Never lose hope!
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- Zander
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Never lose hope!
About 18 months ago I was discussing rods with a forum friend, Paul F, and he suggested I should look out for a Hardy General. He thought this would suit my type of fishing and provide me with a very versatile rod. So the search began. Then I met Kevin, aka Allrounder, he has two and I have worked on both. I was smitten.
A few weeks back the Fab Four and Grumpy met up on the banks of the Warks Avon and on the way home Bob and I discussed said rod and I said I'd given up hope of finding one.
I phoned Kevin a day or so later to thank him for spending so much time helping and coaching me on the gentle art of chub fishing and the Hardy General again cropped up in conversation.
That evening, disinterested in the TV programme my wife was watching I went on ebay, entered Hardy General in the search box and to my absolute and total surprise there was a listing, "buy it now" and reasonably priced. So without a nanosecond of hesitation, I hit the button!
The rod is in excellent condition, having been owned by an Army officer in the Royal Engineers and I know his name and rank.
The rod was being sold by his daughter in law who kindly provided me with the information.
All the rod needed was a clean and a polish.
This is the first vintage cane rod I've owned with known provenance. I always wonder about the history of rods I've bought, I'm sure I'm not alone in that...
Unfortunately, there wasn't an opportunity to christen the rod this season but rest assured it will be first out the rack in June!
A few weeks back the Fab Four and Grumpy met up on the banks of the Warks Avon and on the way home Bob and I discussed said rod and I said I'd given up hope of finding one.
I phoned Kevin a day or so later to thank him for spending so much time helping and coaching me on the gentle art of chub fishing and the Hardy General again cropped up in conversation.
That evening, disinterested in the TV programme my wife was watching I went on ebay, entered Hardy General in the search box and to my absolute and total surprise there was a listing, "buy it now" and reasonably priced. So without a nanosecond of hesitation, I hit the button!
The rod is in excellent condition, having been owned by an Army officer in the Royal Engineers and I know his name and rank.
The rod was being sold by his daughter in law who kindly provided me with the information.
All the rod needed was a clean and a polish.
This is the first vintage cane rod I've owned with known provenance. I always wonder about the history of rods I've bought, I'm sure I'm not alone in that...
Unfortunately, there wasn't an opportunity to christen the rod this season but rest assured it will be first out the rack in June!
Last edited by Jeremy Croxall on Fri Mar 17, 2023 6:40 am, edited 2 times in total.
"Oh for want of rod and line I'd fish this stream serene, sublime".
- Lea Dweller
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Re: Never loose hope!
That looks to be in cracking condition Jeremy, what is the length?
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- Tench
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Re: Never loose hope!
Well done that looks a little special.
If you have no grease with you, and your rings are full of ice, do not cut out the ice with a pen-knife but get your man to put the rings one by one in his mouth, and so to thaw the ice.
John Bickerdyke.
John Bickerdyke.
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- Zander
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Re: Never loose hope!
"Oh for want of rod and line I'd fish this stream serene, sublime".
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- Zander
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Re: Never loose hope!
11ft TedLea Dweller wrote: ↑Sun Mar 12, 2023 5:49 pm That looks to be in cracking condition Jeremy, what is the length?
"Oh for want of rod and line I'd fish this stream serene, sublime".
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Re: Never loose hope!
A perfect size, any longer and a lot of cane rods wing wang all over the place.
If you have no grease with you, and your rings are full of ice, do not cut out the ice with a pen-knife but get your man to put the rings one by one in his mouth, and so to thaw the ice.
John Bickerdyke.
John Bickerdyke.
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- Zander
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Re: Never loose hope!
I quite agree John, this one wings but doesn't wang
"Oh for want of rod and line I'd fish this stream serene, sublime".
- AllRounder
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Re: Never loose hope!
Well done JC a very useful addition to your collection. The perfect length at eleven foot and all original too.
Let’s hope you manage to christen it with a special fish.
Well found
Let’s hope you manage to christen it with a special fish.
Well found
- Liphook
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Re: Never loose hope!
Great you found something you've been searching for JC. May it bring you much good luck