FOR SALE:
BB’s Richard Walker – built Centrepin Reel.
Richard Walker designed & made this reel in 1948 for his friend Denys Watkins-Pitchford aka BB, who is widely regard as the founding father of carp fishing.
This reel is one of the Holy Trinity of carp fishing’s historic items of tackle.
The others are Richard Walker’s own MK IV Carp Rod and the Walker-built MK IV Avon that Chris Yates used to catch his record carp.
It pre-dates the MK IV carp rod by four years, making it the first major item of tackle that Richard Walker designed and built specifically for carp fishing. The reel is shown here with BB, his daughter Angela and Len Arbery.
Richard Walker and BB became friends in 1947 and the reel is first mentioned in BB’s 1949 book Be Quiet and Go A-Angling (Pseudonym Michael Traherne). In chapter IV, The Fisherman And His Weapons, BB tells us that he uses this reel exclusively for his carp fishing, and describes its eventful manufacture by Richard Walker in the factory of his family’s firm, Lloyds & Co of Letchworth.
Len Arbery in 1990 with a Redmire Pool carp caught on the BB reel and BB rod, both made by Richard Walker.
Len has had immense pleasure from being the reel’s custodian for thirty years, but with great reluctance, he has decided that now is the time to part with it. We are greatly honoured that he has asked us to find this wonderful historic reel a new and appreciative owner.
Please visit here for a full description of the reel, its provenance and pictures.
If you would like to discuss the reel, please don’t hesitate to call Edward Barder on 01635 552 916 or email edward@barder-rod.co.uk