"I think the chief part of the ecstasy of fishing with the fly is to be found in the qualities of the fly rod, and if I am right in this, the more exquisite the rod the keener and more perfect the pleasure to be derived from the sport, a strong argument in favour of perfection in one's weapon for the particular game in hand. It may be, indeed it is, better to fish with any old rod than not to fish, but to fish with the most perfect of gear raises the satisfaction to the sublime - a thing of which those who have never handled a really perfect weapon can have no conception."

G.E.M. Skues - Fly Fishers' Club Journal Winter 1917

'Friends' should be able to see some pictures of my rods reels, etc. by clicking on the 'View My Images' link in the profile box .. more later!

I also have some items for sale or trade listed below :-
Message me via the forum for further details, pictures, etc.

Items For Trade - pm me for more details and / or pictures - there are some pictures already here - My For Sale Gallery

Bamboo Rods;

6' 4wt 2/1 Farlows 'Midge' by Sharpes of Aberdeen original bag but no tube

7' 6" 5wt 3/1 Baginski 'Westwind' - 'Privat' / custom build in leather tube

8' 8" 7wt 2/1 Pezon & Michel Parabolic Royale, original bag but no tube, used

9' 7wt 2/2 Milwards Flycraft, original bag and marked alloy tube, near mint

9' 6wt 2/2 Jennings-Moran, very rare rod (1 of only 3 made) $2,900+

Other rods:

7' 3/4wt 2/1 Jennings-Moran, #1G - the only graphite rod ever made by Jennings-Moran, original bag but no tube. $2,000+

Misc. rod stuff:

Bamboo wading staff / gaff / tip tube (probably Hardy but unmarked) 60" probably for 13'6" 3 pce Salmon rod still with a mid and tip - lockfast ferrule & full intermediates, tip & mid full length but need rewrapping and 3 snake guides. Brass cap and threaded base for attaching gaff, button, net, etc.

Bamboo staff / tip tube probably for 13'6" 3 pce Salmon rod still with 3 tips - brass ferrules & greenheart with spliced cane tops, 2 x tips appear full length 55½", 3^rd tip is 48" and short in the cane section, drop rings. Staff is missing top brass fittings, bottom brass fitting threaded for button, gaff, net, etc.

Reels;
Dingley - 3" Uniqua with horseshoe latch, stamped 'D1' internally and '1' to foot, marked for H Monk, Chester. Slight bend to front of foot otherwise Ex+

Dingley - 3¼" spring caliper check with straight latch, unstamped internally but '1' to foot and spool vgc

Dingley - 3¼" Uniqua style with screw, stamped 'w1' and '6' internally and '6' to foot and spool, marked for Forrest & Sons, Kelso. Ex+

Ids Schukken Raised Pillar 3 1/2" across pillars, wide spool, anodised gold, engraved for owner

Hardy Perfect 3 7/8" - modern 'Special' model with spitfire winding plate, agate line guard RHW

Hardy Perfect 3 7/8" - 'Taupo' model with no line guard RHW

Hardy Perfect 3 7/8" - 'Taupo' model with NS line guard RHW

Hardy Perfect 3 5/8" - later model with agate line guard RHW

Hardy Perfect 3 3/8" - have a couple - no line guard models RHW

Malloch, Perth marked for Garden, Aberdeen 3 3/4" Salmon reel reel circa 1910 ex

Milward 3 1/8" Flycraft - copper coloured model, RHW only ex

Milward 3 1/2" Flycraft - black coloured model, RHW or LHW ex

Orvis CFO III (Made in England) grey model, Orvis zip case

Orvis CFO123 (Made in England) olive/gold model (#228) suede case & papers

Misc. reel stuff:

Abel Blue (medium size) nylon padded bags (2 of)

Abel Black (small size) nylon padded bag

Other reels:

I have a collection of just under 100 Mitchell reels (mostly ex Luc de Medts) which I may be selling.

Other items ;
ATH Design DeLuxe Fly Tying Vice - full set in box - very rarely seen one of these just sold on ebay for $1,300

Griffin Patriot Fly tying Vice - Pedestal base in box but without clamp.

Hardy 'Album' wet fly cast carrier. Black 'Neroda' (bakelite) with complete internal extra's. $100

Hardy 'Neroda' fly box. Brown mottled finish, chenille bar internals, approx 6" x 4" with approx 150 old wet flies. $250

Books ;
The Modern Angler in a series of letters by Robert Salter - Numbered Specially Bound Edition (#75 / 125) Facsimile from the second edition of 1811 by Flyfisher's Classic Library in 1995 - intro and notes by Jack Heddon - no ISBN - As New in slip case (there is a small 'splash' stain to the outer of the slip case - $100

A Handbook of North Country Trout Flies by Roger Fogg - ISBN 0 947818 11 1 - 1988 First Edition - As New - $100

Fly Fishing: some New Arts and Mysteries by J C Mottram - Limited Edition (# - - - / 2500) Fly Fisherman's Gold, T.U. commissioned facsimile from the standard 1921 edition by Derrydale Press in 1994 - no ISBN - As New - $75

The Way of a Trout with a Fly - G.E.M. Skues - 1949 4th Edition - VG+ with DJ (damage to dj edges and top right corner) original owners handwritten inscription / signature to fly 'Clive G H Sultan, Hornsea 1949', price clipped - $65

Combined A&C Black 'Nymph fishing for Chalkstream Trout // Minor Tactics of the Chalkstream' by G.E.M. Skues First Edition 1974 ISBN 0 7136 1447 1 - used but v.good with DJ - $45

Life-History and habits of the Salmon, Sea-Trout, Trout, and other Freshwater Fishes - P.D.Malloch - 1912 Second Edition - VG+ some fading to spine - $70

Stuff that I am looking for :-

I am interested in reels by Payne and South Creek Ltd. or Bogdan if the 'Baby Trout Wide' model, rods by South Creek Ltd, John Bradford, Wm Abrams (Streamer) also but am open to temptation by other modern makers (for instance Don Schroeder, John Gallas, Rick Cunningham, etc) if I have not owned one of their rods already.

Heddon tube and bag from the 1930 - 1940 sort of date range.
Needs to be for a 9' (3 piece) rod and the highly polished aluminium with chromium plated end caps, label not important. Bag needs to be for the same size rod and the velvet type.

For lower value items books or high quality (Cortland 444, Sci Angler or Rio) new or as new lines in 4-7wt may also work.

Also looking for a black neoprene 'Sage' reel bag.