The Traditional Fisherman's Forum

Afternoon Gents, you might find this interesting.
The rod in the photo is a bit of a mix as expected in this section.
The butt section is from my old dads Marco Arun originally a 10ft 6 rod.
I have left a little bit of grime on the handle were the reel sits.
The top joint got broken and the middle section had also been cut off at the feral so its a little short but will be used on my next project. ( I have another nice tip section and could use the handle on the far left or one I also have another in my van.
I have used the middle and tip sections of an old J Peek "The Thames no 2" that belonged to an old family member ( long since passed away) that makes the mix a 10ft 6 rod.
I have modified the rod with a separate handle that I cut the same length as the Arun, that I use as a small river rod, using middle and top sections, joining them at the handle that makes it 8 foot 6.
I have only used the shot rod once on the river Darent in the summer and caught a small chub.
I have a few cork handles with fittings and the original middle section of the Arun and a nice tip section to make up a light shorter rod.
There is something satisfying in a salvaged rod.

Be nice to see any of your resurrections.

Mr B.

Brilliant Mark . I am sure that you will get much satisfaction using this

Looks great. I made a very similar rod a few years ago out of bits of broken rods, akin to a beefed up Chapmans 500. Oddly, one of my best cane rods!

Well done Mark, it looks a great combo rod. Some of my favourite rods have been bitza's.

Wal.

Yes.... thanks for the above comments .. it really is a nice "all rounder"
As an add on... I stripped it down and re wiping the rings in my estimated placings.
The cane on the J Peek really is quite nice... very straight grain... I don't know about the maker but the cane has a nice feel to it.
Its a bit like my first bike..
BSA frame, Raleigh crank, Brooks saddle and Dunlop break blocks.. I loved it.
There really is something about a bitza.

Mr B

Well done Mark it looks a cracker

That cane looks gorgeous - look forward to seeing at the next meet sir.

I like that Mark. Like you, I have no time for the "throw away society".

I have a couple of bitsa's... My "Wally Wizard" was a fly blank repurposed into an ultralight small river rod, "The Tiffin" Rod was a tip and middle section of an unknown rod with a Chapman-esque butt which was turned into a lovely leger/feeder rod, and a lighter tip made for my Gamages Greendrake which is now a gorgeous little rod for spinning, or legering on small to medium rivers... truth be told, I use these un-named bitsa's far more often than my "Named" rods...