Barder Rod Co Wallis Avon 11’6″ 3-piece.

Ordered on the 12th of November 1996 and completed in 1997, this is a superb and rare example of our whole cane butt Avon rod. It was ordered with all possible refinements: our own make of ferrules, our nickel silver butt cap and reel bands and intermediate whippings.

The gentleman who commissioned it wanted a rod with the length of a B. James & Son Avon Perfection but with a quicker action, so we designed and built this Wallis Avon for him.

The rod’s balance is very nice indeed. The moment you put it together, it comes alive. It’s really very steely and has the sort of feel that urges you to fish with it. I recommend reel lines of 4-6 lbs BS and casting weights, including bait, of about five eighths of an ounce.

I’d be overjoyed to use it for roach, dace, grayling, perch, chub, bream and even modest shoal barbel when fishing in the Nottingham style. What I’d really like to do is fish with it in the south of France for the mysterious Hotu, or Nase as they’re known in English. Trouble is, it’ll be your rod soon, we don’t have any Nase near here and anyway, they’re algae feeders and tricky to catch.

1997 was the first year when we made and fitted our own ferrules and handle fittings as standard. This rod marks the beginning of the modern Barder Rod Co era. Due to ill health, this rod wasn’t used to any extent. I removed its owner’s initials from each section and over-varnished it to harmonise its finish. It is in better than new condition.

Specification.

Butt section: whole Tonkin bamboo, bored, tempered and straightened. Hollow built split cane middle. Solid split cane tip.

Slim 26″ cork handle with a subtle ‘Trumpet’ shaped top. Barder Rod Co knurled nickel sliver sliding reel bands and engraved butt cap.

Barder Rod Co waterproof splint end ferrules, blued & lacquered, with their hand turned Poplar wood & cork stoppers.

Hard chrome plated stainless steel stand-off rings with a clear lined Amberfin butt ring and an aluminium oxide lined Amberfin tip ring. A hook keeper ring is incorporated into the whipping over the first node above the handle.

The whippings are Burgundy silk throughout, including the graduated intermediates. The ring and ferrule whippings have very subtle light amber tippings.

The rod’s name is written on the cane above the handle with Indian ink.

The finish is flawless hand-applied marine grade varnish.

The rod comes in its original tailor made bag with press stud fastenings and a pocket in the flap for the ferrule stoppers.