Fishing

fishing October Opportunities

OCTOBER USUALLY BRINGS A REFRESHING CHANGE TO OUR WATERS WITH COOLER WEATHER STIMULATING MANY SPECIES TO FEED HEAVILY PRIOR TO WINTER

By Clive Kenyon

O O n a personal note October is the month when I seem to encounter n a personal note October is the month when I seem to encounter more than my fair share of zoo creatures, more than my fair share of zoo creatures, undoubtedly silure, that make off at high undoubtedly silure, that make off at high speed with my carefully tied carp and speed with my carefully tied carp and barbel rigs. This year I intend to put a barbel rigs. This year I intend to put a second, more substantial rod out to try second, more substantial rod out to try and catch and catch the culprits. the culprits. With the increase in flow rates of the With the increase in flow rates of the rivers and cooler water temperatures carp rivers and cooler water temperatures carp and barbel will forgo the shallower water and barbel will forgo the shallower water they have spent the last few months in and they have spent the last few months in and move to deeper locations. Other species move to deeper locations. Other species such as roach will also be found in deeper such as roach will also be found in deeper water as the number of suspended water as the number of suspended hatching insects in the water column hatching insects in the water column decreases as the water cools. I like to fish decreases as the water cools. I like to fish for roach at the deep end of lakes and for roach at the deep end of lakes and dams especially when the wind is blowing dams especially when the wind is blowing that way. Perch and pike are at their best that way. Perch and pike are at their best at this time of year and it is a good time to at this time of year and it is a good time to use lures to catch these predators. use lures to catch these predators. These next two months are probably the These next two months are probably the best opportunities for increasing your best opportunities for increasing your personal best weights for most species. personal best weights for most species. Go get ‘em! Go get ‘em!

The Fishing Detective The Fishing Detective

These days most rods and reels are These days most rods and reels are identically formed and assembled by identically formed and assembled by anonymous robots in the Far East, but it anonymous robots in the Far East, but it was not always the case. I have one or two was not always the case. I have one or two unique items of tackle that were made by unique items of tackle that were made by real people and it is possible with a bit of real people and it is possible with a bit of research to get to know a bit about the research to get to know a bit about the makers. Using online resources and some makers. Using online resources and some of the many books devoted to the history of the many books devoted to the history of fishing tackle I was able to piece of fishing tackle I was able to piece together some history surrounding the together some history surrounding the makers of the old tackle that I own. makers of the old tackle that I own. One rod that had been mis-described in an One rod that had been mis-described in an auction listing, is endorsed ‘JA Walker, auction listing, is endorsed ‘JA Walker, Alnwick’ and was made by James Alnwick’ and was made by James Alexander Walker who I discovered Alexander Walker who I discovered started his apprenticeship at his uncle’s started his apprenticeship at his uncle’s firm of JJS Walker & Co. of Alnwick in firm of JJS Walker & Co. of Alnwick in 1907. His uncle John James Selby Walker 1907. His uncle John James Selby Walker was one of several cabinet makers was one of several cabinet makers recruited by the Hardy brothers to make recruited by the Hardy brothers to make fishing rods for their company in 1879. fishing rods for their company in 1879. The Hardy brothers had steamed apart, or The Hardy brothers had steamed apart, or ‘reverse engineered’ as they called it, a ‘reverse engineered’ as they called it, a split cane rod that had been imported split cane rod that had been imported

from the American firm Leonard. Once from the American firm Leonard. Once born in the Midlands and had served time born in the Midlands and had served time they knew how these rods had been made they knew how these rods had been made with two of England’s most famous reel with two of England’s most famous reel they then used skilled local cabinet makers they then used skilled local cabinet makers makers - Ruben Heaton in Birmingham makers - Ruben Heaton in Birmingham to build their own rods. John Walker was to build their own rods. John Walker was and Slaters of Newark - before being headand Slaters of Newark - before being headhead of the rod making department when head of the rod making department when hunted by Hardy in 1891 to design and hunted by Hardy in 1891 to design and he left Hardy in 1907 to form his own he left Hardy in 1907 to form his own produce ground breaking new models for produce ground breaking new models for business, and nephew James was his business, and nephew James was his them. He was head of the reel making side them. He was head of the reel making side first apprentice. first apprentice. of things at Hardy when he left in October of things at Hardy when he left in October In 1913 JJS Walker & Co. had been joined by another former Hardy foreman. In 1913 JJS Walker & Co. had been joined by another former Hardy foreman. 1911 to join his friend and church fellow JJS Walker. 1911 to join his friend and church fellow JJS Walker. Charles Bampton, a specialist brass Charles Bampton, a specialist brass Initially working from JJS Walker’s Initially working from JJS Walker’s worker trained as a naval instrument worker trained as a naval instrument premises Dingley later founded his own premises Dingley later founded his own maker before turning his hand to fishing maker before turning his hand to fishing company ‘The Climax Reel Works’ in 1916 company ‘The Climax Reel Works’ in 1916 equipment. Bampton made the brass equipment. Bampton made the brass and went on to produce highly sought and went on to produce highly sought fittings for rods and nets and on joining fittings for rods and nets and on joining after reels in his Alnwick workshop for after reels in his Alnwick workshop for the company it became known as JJS the company it became known as JJS many years. Dingley’s reels are famous for many years. Dingley’s reels are famous for Walker Walker their quality and were their quality and were Bampton & Co. James worked for his uncle up Bampton & Co. James worked for his uncle up Each one of my old cane rods and old reels has a story to tell Each one of my old cane rods and old reels has a story to tell regarded as technically superior to the models sold by the leading manufacturer, his regarded as technically superior to the models sold by the leading manufacturer, his to the late to the late former employer, Hardy. former employer, Hardy. 1920s when ill health forced him to sell the business to Farlows. 1920s when ill health forced him to sell the business to Farlows. Reels of this type would be cast in alloy by a specialist foundry using the new electro smelting process and left to Reels of this type would be cast in alloy by a specialist foundry using the new electro smelting process and left to Following John Walker’s retirement Following John Walker’s retirement cure for several weeks. Following that it cure for several weeks. Following that it James Walker went into business on his James Walker went into business on his would have been mounted in a lathe in would have been mounted in a lathe in own operating from a new workshop in own operating from a new workshop in order for all the holes to be cut or drilled order for all the holes to be cut or drilled Alnwick up to the outbreak of WW2. Alnwick up to the outbreak of WW2. out, the casting trimmed and polished and out, the casting trimmed and polished and Salmon and trout fly rods made by JA Salmon and trout fly rods made by JA fitted with a hardened steel spindle. Then fitted with a hardened steel spindle. Then Walker, Alnwick with their typical claret Walker, Alnwick with their typical claret all the brass and steel components - lever, all the brass and steel components - lever, wrappings and lock-fast ferrules were wrappings and lock-fast ferrules were pawl, adjuster screw, flat springs and pawl, adjuster screw, flat springs and retailed by the most renown dealers and retailed by the most renown dealers and straps - had to be cut out of raw metal, straps - had to be cut out of raw metal, are still very much sought after by are still very much sought after by shaped, drilled, tempered and fitted to the shaped, drilled, tempered and fitted to the collectors. The one I have however is collectors. The one I have however is casting. An alloy spool would be cut out by casting. An alloy spool would be cut out by definitely not a fly rod. The spacing and definitely not a fly rod. The spacing and lathe, shaped, drilled and fitted with lathe, shaped, drilled and fitted with design of the lined rings, a delicate reel design of the lined rings, a delicate reel spokes, handles, a check cog, and drum spokes, handles, a check cog, and drum seat above the slim handle points towards seat above the slim handle points towards and the release mechanism. It would have and the release mechanism. It would have this rod being a single handed trout this rod being a single handed trout taken Dingley over 27 working hours from taken Dingley over 27 working hours from spinning rod. It would have been designed spinning rod. It would have been designed putting the casting into the lathe to the putting the casting into the lathe to the specifically to be used with the newspecifically to be used with the newfinal polish of the finished reel. final polish of the finished reel. fangled threadline reels that were capable of casting light lures long distances. This type of outfit was highly controversial in the 1930s with many prominent anglers forecasting the demise of river trout due to the efficiency of spinning using what are now known as fixed spool reels. fangled threadline reels that were capable of casting light lures long distances. This type of outfit was highly controversial in the 1930s with many prominent anglers forecasting the demise of river trout due to the efficiency of spinning using what are now known as fixed spool reels. Many of Dingley’s reels have a distinctive ‘D’ stamped somewhere inside, but his designs and craftsmanship are even more recognisable, and you will find Dingley made reels branded by the top retailers of the day who could specify which design and finish they wanted for their reels that Many of Dingley’s reels have a distinctive ‘D’ stamped somewhere inside, but his designs and craftsmanship are even more recognisable, and you will find Dingley made reels branded by the top retailers of the day who could specify which design and finish they wanted for their reels that I also have a reel that shares the Walker / I also have a reel that shares the Walker / were then branded with their own trade were then branded with their own trade Alnwick history in that it was made in the Alnwick history in that it was made in the name. Each one of my old cane rods and name. Each one of my old cane rods and same building where young James Walker same building where young James Walker old reels has a story to tell, and I find old reels has a story to tell, and I find worked. The reel was made by William H. worked. The reel was made by William H. using rods and reels that have some using rods and reels that have some Dingley who was responsible for the Dingley who was responsible for the history far more satisfying than the history far more satisfying than the development of two of Hardy’s finest reels; development of two of Hardy’s finest reels; perfect, super smooth modern tackle that perfect, super smooth modern tackle that the ‘Perfect’ and the ‘Silex’. Dingley was the ‘Perfect’ and the ‘Silex’. Dingley was has little if any character. has little if any character.