B James & Son 'Heron'

[Crucian]

Lovely rod, nice restoration too.
Must admit I've not heard of the 'Heron' before.

[SeanM]

A lovely rod. I had a waggle at the TFF do today and I suspect that it may be hollow built.

[Vole]

Never heard of it, I rather wish I had, it looks lovely.
If it's hollow built as well as beautiful...WOW!!!

Heron, Avocet and Grebe... a man with that trio of rare birds in the rack wouldn't really need any other rods, would he?

[AshbyCut]

If it's hollow built as well as beautiful...WOW!!!

Amongst those who waggled it at the cane and pin match yesterday ... the consensus was that it must be hollow built considering how light it feels in the hand.

Having got it home I can confirm that it's a full 11ft. 2ins. in length, with a 22 1/2 inch handle, and weighs 15.1 oz.(428gr.).

It originally had one guide on the butt section, 3 on the middle, and 4 on the tip (including the tip guide). However whoever restored it (and used the finest silk I've ever seen on a rod for the sublime inters ... 'gossamer' springs to mind) has increased this to 4 on the middle and 6 on the tip. I know this because the stains of the original guides can still be seen (which I like, as it adds to the history of the rod).

This compares to the 14.1oz. (400 gr) of my all split cane 'Avocet' which has had the same guide additions ... which is 4 inches longer, and has a 25 3/4 in. handle. As you can guess, the 'Heron' has a more powerful taper than the 'Avocet,' so I'm confident it would handle the "tench, barbel, carp, and chub" which a certain Mr. Yates says he caught on my 'Avocet' during the time he owned it.

(Now ... where can I find a 'Grebe' ????? )

[Vole]

It isn't exactly a tiddler-stick, the Grebe; eight-and-a-half feet of elegant power, ready to do battle with anything unwise enough to attack a spinner it has flung. Probably a neat stalking rod for carp and barbel, too.

[Champ]

Lovely rod, nice restoration too.
Must admit I've not heard of the 'Heron' before.

Have a look in Traditional fishing tackle,Traditional rods,The complete list of B James rods on the forum.There are quite a few that are very scarce.A great find Mal.I was looking for a Heron for many years.Never did find one.Very well done sir! .

[AshbyCut]

It isn't exactly a tiddler-stick, the Grebe; eight-and-a-half feet of elegant power, ready to do battle with anything unwise enough to attack a spinner it has flung. Probably a neat stalking rod for carp and barbel, too.

Apparently there are a few rare early 'prototype' Grebes at 9ft. 2in., built before the 8 1/2 foot length was settled on.

[Martin James]

A great rod that deserves a few good fish, I'm sure you will enjoy using it.