The Bernard Venables Landing Net & Handle.
In mint condition. Made in 2003. Dramatically flame-mottled handle & an impregnated ash frame.
£1,500.00
This is an exceptionally fine example of our famous Bernard Venables landing net. The impregnated white ash frame is fine grained and strong. The metal fittings are the very best brass and stainless steel. The handle is amazingly flamed Tonkin bamboo of the best quality. This remains the best net of its kind ever made.
Due to the difficulty of obtaining some of the materials required to make these nets, we have mothballed our manufacturing of them for the foreseeable future. However, they remain the best of their kind both as efficient and practical tools and as the most beautiful and eye-catching items on the bank.
The hand tied net bag has no seam at the bottom, which is something we pioneered. The net bag can stretch to accommodate very long fish without harming them. With mine, I have landed a number of twenty pound carp, and barbel in excess of sixteen pounds, but it isn’t too cumbersome for perch, tench or chub. If you know of the whereabouts of some roach outside the digestive tracts of cormorants, it would be fine for landing them, too. The one inch mesh is knotless and complies with Environment Agency rules.
The 6′ long Tonkin bamboo handle was tempered, mottled, straightened and most importantly, not sanded back to the power fibres, so as well as eight coats of yacht varnish, it has its natural skin intact for extra durability. It is waterproof and it floats, as does the net head. The brass butt cap is engraved with our logo and has a black rubber button. The handle comes in its tailor made bag.
The Ash net frame itself is impregnated and permanently waterproof. The net mesh is laced onto the frame as the accompanying pictures illustrate.
From our 2011 catalogue is the following technical specification:
Designed and built at the request of the late Bernard Venables, these pear-shaped nets are vastly superior to all other types. There are no moving parts to fail, and no infuriating draw cord to fold up or snag at the critical moment. With a 6’ circumference, measuring 26” front-to-back and 21” side-to-side, all but the largest fish can be landed comfortably.