…as the actress said to the Bishop.
Our Colin actually had a little carp rod called The Actress. What did she say to the Bishop, you’ll be wondering. Here at the Barder Rod Co, we don’t believe in talking fishing rods but we most certainly do believe that this mint, as-new Chris Yates Bishop Carp Rod, made in 2008, will speak to your innate good taste and sense of refinement.
Haven’t we met before?
In 1999, Chris Yates was manning our stand at the NEC while I went to the loo. Great news, he said on my return. I’ve sold that Kennet Perfection. Is everything all right, he asked. I thanked him for the cash he’d taken as payment and quietly pined for my Kennet Perfection, which I’d taken along for display purposes. The new owner was thrilled with it. I’d made two or three, all identical. One of the others, also unused, came to me for resale last year, so I bought it for myself. The one we are offering doesn’t appear to have been used. Is it mine, from 1999? I don’t know. I could try to find out but I’m more of a rod maker than a detective. Some mysteries are best left unsolved. If it was good enough for me in 1999, I think it will please you in 2025.
Gladiator. I liked Russell Crowe in the first one.
Remember that scene in the Colosseum when he says “My name is (Barbus) Maximus Decimus Meridius, commander of the Armies of the North etc etc. And I will have my vengeance, in this life or the next”? I’m a great admirer of Ridley Scott. He could have given his Gladiator a Chris Yates Barbus Maximus with which to thrash the frightful Commodus. Great product placement. So great.
Sorry about that. Where was I? Oh yes, the Chris Yates Barbus Maximus MK II. We have two of these for your valuable consideration this week. One is exactly as it was when it left this workshop in 2006. The other one, which is virtually identical, is also mint. Take your pick!
Some really super rods and reels have come our way lately so please take a look at our website while you enjoy your lunchtime Ryvita and distilled water (it is January). You’ll find some Chris Lythe Aerial reels, another Kennet Perfection, a pair of stepped up Richard Walker MK IV carp rods and a Bernard Venables landing net or two. There’s a LAW fly tying vice too. Not sure why that’s still there. Come on somebody!
With best wishes for the year ahead,
Edward Barder and Colin Whitehouse