Barder Rod Co The Chris Yates Merlin № 48 11’ 2-piece split cane Avon rod.
c1997 in mint condition.
Original price was: £2,000.00.£1,900.00Current price is: £1,900.00.
I’m fully aware that this is going to sound a bit over the top, but there should be a scramble for this rod. If you’ve ever fancied a stupendous example of our best selling Avon model, first released in 1993, you’d be crazy not to grab this one.
It really is perfect, and has never been used. It’s as though it’s been cryogenically preserved for twenty years (it was ordered on the 6th of June 1997).
As the accompanying pictures clearly illustrate, this is a very elegantly finished rod, in the same style as our fly rods. There is nothing superfluous and everything is of the very highest quality.
The needle straight, resilient and alive-in-your-hand blank has the most attractive, warm colour, like chestnut honey. 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 Aqualite at the butt and tip, with Sapphrite Laurels hard chrome plated stainless steel High Bells intermediates.
The superbly elegant slim 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 № 84.
That’s right –it says 84. Something must have distracted me when I was writing on the rod. Something like innumeracy. By the time this had been bought to my attention, it was too late to do anything about it, and the original owner accepted this anomaly as part of the rod’s charm.
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+
The Merlin is the most tactile, well balanced and versatile Avon rod we have ever conceived. The progressive action means that it is a pleasure to use for all sorts of fish –dace & grayling, tench and chub, take your pick.