MikeT

Gorgeous!

Dear Lord, that's lovely. Enjoy!!!

Edit

Edit

Edit

Hi Chris, for the second time today...... The angler you met on the Worgret stretch was myself, and the reel I was using was a Witcher (though it was my Bisterne, not a 1920). After you left, I wondered if it was you I'd met, having seen your face on pics on here, and so I popped on your blog to see if you had been at Worgret today. Sorry I didn't make the connection before you'd left. Well done on your haul at Wool Bridge. I did fish on at that pool on the bend where you caught your solitary grayling of the morning, and guess what, I also caught one there, which also weighed in at 1-14! It was a female, and I wonder if it might have actually been the very same fish- presuming there is only one in that whole stretch! I caught nothing else, and I now wish I'd followed you upstream! Great to meet you, albeit unknowingly, and I'm glad you had a good afternoon on what was a beautiful day here in Dorset. Best wishes, Mike.

SOLD

I have two wonderful young sons, the apples of my eye, whom I hope to introduce to the delights of angling when they're old enough to appreciate it properly. If they demonstrate and prove a proper affinity and respect for our noble art, and devote their lifetimes to a true philosophical appreciation of being at one with riverbank and water, I’m damned if I’ll leave my Bisterne to either of them when I die. It’s mine, all mine, and it’ll be buried with me.

Added these. The first for scale, although it makes my hand look tiny, so that didn't work.

Photos of the Avon Elite. Sorry if they're of poor quality, or too big- I took them with my mobile. I think the little black dots are fluff from the pouch.

That's regrettable to me, as both are such decent chaps, although, of course, nobody's pointing a gun at either of them. I fear it would only be worse if I put it on eBay or through an auction house- it's a terribly desirable reel. I've taken some photos, but forgot to bring the cable to work, so I'll upload them later.

Hi Chris. Hope you’re well. Yes, I’ll put up some pictures as soon as I get organised. I have a vague feeling I put some on this site a couple of years ago, but am rubbish at searching.

SOLD Hello chaps. Long time. I’m thinking of selling my Witcher Avon Elite, and wonder if any of you pinheads are interested? It’s the Avon Elite II model, serial number 47 (so very late production and brilliantly perfected, of which type only about fifteen were made). It is the 4 ½ inch, narrow drum model. It’s very, very like the Bisterne in construction and aesthetics, and like all Witchers is a rare and special thing. Utterly beautiful, feather light, slick as an eel in a bucket of oil, and it’s probably the finest trotting reel in existence. I have extensive correspondence with Paul about this particular reel, which is in worshipped condition, and would include this in the sale, along with the owners certificate and original leather pouch. I’ll consider offers Best, Mike.

Three or four years ago in September, we spent a wonderful fortnight on holiday at Balaguier d’Olt, which is on the River Lot, near Figeac. It’s a very beautiful part of the world, and I often think about the fabulous time we had there. Bucolic bliss. The Lot is a big and mysterious river, as I’m sure you’ll have noticed. It’s deep, slow, and wide, and any angler seeing it will sense immediately the promise it makes of fish. There’s a heavy sort of quietness about the riverbank, and the water has that weird knowingness that sets the heart pounding. It looks as though it’s chock full of fish, and every languid bend reveals new swims to explore- gravel shallows dropping into depths of clear green darkness, overhanging trees dappling the hot golden air, vast weirs and buttressed bridge footings, sheltered pools of almost lake-calm stillness, and immensely deep runs beside hundred-foot grey stone cliffs, gorged out by millions of years of flow. I spent several days fishing for chub and barbel along several miles of the river. It’s all free water (with the usual French license), though some areas have prohibited access through farmland. There’s absolutely tons of fishing, and of course it never gets fished. I didn’t see a single other angler (except one local fellow, once, trolling along for pike from his little put-put boat). Most of the bank is apparently unvisited. There are places where anglers do congregate- nearer the towns of course, and in the few bits where night fishing is specially permitted for carp. I remember the angling is well publicised on the internet, and you can get good leaflets with maps on fishing the river from the local tourism offices. I have no doubt you’ll find your feet there very quickly. As always, the fishing is dictated by the water conditions and your chosen quarry. Most French anglers are after the pike (to eat), although the carp fishing on the Lot is increasingly popular, and quite excellent apparently (I didn’t bother to find out much about that, not being interested myself). I float fished with light tackle a rod-length or two out from the nearside banks, on shallower parts of slow runs and back eddies for the chub and smallish barbel, which are everywhere. I had dozens of them- mostly hard-fighting pristine barbel to about four or five pounds. There were swims that were so slow flowing that I could use a Polaris leger float and swimfeeder to fish the bottom static- and this was a killer method. Best baits were sweetcorn and bread, but these are virgin wild fish and I think you could bring them on to any of the usual baits with feeding. Of course, the real pleasure is in the experience of simply being there, and I cannot think of anywhere more satisfying for pure angling joy than on the River Lot. It’s just magic. You lucky, lucky chap. Edit to add some photos:

Nah, buying a thing like that is like putting ten pounds into a piggy bank and taking out fifteen later on (and, in the mean time of course, you get to enjoy using a rather fabulous piggy bank). I think I’m the poorer one here! Good luck and all the best with your reel, Rusty! I wish you a lifetime of great pleasure, and some wonderful catches with it.

The reel is now SOLD on approval to a mystery AN member.

Absolutely never. And I mean absolutely, and I mean never. It's my most treasured thing in the world, and having it completely spoils having the 002 (and also the Avon Elite I have- which I haven't used once since I got the Bisterne).

Hi Chris- yes, I knew you'd written that. It's a lovely article! (And thanks for pointing your chums to this thread). I'm selling it for two reasons. Firstly, I need the money. Secondly, I haven't used it even once since it came into my possession last summer, and this is a reel that must be used. As you know, I’m lucky to have a Bisterne (which I love), and because I only managed about four or five fishing trips last year I didn’t want to miss any of those occasions to use my favourite reel. So, I just don’t feel I’ll ever be able to do the 002 justice. It would be better if it goes to someone else who’ll actually use it. I don’t approve of collectors locking these things in cabinets- and that’s exactly what I’m likely to end up doing if I keep it.

A few quick photos of the 002...

Ah, poor you. Hmm. I wonder what it 'll be worth in, say, five years time. The Landy, I mean. By then, the reel will almost certainly be worth more than it goes for- which means that, rather than costing money, it's actually growing money! (Mind you, you can get so much more in the boot of a Disco).

SOLD Hello gentlemen. It's been a while. I hope you’re all well. I’m intending to sell one of my Witcher reels on eBay shortly, and, remembering the interest in these things on this forum, I thought I’d give you an early heads up. Here's a preview of my (unfinished) eBay ad (I haven't checked the weights yet, and so on): Witcher Aerial This is a very rare and extremely fine handmade centrepin fishing reel. It is the Witcher Aerial, Number 002. It is one the famous pair of so-called ‘zero-zero’ reels that Paul made for himself in 2003, stamped 001 and 002. In all, only 33 Witcher Aerials were made (often called the 1920 pattern, after the Allcock Aerial on which its design was based), and each is highly sought after. Paul kept the first two for himself (these were the only ones stamped with the ‘00’ prefix), and the 002 is only now for the first time available on the open market. A description of these reels and the history of Paul’s reelmaking may be seen on his website, here: http://www.paulwitcherproductions.com/page5.htm The ‘1920 pattern’ Witcher Aerial is a marvellous reel. Its design gives excellent strength and lightness, and this makes it highly versatile and therefore suitable for many different styles of fishing. As well as being a work of art and a great pleasure simply to hold in the hand and spin, best of all it’s a wonderful practical tool to use on the riverbank. The quality of Paul’s craftsmanship is peerless and this reel is the epitome of superb design and precision hand engineering. Described as the ultimate barbel ’pin, it is suited to methods ranging from trundling big baits on riverbeds, to trotting small stick floats for roach, to stalking the margins for summer carp. Centrepin aficionados say it’s a true all-rounder. About the design, Paul says, ‘The Witcher Aerial was inspired by the Allcock Aerial c.1920, which I consider one of the finest reels ever made. It is characterised by the brilliant, brass-spoked design, invented by Henry Coxon in the late 19th Century and marketed by the Allcock company for decades thereafter. I have made only a few minor modifications, which I feel are desirable, but otherwise, the Witcher Aerial is as close to the original 1920 model as it is possible to produce in this day and age’. There’s a short article about the Witcher Aerial on PurePiscator’s Hall of Fame, here: http://www.purepiscator.com/thehof_entry.aspx?hofid=16 And another article, here: http://www.fishing.co.uk/article.php3?id=1901 The twelve-spoked perforated spool weighs just XXXg, (which determines the incredibly low start-up inertia). The whole reel weighs only XXXg. The aluminium body and spool have the famous and unique Witcher ‘aged’ finish, the technique of which is closely guarded secret, and the back plate is impressed with the Witcher logo on the outside and the tiny serial number 002 inside. The spindle ‘boss’ is constructed of phosphor bronze, and the reel-seat and calliper ratchet check of brass. This reel has more than 60 individual parts, each of which had to be crafted to the finest tolerances. The centre boss, around which the workings of the reel revolve, is the most critical of all, taking more than 30 different painstaking processes to make. Everything about the reel design and materials is made with longevity and reliability in mind, and this reel should be working as well as it does today for generations to come. The 002 is dazzling. Commensurate with the unique antique finish, it has a genuine patina of light use with odd scuffs here and there where Paul fished for those Hampshire Avon barbel. It spins sublimely, with the purest free motion, silent and sweet. Paul has just serviced and tuned the reel, and it runs exquisitely. The gentlest touch will start the spool turning, and a trotted 2BB stick float will peel line effortlessly from it. The mysteriously hypnotic way it spins can enchant you and make your hairs stand on end! This is a reel with soul. Paul has convinced me he won’t be making any more reels, and the growing scarcity of his existing ones on the market makes them increasingly collectable and valuable (and therefore an excellent financial investment). A few of his reels are noted as particularly important for their rarity- this is one of those. It is a museum piece, and whoever comes to own it will surely cherish it and never want to let it go. The reel comes with its gorgeous original handmade block leather case, and unique certificate of authenticity. I shall of course package the reel extremely carefully for delivery, and promptly despatch it fully insured and registered First Class on completion, free of charge. Estimated insurance value: £1200-£1500, though it is of course irreplaceable. The auction reserve is £950. No-quibble return guarantee. Please email me with any questions. So there you go. Offers welcome! ATB, Mike.

Of course it makes sense. The Witcher reel is more valuable. Its higher worth is based on it being much scarcer than the Allcocks, of superior quality in materials and craftsmanship, and the fact that it will most likely appreciate in value far more steeply than the 1920 model its design was based on. How does that not make sense?

Thanks, Jon. I'd really appreciate that! I shall get in touch with you in May, when the Bass have arrived! I just popped in to check for replies to this, and to say that I did get hold of the recommended 'Hooked on Bass' book, by Alan Vaughan and Mike Ladle. It's very good indeed, and answers all the questions I had. Thanks for the recommendation. Now all I have to do is find those places it mysteriously alludes to! All the best, Mike.

Thank you for all the excellent advice- I appreciate it very much. Nevertheless, I’ve now bought a new rod for the purpose- despite all your kind instruction that my little 8-foot spinning rod would do perfectly well. When it comes to fishing tackle, I find I have insufficient sense to prevent me from buying what I probably don’t need, but my excuse is my wife would appear to own two thousand, four hundred and eighteen more handbags than would appear absolutely necessary for her continued survival. So, my plan is to use both the light and supple little 8’ Beastmaster rod for small lures, when casting shorter distances and moving about on the rocks, and my new rod for when the surf is choppier and I need to cast heavier lures a little further, straight from the beach. The new one is a Shimano Lesath spinning rod, at just under 11 feet in length, with a heavier action that will cast lures up to 50g a good distance. I was told (by the tackle shop, of course) that it makes an excellent rod for the sort of bass fishing I have in mind, and I must say it does look very nice. It’s extremely light, despite looking strong and robust- weighing not much more than many spinning rods at a much shorter length, thus I can have my length cake and eat it. I’m now eagerly looking forward to the arrival of the bass (which I guess will be around May- is that correct?). I’m planning to search the archives here for tips on how to approach this exciting looking branch of our noble sport, and would of course appreciate any more advice you may be able to offer (as long as it doesn’t involve resisting the temptation to buy tackle, of course!). Many thanks again! Mike.

I’m planning to do some shore fishing for bass later on this year, but I’m pretty clueless about it. Please could someone give me some basic advice about the gear I’m likely to need? I want to use plugs and surface popper lures from the rocky outcrops along the Purbeck coast in Dorset- which I understand is a great place for bass fishing like that. I have a 2.4m (almost 8’) medium-weight Shimano Beastmaster spinning rod, which I use for pike and perch fishing, and I wonder if this would be suitable. It casts 10-30g lures, and I can reach fifty or sixty yards easily enough with it. It has handled pike to 12lb without too much struggle, but should I be looking to buy a longer and heavier spinning rod for bass lure fishing? I'd be very grateful for any advice. Many thanks! Mike.