Advice on my auction find of a 'Festival'

[Rutland Rod]

The 'Festival' is ready to collect after restoration, Andrew Davis reports cane in excellent condition and it now looks superb, will post some picks when I get it, next decision is what water do I try it on ? on any of my regular waters I know I will be sure to catch at least small Roach along with average Chub or Carp, but.......I'm still to catch a Barbel for which the Festival seem's well suited so I'm tempted to try the Trent on a day ticket stretch suggested by Bob Brooks or the syndicate stretch of the Nene I'm a member of, a nice decision to have to make !
Tight lines Dave

[AshbyCut]

Remember RR, Sir ... I believe that there's a difference between the Precision Rods 'Festival' (in all it's 3 manifestations) and the 'Festival Avon' ... which is the one praised as the great barbel rod ... rods of a very different nature, I'm led to believe (though I've only held my 'Festival' with a compound taper in the centre section, and I've yet to christen it !) I wouldn't challenge my rod against a barbel of today's proportions in a strong, snaggy swim.

Talk again with Andrew (he refurbished my 'Festival') ... and follow his advise.

It was John Olliff-Cooper who made the statement that "Precision Rods marketed an absolutely marvellous barbel rod called the Avon Festival. It had compound taper split cane sections, and a whole cane butt" in an article he wrote in 2002 (link here :- http://www.fishing.co.uk/article.php3?id=2057) ... but my understanding is that the 'Festival Avon' is a more powerful rod than the three 'Festival' (no 'Avon' name written on them) versions ... one of which had simple tapers, the second variation had a compound taper in the centre section, and the third version had compound tapers in both tip and centre sections.

Of course ... I could be entirely wrong ... and how we wish there was a catalogue produced at some point ! Such is the enigma of this company.

I wait to be shot down in flames ... of course.

[Rutland Rod]

Collected the 'Festival' from Andrew yesterday and a very fine job, it looks too good to use....but it will be ! all the original colour of the cane revealed, red silk whips, ferrules blued,it's not the Avon model and when I mentioned using it with the intention of Barbel he said that it could be pushing it a bit, good sized Chub no prob's but not intended for larger Barbel ( your dead right Mal) Andrew pointed out the stagger in the cane which makes the 'Festival' special, he also kindly had a look at my latest find of the Marko 12' Test and straightened the tip with his heat gun also gave me some rings and advice on when I renovate it, will try to post a pic which does not show Andrews craftsmanship as it is in the flesh. Tight lines Dave

[AshbyCut]

Superb work by Andrew, as usual ! That looks simply splendid Dave, Sir.

[Bumble]

Rutland Rod a few years ago after purchasing a couple of rods from Andrew Davis aka James on here he told me he had acquired the taper for a Festival Avon, 10 mins later on the phone and deal was done it is without fear of contradiction in old Bumbles eyes the finest Barbel rod ever produced. I say that with no fear of a challenge as I own a Barder Maximus and a Brough Barbel master which by the way are sublime rods in their own right.
I also have a couple of Festivals one dressed like yours the other similar to a Tudor Supreme both great Chub and Tench rods but not for large Barbel.
I attach some pictures of James Festival Avon
The Barbel was 9-10 and the Carp 20-8 if I remember correctly


G


Bumble

[LuckyLuca]

Strewth what a page! I'm drooling!