The Traditional Fisherman's Forum

Another maker not so far featured on here. This is a Lee & Sons Hampshire. An Avocet type rod at 11ft, 3 piece with whole cane butt ans split cane mid and tip.

These pictures previously put up on PP but here goes anyhow:

These pre- restoration.










And these after.







And just for interest, the bag lable.

You achieve some amazing results. Yet again, a lovely rod. You must have the steadiest of hands and infinite powers of concentration

Stunning work Hayden.
Will you do it for other people or just yourself?

Yes lovely work again Haydn.

Snape wrote:Stunning work Hayden.
Will you do it for other people or just yourself?

Ditto on both counts. :thumb:

Brilliant, I want it!!! :thumb:

The Hampshire rarely seems to come up on ebay; probably on account of not that many produced. this one, from memory, was quite cheap; certainly under £50.00. There is another rod made by Lee & Sons which sems to come up more often, the Aquilla. Again, doesn't seem to get much. Can only conclude that Lee were not the most respected of makers, despite being linked up with Allcocks, and if my rod is anything to go by, makers of some pretty nice rods too. This one has a lovely thick handle, champagne anodised reel bands and butt cap, serrated reinforced ferruls and a nice bag to boot.

J.T. and Snape. Only ever do rods for myself. Not really competent enough to handle people's pride and joy as I am not able to make a rod from scratch. There are others far more competent, experienced and better set up for doing it. The other thing is the time. Takes me two days to restore a rod, sometimes more, which makes it a labour of love, even if you are doing it for someone else. Already got far too many love jobs in this life I'm afraid. Very flattered that should ask though, so thanks.

I can vouch for Haydns work , he has been round to visit me on several occaisions and brought along some wonderful rods he restored . A natural talent .

Cheers, Paul. And it's a measure of your good self as a true gent, that despite being me being a hobbyist, thus denying you the work on my rods at least, you still freely offer advice to both myself and others, here and elsewhere.

Lovely rod there.
Just a thought, why were there so many rod builders based in Redditch?