Hardy C.C. de Fance

I mentioned in May that I had found this rod. I've only got around to taking some photos today as I was photographing the two Hardy reels earlier. These rods are hard to come by and when they do become available, they command the highest prices. This one was bought for just over £200.

2-piece 8 foot C.C. de France rod. (244cm), Serial Number: 51548 E, made in 1939.

"Palakona Regd. Tade Mark"

"The C.C. de France Rod"

The rod is in reasonable condition for it's age. It needs a good restoration to get it back to top shape and to back to the water. Some detail photos under natural light.

Hardy Marksman 5/6 Reel

Hardy Marksman Fly Reel
The ultimate river and in-close stillwater reel. It's blissfully simple. The unique spindle-less design with its large central bearing reduces weight and ensures the sensitivity needed for the finest tippets. The exposed rim and lightweight click-check give you precise control of a running fish.

Made in 2009 the #5/6 model, made from 6061 bar stock aerospace grade anodised aluminium.

• Spindle-less design reduces weight
• Large central bearing for ultra-smooth line release
• Lightweight, click‑check drag system
• Mid arbor construction minimises line memory
• High grade aluminium for lifetime service.
• Not recommended for saltwater use

Capacity (m): WF5+100 / WF6+82; Weight (oz/g): 4.83 / 137; Diameter (in/mm): 3.32 / 84.5

Hardy Sirrus Allwater No1 Reel

Hardy Sirrus Fly Reel
One of the last Hardy reels to be made in England, the Sirrus is lightweight, functional and as it is manufactured from the highest quality aircraft-grade barstock aluminium. The body is anodised to a durable silver-satin finish with black, polished aluminium components. The seven to eight weight is mid-arbor for faster line retrieval, less line memory and low start-up inertia.

The disc drag mechanism utilizes a one-way floating roller bearing that is fully interchangeable from left to right-hand wind. The handle features a tactile grip of black carbon fibre weave. The cageless design encourages quick and easy line changes whilst the raised, anti-snag reel seat removes the fear of any line tangle when that big fish runs.

Specs (this one pictured is the Sirrus Allwater No1):

Model	Line Weight	Bearings	Weight	Fly line capacity	Frame	Spool	Spool Width	Spool Diam.
Sirrus Allwater No1	7,8 wt.	1RB	6.73oz.(191g)	DT-7, 125yds/20lbs	AL	AL	1.06"(27mm)	3.545"(90mm)
Sirrus Allwater No2	9,10 wt.	1RB	8.25oz.(234g)	DT-9, 250yds/20lbs	AL	AL	1.28"(32.5mm)	3.93"(100mm)
Sirrus Allwater No3	11,12 wt.	1RB	8.64oz.(245g)	DT-11, 150yds/20lbs	AL	AL	1.28"(32.5mm)	4.13"(105mm)

Iconic rod

I have just bought the rod that I've been after for a few years! The iconic CC de France. Good that the rod destined for the Casting Club de France come back to France. More later when it arrives. Also another Walker Bampton from the same seller.

Hardy #7 "Graphite Smuggler Deluxe" 9'5" fly rod

The first easy-to-transport rod produced by Hardy was the Travellers' combined fly and spinning rod, made between 1956 and 1963. The 5-piece rod was made up of sections 26" long and it made up a 8'10" fly rod or 6'10" spinning rod with a thicker tip section.

The glass fibre Smuggler fly rod was introduced in 1969. The 4-piece rod sections were 26" long and it made up a 8' rod with the patented spigot ferrules connecting the rod together.

In 1981 carbon fibre replaced glass. Three Smuggler rods were produced: a 6-piece 7', a 7-piece 8'2½" and 8-piece 9'5".

This is the  #7 "Graphite Smuggler Deluxe" 9'5" fishing rod. SN: IKS89370. The rod was a little grubby when I bought it, but here it is after a wash.

The only issue with the rod is the end socket of the No.5 section (above right). It had been damaged at some point - perhaps whilst a previous owners was trying to get a stuck spigot ferrules out. The spigot ferrules shouldn't be stuck in too hard as they do jam up. Some candle wax applied to the spigot ferrules will help them hold whilst gently connected. Re-apply a little wax every couple of fishing trips.

I'll send the rod off to Hardy to see if it is worth getting the rod repaired in their customer services department. I'm sure that I could do it myself, but I don't have the right whipping thread and I'm sure my epoxy will come out differently. It will work, but it my not look as good as the original. Hardy must be geared up to fix this common problem.

I now have a very nice brand new dark blue 16" Hardy Cordura rod tube to keep this rod safe and sound for many years to come.

Seen on eBay - 9" Hardy Fortuna Reel

I saw this recently on eBay France - English collectors may have missed it. A massive 9" diameter Fortuna (For Tuna fishing) reel. These reels were made in the 1920s and 30s for game fishing in the North Sea when Tunny were fished off Scarborough. They were soon used all over the World wherever game fish were to be found.

Only 183 9" Fortuna reels were made from 1926 to 1939 and only 7 9" Monel metal Fortuna reels were made from 1935 to 1939.

On sale at a steep starting price of EUR 2,300.00 or approximately £2,036.14. Not sold yet (on the day of this blog post).
 
See the eBay listing here.

See Tunny fishing in Scarborough in the 1930's 

Get the book on Amazon: The Glory Days of the Giant Scarborough Tunny: The British Tunny Club, Hardy Bros. Tackle and Big Game Fishing in the 1930s

"The Richard" by Lee of Redditch

"The Richard" made by Lee of Redditch. It is 9'2" with a hexagonal section. Originally made in the 1960's, it was restored in 2008 and has a semi-parabolic action.

Worked on by a rod restorer in the Paris region (See his eBay store here: tophe512), this rod fished very well, so well in fact that I gave it to my Father together with a Hardy Viscount reel. Only the best for family. Hopefully he'll get it casting and catching some trout.

Click on the photos for slightly larger pics.

The Lost World of Mr Hardy

Am I loosing it? This morning I ordered a copy of The Lost World of Mr Hardy, the wonderful film made by Andy Heathcote and Heike Bachelier and published by Trufflepig Films. I browsed over a couple of the trailers found on the web. This afternoon, after some hard work outside, I thought about how impatient I was to get the DVD and the book I ordered (see post below), then it hit me like a bolt from the blue that I had seen the film before! I was sure that I actually owned a copy the film. I checked my DVD collection and there it was. After a bit of searching I discovered that I had bought it in October 2009 from Amazon. Anyway, I'll put it on tonight and get back into the mood of fly fishing. Take a look at the trailer:

The story...

Once upon a time, two brothers from a tiny town in the far north of England, set out to capture the hearts and minds of fishing maharajahs, film stars and royalty the world over...

“Mister Jim” is how the employees today address Jim Hardy, last of the family to work for Hardy's and now retired. Back in 1873, his Grandfather and his Great-Uncle Hardy opened their small shop in the far north of England. They were passionate fishermen and so they invented fishing tackle. The criteria: "Only the best is good enough."

With their skill, devotion, and innovative marketing they would conquer the world. Kings, Queens and Maharajahs adored them and the family firm of Hardy's has been synonymous with fishing ever since.

"Superb"
 Detroit Free Press

"Spectacular... I defy you to watch with a dry eye"
 Ken Russell THE TIMES

"The quality of this film is without equal"
 Flylife magazine

"Savour the glory... relish every minute."
 Fieldsports magazine

"Glorious & Beautiful"
 Trout & Salmon magazine

DVD is on sale at a reduced price. Get it at www.trufflepigfilms.com

The House the Hardy Brothers Built - James Hardy

The extraordinary history of the most famous fishing tackle manufacturer in the world. Written by James L. Hardy, the last of the family to have been involved with the firm, the book chronicles the rise of the business from its humble origins in a small shop in Alnwick in 1872 to its present position at the forefront of the industry. The success of the firm can be attributed largely to the entrepreneurial qualities of the Hardy brothers; but it was also due to the employees, many of whom were highly skilled.

This book will be of interest to anyone who owns a Hardy rod or reel but is also of value to those interested in the history of angling over the last century. In its coverage of the developments within the company, the book also encompasses the changes in technology and in consumer demand in the wider market. Extensive appendices taken from company records log rod and reel manufacturing dates and specifications (1883 -1983) as well as production figures, reel prices, patents used, trade registrations, reel makers (and the reels they worked on), and royal warrants. This book has been reprinted with minor amendments.

Published by Medlar in 2006.

Extent: 360 pages

Size: 216mm x 138mm

Binding: Hardback with dust-jacket

Illustrations: Monochrome throughout

Get it from The Medlar Press. (£25.00)

James Hardy is the last of a long line of Hardys involved in the firm his grandfather and great uncle founded over a century ago and is the last direct link between the company and the founding family. James is the son of one of the late joint Managing Directors, William Hardy.

After finishing his education at Uppingham in 1944, he served with the Derbyshire Yeomanry in North Africa and the 15th/19th King’s Royal Hussars in Palestine. In 1948 he undertook a special engineering apprenticeship with Vickers Armstrong in Newcastle-upon-Tyne before joining Hardys, where he spent a year ‘working at the bench’ and learning the ropes in various departments. He then studied work study engineering before setting up the company’s own Work Study Department. He joined the board in 1959 as Works Director and shortly after the firm was bought by the Harris and Sheldon Group was appointed Marketing Director.

Like all Hardys, he is a fervent and very knowledgeable fisherman, having been first introduced to the sport at the age of seven. A formidable competition caster, he won three Professional Casting Championships and took thirty-five British and Allcomers Professional Casting records.

He retired from the company in 1992, after forty-four years. He and his wife Gwynne, also a keen angler, live a few miles from Alnwick, in his beloved Northumberland countryside. They have two children, Roy and Rona.

Spring is here again and fly fishing is on the mind. I have bought this book, a Hardy Smuggler rod and I'm on the hunt for a matching reel.

The book I have is signed by James Leighton Hardy. A welcome addition to my little collection of fishing books.

I look forward to reading it.