Reel Investments tackle foreplay!
When you can no longer look to a bull market to invest your money with confidence, perhaps its time to think about investing some of it in fishing tackle. Its a joy to own and may well bring back memories of early less fraught times, and unlike a share certificate, it has practical and aesthetic appeal. A pleasure to use too - beat the breeze with a bit of history!
Graphite rods, like the Hardy smugglers and Orvis travel rods I have, are like rapiers, light, precise, match them with a super lightweight magnesium reel, Shakespeare or Ryobi, and you can cast all day in far off waters with ease. Florida Keys Tarpon, Christmas Island bonefish, British Columbian steelhead, Himalayan trout - I’ve got the ideal combination, line too. For beginners, and cheaper I have all sorts from Shakespeare, Daiwa, Abu, etc.
However, much of what I have to offer is classic and useable. The pleasures of using a split cane rod are like driving around in an Austin Healey, slower to use but each one individually crafted and a pleasure to own, less of a production line item and something special to eventually pass on in the family. The Hardy rods are individually numbered according to their year of production, some are only 6 feet long for brooks and streams, others are 17 feet with steel centres - built with heavy Norwegian rivers in mind so many moons ago. Many have agate butt and tip rings. Triangular sections of best quality tonkin cane from China have been glued and bound together with beautiful silks, some have two tips, and most have their original bags with the royal appointment crest and details. I have three CC de France, Halford Knockabouts, Phantoms, several Perfections, Rogue Rivers, Itchens, Popes etc even Fairies! There are many who like the action and impregnated finish of Sharpes rods, I have a kennful of Scotties from 6 to 13 feet, spliced, muzzled, and otherwise! - and loads of Hardy fibalite.
Reels too, I have all sizes of Perfects, aptly named, built to last for generations. Many have the craftsman's initials stamped inside, some have agate line guides and cases, all have ball bearings and tension regulators, and some are individually numbered in limited editions. The basic design remained almost unchanged for nearly a century, making them enthusiastically collected and cherished. There are other hardy models - brass faced Perfects, Uniqua, St. George, Zenith Husky, Princess, Golden Prince, Featherweight, Sunbeam, Marquis - old and new models, varying conditions reflected in fair prices. There are other makes; Orivs, Farlow, Sharpes, Youngs and so on.
Hardy, Farlow, Ustonson, Sharpes, Orvis, Abu, Carter, Eaton & Deller, Alcock, Vom Hofe, Milward, Moscrop, Bogdan, Illingworth, etc
I have some cracking older and eminently collectable pieces for the wall or cabinet. Winches, reels of brass and ebonite, one with tortoiseshell sideplates, some are very old, many are still usable. Besides Hardy and Farlow, I have old firms like Eaton & Deller, Bernard, Cummins, Moreton, Little, Carter, Anderson, Moscrop and Ustonson.
In the spinning department, besides modern carbon rods and hollow fibre numbers from Hardy and Orvis, again with some multi sectioned travel models, I have some mint and otherwise Wanless and LRH models, I have steel centred Norsk Murdochs, others have agate lined rings throughout. For reels, there are Altex and Elarex, several Mitchells and Abus, some older Illingworths and Stanleys. Best of all, and my favourite I have Hardy Silexes of all ages and sizes from the original model through no.2, the major, Super Silexes, to the Silex Superba of the 60s, I have a cased pair of the wide drum mahseer model and through no.2, the major, Super Silexes, to the Silex Superba of the60s, I have a cased pair of the wide drum mahseer model and multipliers. Coarse fishing> - I have some Aerials, Eurekas, a Richard Walker MK IV, a Dennis Pye, a Wallis Avon...
Sea fishing - I can go from the gor blimey of a state of the art near mint Everol 9/0, a Ferrari of the big game world loaded with about 1600 yards of 80lb mono, which comes with an article of how the previous owner caught a 240lb stingray with it to the ridiculous of some old built cane pokers with porcelain rings for the wall. In between I have two Fortunas, a couple of Sea Silexes, various Penns including a Senator 9/0, Milwards Overseas frogback, various mahogany starbacks, an Ogden Smith Seos, a Hardy saltwater no.2 and 5, a Fibalite Saltwater, and a couple of particularly handsome and mintish cane Modern Arms Silver King tarpon rods. I have quite a selection of greenheart rods and fixed spool reels etc
Odds and sods department includes fishing baskets, creels, gaffs, landing nets, bone china plates and figures, framed prints and cigarette cards, and I have dozens of books on all facets of fishing - home and abroad, old and bold, nice and new.
So there you have it, or rather the tip of a piscatorial iceberg, I’m sitting on a pile of interesting and collectable stuff. Gems to please the eyes, clicks to bring music to your ears, rods and reels to use others to put on the wall, some unusual and very special presents. So much more fun than sticking your spare cash into some account. You’ll enjoy showing your tackle to your friends, each comes with its own story, and its always a great conversational piece. Individual items cost from £50 to over £1000.
Remember Hardy’s charge around £100 a foot for modern split cane, and cane for rods longer than 9 foot is nigh impossible to obtain... you can email me or catch me on my mobile with your enquiries. First come first served - make the most of it, when ‘tis gone ‘tis gone! I hope I may hear from you soon. tell your friends.
You’re buying into history and British craftsmanship, ....... a reel investment, a reel opportunity! Tight lines!
Rod Megabite!
Contact: E-mail: rod@reelinvestments.co.uk
Mobile 07773456726
