The Traditional Fisherman's Forum

Last year when Crucian was having his estate sale of rods and reels, before emigrating to South Africa, I bought off him a stripped Aspindale Aero 890 with all the rings and silk supplied to finish it off. I had it delivered straight to Wal, so the first time that I saw it was when it was complete and gorgeous. When I used to buy and sell a few rods about 15 to 20 years ago I had through my hands several James Aspindale rods including a Severndale, a Legerdale and a 10ft 3 piece rod of which the name escapes me. They were fine rods but the fact they were sold on indicates that I wasn’t enamoured with them.


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.

That's a fine collection Bob!
And reminds me that I aught to get my Falcon Aero 892 into fishable condition.

They have done some great rods - but some of the previous owners have not looked after them correctly!

You can either get a real gem -- or one with delamination. I have about a dozen now - some awaiting restoration - most ready to go from float rods to pike/carp versions. One offs to standard ones from the catalogues.

Like Bob I have a soft spot for them - well mostly!

Wonderful rods if you find the right one I have a Kimdale, 894B plus a Windale promised to a friend.
Bumblev

Aspindales certainly knew how to make a fine rod, I have waggled those rods and they are all light in the hand, nicely balanced and have nice crisp feel to them. They all look amazing following Wals intervention and more than likely better than the day they left the Aspindale factory! I was fortunate to witness the taming of the carp on the 891, It had a bend in it like I've never seen before, Bob had to apply a lot of pressure to turn the fish as his line was down to a couple of turns on the spool. I netted the fish for Bob and I was half expecting to hear the splintering of cane behind me as the fish rolled into the mesh Wal immediately sighted down the rod once the hook was removed...ram rod straight!
Damn good cane I reckon

Bumble wrote: ↑Tue Jul 09, 2019 5:57 pm Wonderful rods if you find the right one I have a Kimdale, 894B plus a Windale promised to a friend.
Bumblev

Windale! That's the one I used to have but I couldn't remember the name of it. Thanks for the memory jogger Bumble.

I'm still one behind you Bob. I have a Severndale, an Avon Mk2 twelve footer and a 13' rod that I can't recall the number of as I type and it is awaiting restoration.

The Avon has been mid-restoration for a few weeks now but, thanks to Harry H, I have the thread I need to finish it and I am this evening, 'back on the horse'.

I'll bring my Severndale Saturday and we'll have an 'Aspindale Day'.

i tend to avoid the aspindale aero range of rods as there prone to delamination, 1947 to 1949 if i remember, glues dont last for ever

I honestly think delamination is a possibility with any split cane rod, usually due to poor care or storage. The worse case I came across was on an Edgar Sealey rod.
I don't actually understand why Aeros should be any more susceptible to delamination than any other series of rods? Surely Aspindales were up there with the best of the rod makers of the time and would not have used inferior adhesives nor tolerated poor working practices?

I have had a few early Asps pass through my hands and I have retained a couple + 1 very special rod - I must say that not one had a whiff of delam a number bared the scars of time and use which is normal for rods of over 50/60 years young. But I have found them to be a cracking rod and extremely well crafted.