to 25. I acquired a pair of them (No's 11 & 12 from memory) but when I got them I soon realised that they were not for me. They were too 'floppy' for me and not powerful enough for my river Trent fishing, even when a double was a good fish.
They certainly wouldn't be suitable now that the average size of Trent barbel is much bigger. I am not sure where you would be doing your fishing, so they may be fine for you.

Of course, a lot of Fred’s barbel work was under the near bank on the Kennet, lowering feeders down, and similarly in the Lea at Kings Weir; a far cry from the Trent!