H. L. Jennings ‘Brook’ 8′ #5 2-piece fly rod.

In 1980, my dear friend Homer Jennings was living in Brackley. He made rods on the side. At the time, I was nearing the end of a five stretch at a nearby high security, fee-paying educational facility. I wish I’d known that Homer was up the road. He could have helped me escape.

I met him a few years later, in 1989. He was just about to return to America but we became firm friends. Homer was a great help to me in the early days of my rod making career. Here’s how I met him.

My girlfriend at the time’s mum was a florist. Some of her cut flowers were delivered by a man whose brother was David Eley. David had moved to America to pursue a career as an artist but he had been one of the new wave of split cane rod makers. I called him, long distance, on my wind-up phone. ‘I’m just going out to dinner with Hoagy Carmichael’ he told me ‘but the people you need to meet are Homer Jennings and Tom Moran. They don’t get on but they’re the best rod makers in the country.’

Tom Moran had just left for America and Homer was just about to. I phoned Homer. See above.

This rod was made by Homer from hand-planed bamboo. He obtained his fittings and ferrules from Joe Bonham of Drayton  St Leonard, who had been his mentor.

The rod is whipped with Burgundy silk with subtle gold accents. The rings are hard chromed, snakes with a lined butt ring.

The handle is in the comfortable Garrison style favoured by Homer throughout his career. The reel seat is a lightweight down-locking type with a varnished cherry wood spacer.

The bronzed brass suction ferrule retains its hand-turned hardwood and cork stopper. The rod comes in its original tailor made bag, which Homer sewed himself.

The standard of workmanship and finish is very high. This is a most attractive rod in superb original condition. I gather that it was used very little.

This lovely Homer Jennings represents a rare opportunity to own an early rod by a true master builder. I find it very smooth in the Garrison style and it would be a super rod to fish with a silk line.