• About The Tuesday Swim

the tuesday swim…

the tuesday swim…

Tag Archives: luke

The joy of engineering – The Hardy Altex

21 Thursday Feb 2013

Posted by The tuesday swim in Tackle

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

altex, british, fishing, Hardy, jack, luke, mark, no2, reel, v

Continuing on with the theme of  British craftsmanship in angling,  I move from artisan float builders to Jack Luke, the engineer.

Jack Luke was an employee of Hardy’s of Alnwick from 1936-1987, a man dedicated to his job and the reels that he made. Why am I interested in Jack Luke? Well, he built my Altex Mark V No2 fishing reel over fifty years ago, having his initials stamped on the reel would have added a sense of pride to the makers at Hardy, no mass manufactured reel could adhere to this level of craftsmanship.

Why do I like these Hardy reels over more popular reels like the Mitchell 300 or the Young’s Ambidex, although both still excellent reels? The Altex is an engineers reel, the spokes on the clutch control adjuster and the tiny anti-tangle wire bar that is fixed in the bail arm are all finished by hand using soldered parts. Every reel seems to have a ‘signature’ that you don’t get with the mass produced reels. Some find the Altex to be the ugly sister compared to the french curves of the Mitchell but I like the deco looks with its combination of burnished metals.

The question now, is it any good to fish with? Yes, its excellent, despite the spool being quite narrow the Altex can cast a long way with little effort and the line lay is extremely even. The bail arm is automatically closed from an internal pawl, this makes for a very smooth action as it is triggered close to the reels central spindle, needing less inertia to trip the bail arm. And talking of smooth, the Altex clutch is exquisite compared to the Mitchell 300, it is a pleasure to turn using the front four spoked brass adjuster.

Designed originally as a spinning reel for salmon (it was probably considered too expensive for the lowly coarse angler) but it has now become popular with traditional carp anglers mainly due to the fine clutch. I shall be using it with lines from 5lb to 12lb and for a wide range of fish including chub, tench, barbel, carp and pike. This year I’m keeping my angling more simple than ever before using just one fixed spool reel, the Altex and a few centre pins where suitable.

Hardy Altex Mark V No 2
Hardy Altex Mark V No 2

Hardy Altex Mark V No 2
Hardy Altex Mark V No 2

Hardy Altex Mark V No 2
Hardy Altex Mark V No 2

Hardy Altex Mark V No 2

Last night…

05 Wednesday Oct 2011

Posted by The tuesday swim in Reading

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

andrews, caught, charles, chris, evening, jennings, john, luke, rangeley, river, stag, wilson, yates

Last night, Caught by the River held an evening with John Andrews, Luke Jennings, Charles Rangeley-Wilson and Chris Yates at the Stag in Hampstead. As John said “welcome to the CBTR lounge” and that’s exactly what it was, friendly, funny and at times quite moving. The ‘four’ all distinct in their style of writing and delivery created an atmosphere similar to that of a fireside chat after a day on the river, reading favourite passages and telling tales of monsters, lost and found.

Luke, you better finish that book…

A Word on Water…

23 Friday Sep 2011

Posted by The tuesday swim in Reading

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

andrews, by, caught, charles, chris, club, dennis, hampstead, jennings, john, luke, pye, rangeley, river, social, stag, water, wilson, word, yates

For those in the area of Hampstead, four days into the traditional pike season, may want to ditch the floppy hat and instead stroll proudly, Dennis Pye cap set at a jaunty angle, into The Stag to hear John Andrews, Luke Jennings, Charles Rangeley-Wilson and Chris Yates, all in conversation. So put down your Chapman’s 700, detach your pike bung and gimp trace, roll up your shirt sleeves and enjoy a pint or two in some marvellous victorian surroundings…

The Thames Festival.

11 Sunday Sep 2011

Posted by The tuesday swim in Reading

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

2011, andrews, arcadia, berry, bridge, caught, festival, jennings, john, jon, luke, museum, river, southwark, thames

Yesterday The Tuesday Swim put on hold a planned trip to catch a Lea Navigation pike and instead joined a celebration of Old Father Thames on Southwark bridge.

Friends of the tuesday swim were in attendants, Caught by the River and Andrews of Arcadia. The Caught by the River stage had fish related tunes spun by Richard Norris while contributions came from Jon Berry, Luke Jennings and the rather aptly dressed John Andrews…

Luke and John both read tales of London pike as darkened grey clouds blew in to the Thames basin adding to the darkened mood of large Serpentine monsters, gazette floats and characters stalking the towpaths of London. John also read out a marvellous piece on the London roach pole, an example of which was on display in the Miniature Museum of Thames Angling. The Arcadia van was suitably dressed in Efgeeco canvas, possibly the first bespoke tailored van in history, the fine work that could have come from the London area of St James.

Luke Jennings, Jon Berry and John Andrews standing on Southwark bridge.

Plenty of familiar faces appeared throughout the afternoon, some good Horsham Ale and welsh cider was drunk while a few loose plans were made for some forthcoming autumnal fishing trips. Lets hope they become a reality…

Read about

  • Barbel
  • Carp
  • Fallon's Angler quarterly
  • General
  • General fishing
  • Music
  • Photography and video
  • Pike
  • Product reviews
  • Reading
  • Tackle
  • The Lea Valley

Instagram

Taking a few hours with Andrei Tarkovsky today, leaves you in a dream (or nightmare). Unsettling perhaps? Beautiful - definitely. Reassuringly unworldly? Oh yes. #andreitarkovsky #stalker
Off to the marshes #hackneymarshes
I’ve been here before but this is reassuringly familiar, an antidote to the boutique homogenous lifestyle that is rife in our city. Once it’s gone, it’s gone.
Watersmeet- Our current winter film set on the Hampshire Avon with @adamchetwood @kgparr link in my bio. Where to next? #anglingfilms #chubfishing
Watersmeet - Chub fishing on the Hampshire Avon, our new film for winter #hampshireavon #hampshireavonfishing #chub #fallonsangler #fishingfilms #winterfishing link in bio
A reunion on the Hampshire Avon. Our new film for Fallons Angler ready to view in time for Christmas. Friends, pints, and fishing #chubfishing #chub #fishingfilms #fallonsangler #hampshireavon
Surely it’s time for a perch?
Epping forest #eppingforest
The fading light plays a strong roll on us at this time of year. The Witching Hour film available to view, link in bio. #embracethedarkness
Next week I travel to France and begin filming a life in Normandy over one year. A man whos footprint on the planet has the lightest touch, where his life and the natural world sit side by side. #dustthefilm …
The Witching Hour our new film launching at midday today 15th October link in bio #fishingfilms #fallonsangler
Last week we spread my parents ashes on the South Downs. In life they were inseparable, so we did the honourable thing and mixed their ashes with our own hands, returned them to the chalk on the Sussex Downs at a geographical point between birth, life and death.
The Prince of Peace is dead, thank you for the musical and spiritual journey of my life. 1940-2022 #pharoahsanders
A quick over nighter by the river and under the stars with @fallonsangler_magazine for a new film. Packing light - bedroll, camera, drone and a Katsu Curry Pot Noodle or two. Film out in a fortnight. In the meantime please order our new issue of Fallons Angler capturing the bewitching hour. #autumnequinox #fallonsangler #fishingfilms #canonuk

Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com.

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
  • Follow Following
    • the tuesday swim...
    • Join 203 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • the tuesday swim...
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...