Our Wal, has been up to his old tricks again I’m pleased to say. I sent him a couple of rods that needed some attention. One because the threads had dried out and become brittle, the other because I felt the rod would be a far better user rod once some changes were made.
Going by the feel of the rod now, I think I was right ( for me anyway! )
Anyone who read One Man & His Rod will know my affection and love for my lucky strike, but also know my reasons for wanting some changes made to it. The first was the handle length. Though I’d used the rod for years with the handle at its standard size, I always felt it would be better being longer. The second thing was the simple tube ferrules. Not only did I not like the look of them, they caused a cracking to the varnish at the base. So these have now been changed for good quality serrated ones.
The rod now, when put together and held feels a far better balanced rod indeed, which will enable more weight to be supported through the forearm due to the handle length ( now 23 inches )
The other rod Wal worked on was my Superb. Changing the whippings on the Rings and ferrules as they had discoloured and were brittle. The colour match to the original thread is nigh on perfect. Wal also used a satin varnish to match in with the existing so there’s absolutely no obvious difference.
I’ve been set a task with the superb, well, one I set myself in all honesty. The story goes…. I put a post up on Facebook about another rod Wal had restored for me, a 550 Cap rod. Some chap who is on my friends list commented that cane was totally inadequate for carp fishing now. That carp fishing is so far advanced now, and that carbon rods are far superior. I think he even had the audacity to call cane rods “ old flop sticks “
I pointed out that 3 record fish from Redmire had all been caught on cane, one being a cane roach rod, so this idea that some how cane is inadequate is a ridiculous notion. Anyway, we had some light hearted banter and it was left there. Until the next day when I decided that I’d go on a mission and see if my Surperb could really stop a 40lb fish like described in the advertisement for the rod. Not only did I decide this, I opened my big gob publicly on Facebook and told him I would stop a 40lb carp with it by the end of September
…. I don’t know why I say things like this…….????So I’m glad to have the rod back from Wal, as I’ve now got this ridiculous task ahead of me………
It should be fun trying all the same!
Thanks again Wal, for your excellent work
