Chris Yates’s B. James & Son Avocet.

In Chris’s second book The Deepening Pool you’ll find pictures of this rod in action. From the early eighties to the early nineties, this was the rod Chris used for most of his river fishing. It landed barbel to 13lbs and sea trout to 12lbs, among numerous fine specimens of several species.

In 1993, Chris asked me to refurbish the rod. I re-whipped it & replaced its worn stand-off rings. In tiny green script above the handle, you can just make out, with your strongest specs, Casus Ubique Valet (the Golden Scale Club’s motto- There’s always a chance) and Restored in ’93 by Edward Barder for Chris Yates. I must have had fantastically good eyesight in those days.

The rod continued to be used post-restoration alongside his Barbus Maximus MK I. The original cork handle has plenty of patina and the finish also has some patina from honest use.

It is, in every respect, a very sound and historic rod. The sections are straight, its ferrules are a firm fit and its rings are free from cracks and grooves. It’s ready for many more outings.

The rod has a c1991 Barder Rod Co replacement cloth bag and it comes with a letter of provenance from Chris, written on Golden Scale Club headed paper.

Specification.

Original split cane middle & tip, whole cane butt. All sections are straight, sound and lively.

Snug fitting splint-end suction ferrules.

Sapphrite Laurels hard chrome plated stainless steel stand-off rings and Amberfin butt and tip rings. The original transfers were replaced with a personalised Indian ink inscription during its 1993 restoration.

Claret silk ring & ferrule whippings with fine graduated intermediate whippings.

A sound, hand applied marine grade varnish finish with some patina from use.

Original 26” cork handle with a subtly flared top and original W R Products knurled aluminium  reel bands and tapered butt cap with its red rubber button.

Test curve: 1 pound.

Reel lines: 4 – 6 pounds breaking strain.

Casting weights: up to 1 ounce.