The Chris Yates Merlin Avon rod № 49.
Completed in 1998 by the Barder Rod Co. One of two built with a swelled butt. In outstanding condition.
£1,850.00
Ordered on the 10th of June 1997 and completed in 1998, this is one of only two Merlins built with a swelled butt. It was made for the late John Mason, who ran the Wotton Underwood syndicate for many years. The lakes at Wotton (pronounced Wooton, of course) were made famous by Fred J Taylor his brother Ken and their cousin Joe. Their Wotton tench catches were legendary and they popularised dead bait fishing for pike in the larger Sawmills lake.
1998 was a particularly good vintage for the Chris Yates Merlin. We had large stocks of fabulous Tonkin bamboo, mostly obtained from Oliver’s of Knebworth and we were making our own nickel sliver ferrules, sliding reel bands and butt caps. We’d also acquired hundreds of superb Sapphrite Laurels hard chrome plated stainless steel rings.
As the accompanying pictures illustrate, the swelled butt is extremely elegant and tapers beautifully into the top of the cork handle. The visual effect is striking and the feel of the rod is especially crisp and well balanced.
The rod has been very lightly used. It is absolutely straight, the ferrules retain their original firm fit and it is outstanding condition overall.
A very,very rare example of our ever popular Chris Yates Merlin. If you’re planning to acquire a really fine Avon-style rod, you need look no further.
The natural silk whippings are varnish impregnated and transparent, so nothing is obscured. They have very fine burgundy tippings to match the ferrule whippings.
The rings are Amberfin at the butt and tip, with Sapphrite Laurels hard chrome plated stainless steel High Bells intermediates.
The superbly elegant slim 26” cork handle has an elongated onion shaped top and finely knurled nickel silver fittings throughout. The butt cap is engraved: E. BARDER, MAKER. The Indian ink inscription reads: The Chris Yates Merlin № 49.
The nickel silver splint end suction ferrules are blued and lacquered. The hand turned stopper is varnished hardwood and cork.
The rod comes in its tailor made bag.
Suitable reel lines: 3-6 lbs BS
Casting weights up to 25 grams
Test curve: 1 lb+