Telephone (+44) 01423 867267 | Monday to Friday 9am - 6pm
Hi Chris, just had to let you know that I used my reel for the first time last night. I had a session on the Trent at Kelham 6.30pm – 10.00pm. The reel was an absolute joy to use, I was easily managing casts to the middle of the river, and it’s quite a big river here. I practiced the Wallis Sheringham cast on the lawn at home when I first had the reel and now it seems easy.
During the session I had 3 Barbel, approx 7lb, 8lb & 10lb and 2 Chub of about 3lbs each. When I told friends who fish here that I was going to fish for Barbel with a centre pin, they thought I was barmy. You’ll never be able to hold them, you’ll never control them on a centre pin, were the type of comments. Well I proved em wrong. The fish were easily controlled with just a bit of thumb pressure on the rim, and you feel so much more in contact than with a fixed spool reel.
I am really delighted with the reel, it is a pleasure just to own such a piece of craftsmanship. Thank you very much, cheers, Roger Walker.
Hello Chris,
This afternoon the reel has arrived in perfect condition! As excited as a small child, I hurried home after work to open the parcel. And, I was speechless when I saw what was inside! You truly did a fantastic job manufactering this reel. It is almost unbelievable how beautiful all the parts are manufactured and how accurately all the components fit together. The new material you've used for producing the handles, looks and feels very nice. It looks as colorfull and warm as the initially intendend rosewood handles, but much more sustainable. And altogether it matches very well with the black anodize finish. Superb!
Your advice to choose a "ratchet" over a "levercheck" looks at first sight as the right choice! The place of the ratchet is much more functional then the place of the levercheck. With my current reel from Youngs, that levercheck can on occasion 'flip' open unnoticed and sometimes much to easily. And than the reel spins off line with all the nasty consequences. So, thank you for that! The spare spool is something I am also extremely happy with. It makes it a lot easier to change lines in different swims.
Well, I could go on for hours. Overall I wish to thank you for this fantastic reel. It was absolutely worth the wait. Good luck with everything. I'll report back to you about the first carp and barbel being caught with the reel.
Kindest regards,
Ewout Smeerdijk
Dear Chris, thank you for making my dreams come true by making my 1915 Avon Aerial centre pin. You have exceeded my wildest dreams, this reel is nothing short of stunning. I have looked at many pins over last few years including the Paul Wicher aerial and none come even close yours. I have also been to many antique fairs looking for the 1915 Allcock Aerial's, then in Davis tackle whilst chatting to visiting angler I was told about you and the quality of your workmanship, in his words 'stunning'. So the path was set. Chris you are a very talented pin maker second to none. I can't thank you enough, I shall just add water and use my pin with Pride.
