The Match Roach Rod

[Wagtail]

I was going to ask if this rod was actually made by Hardy, but Nigel's recent post has at least confirmed that for me It bears the date code for 1938 stamped on one of the reel bands.

Bought at a boot sale (along with a Hardy Popular (greenheart?) fly rod for the combined sum of £5 ) it is in dire need of refurbishment, all of which I'm happy to attempt apart from straightening the bamboo sections

But before making a start can anyone tell me anything about the rod? "It does what it says on the tin" springs to mind but does it do it well? Should I bother, or should I use the nice original agate tip and butt rings on other projects? If you have one of these rods, can you post pictures for me? I'll put some up when I get the chance to photograph mine

[Paul F]

Hi Alex,

This is the page from my 1937 Bottom fishers catalogue


Also attached is a copy of Hardy Coarse rod dates I prepared and shared a while back

Hardy Coarse Rods.pdf

They were made from 1924-53

Not a common rod, and worth restoring

Paul

[Wagtail]

Thank you for the information Paul, another one to add to my 'to do list'

[Banksy]

I have one, I'll take a few photographs this afternoon.
The date code stamped on one of the reel bands indicates that it's from 1937.

[Banksy]

IMG_1822.jpg

IMG_1647.jpg

Hardy Label.jpg

Very spidery script!

Hardy Bros Ltd
Maker
Alnwick
England

The Match Roach Rod

The rod is perfectly straight with popping ferrules, and is beautifully light and balanced.

I had it preserved rather than refurbished, by Adrian Richardson from Nottingham. Most rings had to be replaced, but he has "distressed" the new whippings to match the sound original whippings.
A superb job, but than I broke about 2cm off the tip, the first time I used it.

[Wagtail]

Thank you for the pictures Banksy, Sir

My rod is currently away with Wallys Cast who has very kindly (and in my opinion very bravely!) straightened it out for me. Once it's back I'll make a start on the refurbishment. Yours looks lovely and I hope to achieve something similar, but it will have to be a full restoration as the original green whippings have been overpainted - badly - with red enamel paint and all of the intermediates are either rusted or missing too.

[Wagtail]

I have received the rod back from Wal, who has made an amazing job of getting it back on the 'straight and narrow'

If the weather is not conducive to fishing then I will make a start on restoration over the Christmas week, though secretly hope to go fishing rather than stay indoors

[Jeremy Croxall]

Well done on finding that rod Waggers and well done Wal for getting it straight! I saw the rod in question and it can't have been an easy one to do.
Look forward to seeing pictures of it post restoration

[Wagtail]

Well done on finding that rod Waggers and well done Wal for getting it straight! I saw the rod in question and it can't have been an easy one to do.
Look forward to seeing pictures of it post restoration

Wal described it as being "not quite straight but good enough for fishing". It came back straighter than most of the rods I use

[Jeremy Croxall]

Well done on finding that rod Waggers and well done Wal for getting it straight! I saw the rod in question and it can't have been an easy one to do.
Look forward to seeing pictures of it post restoration

Wal described it as being "not quite straight but good enough for fishing". It came back straighter than most of the rods I use

That's our Wal