Homer's (Remembering Gudgeon Jim)
- Bumble
- Rainbow Trout
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Homer's (Remembering Gudgeon Jim)
It was a very cold January afternoon in 2017 when Mal and yours truly attended Jim’s funeral to pay our last respects. As with any funeral it’s a sad and sombre affair made worse by the young family he left behind to fish the great lake in the sky.
The service was held against a background of music from “The Who, Kate Bush, and the Style Council" in typical Jim style - always something a little different.
Jim and I had become firm friends over a number of years. This started with several messages on TFF before realising we both fished the Kennet on the Wasing estate and as members of Newbury Angling Association plus we lived barely 4 miles from each other.
Following this discovery we spent many hours together on the Kennet, Barton Court and drinking coffee together in our respective homes.
Two things went mainly unnoticed unless you knew Jim well:
1. He was a superb angler who loved cane and pins; along with Martin James I would consider him the best Chub angler I have ever had the privilege to be friends with, and fish with. His PB was 7-2. Jim was more than just a Chub angler - he had other PBs that most would give their right arm for; he also loved his Perch and Roach fishing. His best Perch was 4-6 , his Roach 3-3 and his Gudgeon were of course legendary . Like I said, he was a superb angler.
2. Jim also had the finest collection of Homer's rods I have ever seen and although he would always deny it, he was an expert in the whole history of that great company from Forest Gate, London.
I will never forget an afternoon during the spring of 2016 Jim called me and said “Fancy a coffee at my place and take look at some rods especially as I value your opinion.” Three hours and three coffees later I left with an amazing twin tip Homer Roach rod which Jim had the full history of, including relatives of the match secretary who had previously owned the rod. “It will be much better in your hands Bumble,” such was the man.
Bringing the story quickly up to date before I bore you all with my ramblings, but in November 2017 my great friend, fellow member and amazing restorer Cane&Able called me: “I have found this superb Homer whole cane butt. Are you interested?” Memories of Jim came flooding back and almost without hesitation I said yes. Restoration has been under way now for a couple of months and I get more excited every time I get the next batch of pictures from Cane&Able.
The rod is 11’ in length, with a three piece whole cane butt, split cane middle and tip section. It has a 21” handle with a convex cone end which is blued alloy with an aged patina as have the reel bands and butt cap.
The action is best described as classic Avon, soft slow progression throughout the taper. It’s definitely not a rod for a big flow nor big Barbel . Homer’s were geared for Match and general course fishing, particularly Roach fishing with their rods and poles so a whole cane butt from circa 1950 possibly was based on a Wizard from a rival camp. To back up this supposition the tip section of this rod has an identical taper to a very early Wallis Wizard that I am very proud to have in my thicket.
The Homer rod is dressed with black whips tipped with red with a single very fine red whip either side of the whips with black inters - classic Homers simplicity. Sometimes less is more.
Hopefully I will get to fish with the rod when I meet up with great friends Cane&Able and Martin James to the fish for Cucians and Tench during June. If you’re looking down on us Jim and keeping up with TFF, let’s hope I catch something, anything, with this beautiful old piece of cane to put a smile on your face.
Seldom has any piece of cane touched me so much and many emotions have kicked in so please excuse my reasons to post, Jim, loved TFF so I say without fear of contestation he would have approved. The really good stuff is out tonight my friend raising a glass to you as I post.
Bumble.
The service was held against a background of music from “The Who, Kate Bush, and the Style Council" in typical Jim style - always something a little different.
Jim and I had become firm friends over a number of years. This started with several messages on TFF before realising we both fished the Kennet on the Wasing estate and as members of Newbury Angling Association plus we lived barely 4 miles from each other.
Following this discovery we spent many hours together on the Kennet, Barton Court and drinking coffee together in our respective homes.
Two things went mainly unnoticed unless you knew Jim well:
1. He was a superb angler who loved cane and pins; along with Martin James I would consider him the best Chub angler I have ever had the privilege to be friends with, and fish with. His PB was 7-2. Jim was more than just a Chub angler - he had other PBs that most would give their right arm for; he also loved his Perch and Roach fishing. His best Perch was 4-6 , his Roach 3-3 and his Gudgeon were of course legendary . Like I said, he was a superb angler.
2. Jim also had the finest collection of Homer's rods I have ever seen and although he would always deny it, he was an expert in the whole history of that great company from Forest Gate, London.
I will never forget an afternoon during the spring of 2016 Jim called me and said “Fancy a coffee at my place and take look at some rods especially as I value your opinion.” Three hours and three coffees later I left with an amazing twin tip Homer Roach rod which Jim had the full history of, including relatives of the match secretary who had previously owned the rod. “It will be much better in your hands Bumble,” such was the man.
Bringing the story quickly up to date before I bore you all with my ramblings, but in November 2017 my great friend, fellow member and amazing restorer Cane&Able called me: “I have found this superb Homer whole cane butt. Are you interested?” Memories of Jim came flooding back and almost without hesitation I said yes. Restoration has been under way now for a couple of months and I get more excited every time I get the next batch of pictures from Cane&Able.
The rod is 11’ in length, with a three piece whole cane butt, split cane middle and tip section. It has a 21” handle with a convex cone end which is blued alloy with an aged patina as have the reel bands and butt cap.
The action is best described as classic Avon, soft slow progression throughout the taper. It’s definitely not a rod for a big flow nor big Barbel . Homer’s were geared for Match and general course fishing, particularly Roach fishing with their rods and poles so a whole cane butt from circa 1950 possibly was based on a Wizard from a rival camp. To back up this supposition the tip section of this rod has an identical taper to a very early Wallis Wizard that I am very proud to have in my thicket.
The Homer rod is dressed with black whips tipped with red with a single very fine red whip either side of the whips with black inters - classic Homers simplicity. Sometimes less is more.
Hopefully I will get to fish with the rod when I meet up with great friends Cane&Able and Martin James to the fish for Cucians and Tench during June. If you’re looking down on us Jim and keeping up with TFF, let’s hope I catch something, anything, with this beautiful old piece of cane to put a smile on your face.
Seldom has any piece of cane touched me so much and many emotions have kicked in so please excuse my reasons to post, Jim, loved TFF so I say without fear of contestation he would have approved. The really good stuff is out tonight my friend raising a glass to you as I post.
Bumble.
- LuckyLuca
- Barbel
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Re: Homer's (Remembering Gudgeon Jim)
What a lovely post and an equally lovely rod.
Jim I feel would have approved.
Jim I feel would have approved.
I walked across an empty land
I knew the pathway like the back of my hand
I felt the earth beneath my feet
Sat by the river and it made me complete.
I knew the pathway like the back of my hand
I felt the earth beneath my feet
Sat by the river and it made me complete.
- Lea Dweller
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Re: Homer's (Remembering Gudgeon Jim)
A lovely story Colin, I can understand why you rate Cane&Able so highly, that is a superb job of restoration! I hope that you get much pleasure from using it while thinking of your friend Gudgeon Jim!
Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall!
Confucius
Confucius
- Harry H
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Re: Homer's (Remembering Gudgeon Jim)
Lovely looking rod and good luck with it's christening
There are three things that improve with age: wine, friendship and water sense, and there's no short cut.
Anthony Shepherdson
Anthony Shepherdson
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Re: Homer's (Remembering Gudgeon Jim)
Always very important - the memories we have of others whom we had the pleasure to know. You will sit by the water with that rod and you will not sit alone.
-
- Zander
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Re: Homer's (Remembering Gudgeon Jim)
Oh my goodness, what a gorgeous rod!
What a lovely way to remember an absent friend
What a lovely way to remember an absent friend
"Oh for want of rod and line I'd fish this stream serene, sublime".
- AshbyCut
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Re: Homer's (Remembering Gudgeon Jim)
Such memories of a unique and special character !!! We shared our surname ... and so called each other 'cousin.' I'll always treasure the landing net head Jim made for me.
Looks a fabulous rod, Bumble, Sir ... and I'm sure you'll make Jim smile with your efforts with it !
Looks a fabulous rod, Bumble, Sir ... and I'm sure you'll make Jim smile with your efforts with it !
"Beside the water I discovered (or maybe rediscovered) the quiet. The sort of quiet that allows one to be woven into the tapestry of nature instead of merely standing next to it." Estaban.
- Mark
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Re: Homer's (Remembering Gudgeon Jim)
Wonderful write up Colin and god bless Gudgeon Jim.
Mark (Administrator)
The most precious places in the English landscape are those secretive corners,
where you find only elder trees, nettles and dreams. (BB - Denys Watkins-Pitchford).
The most precious places in the English landscape are those secretive corners,
where you find only elder trees, nettles and dreams. (BB - Denys Watkins-Pitchford).
- CaneAndAble
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Re: Homer's (Remembering Gudgeon Jim)
Thanks Colin for the kind words , but more importantly the sentiment this rod represents for you and your friendship you had with Jim .
Let’s crack on with Jim’s roach rod this autumn eh ? Cracking post Colin and a emotional read
Lee
Let’s crack on with Jim’s roach rod this autumn eh ? Cracking post Colin and a emotional read
Lee
- Bumble
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Re: Homer's (Remembering Gudgeon Jim)
oh yes please Lee