16 Monday Apr 2012
Last weekend at the Angling Auctions in Chiswick, Jack Opie’s carp and rod went for a considerable sum of over £15,000 on the hammer! While the bids battled back and forth, the tuesdayswim was standing there holding the said rod that captured the leviathan. While packing the rod away after the event I noticed this…
Who was R.Opie?
11 Wednesday Apr 2012
Posted in Tackle
The carp fisherman of the 1950’s had different requirements to the usual float angler, the Oxo tin was the perfect size to take a selection of hooks, numerous weights and spools of line. Just like the carp scene now, fashions prevail, so once the Oxo tin was seen in a few Redmire photographs the tin and specimen hunter became common place on the water’s edge for another decade in search of Leney’s.
This season (2012/13) I’m trying the Oxo tin myself, aside from floats, it can take all my terminal items plus a torch and two bite alarms. My angling this year will be very much grab it while I can approach, one small bag, a net and a rod (maybe two).
Gerry Berth-Jones is sited here with what I believe to be an ‘Oxo’ set up and a ‘Pup’ tent also an essential part of my 1980’s carp outfit. Pre sun-lounger stuff, I believe.
03 Tuesday Apr 2012
Posted in Tackle
Tags
angling, antique, box, boxes, carp, fishing, john, nixon, old, redmire, seat, tackle, vintage, wooden
There was a time when the majority of the nations anglers were firmly sat on creaking willow but some had taken on the wooden seat box as an alternative, perfect for the river rover or carp stalker who requires the occasion resting perch.
I’ve seen an example of this box in a photo gracing the banks of Redmire in the 1950’s, if I can recall it may have belonged to John Nixon? So in homage to its pedigree my example contains the content of my 1980’s carping tackle, Les Bamford Optonics, monkey climbers, a pair of Cardinal 55’s, Zip leads, boxes of Nash hooks and old bubble floats.
With the removable tray and space for line winders down each side this could have be designed for earlier tackle or even for the sea angler? Until someone puts me straight on this I shall picture this in Willow Pitch with a motionless angler perched on top with a Ambidex and Hardy L R H No 2 in hand.
30 Friday Mar 2012
Posted in Tackle
Tags
angling, auctions, Berth, carp, cooper, fully, jack, Jones, King, May, opie, pool, redmire, scalled, son, taxidermy
In a couple of weeks the largest example of a carp set up by Cooper & Son will go under the hammer at Angling Auctions in Chiswick, West London.
The year was 1954 and the month September, Jack Opie had just arrived with his fishing companions Gerry and May Berth-Jones to find the Kefford brothers, Dick and Harry, leaving after a week-long session on the now famous pool. Opie asked Harry Kefford for permission to cast out into Redmire’s Willow Pitch where he had been fishing all that week and alas with no success. As Jack Opie helped the Kefford brothers to load up their car, his buzzer sounded and after a long drawn out fight the 27lbs 5ozs fish was safely netted. The following morning Gerry Berth-Jones asked the then Redmire owner Colonel Maclean if Opie could take the carp away to be mounted which he granted. The carp was taken to London and mounted with the inscription “King Carp, 27lb 5oz, Caught Redmire Sept. ‘54 by E.J. Opie”
Friday the 13th & 14th of April will possibly be the last chance to see this important piece of history unless of course you have between £5000 and £8000 or quite possibly a lot more? To view this splendid example and other angling items click here http://angling-auctions.co.uk. The Tuesday Swim shall be in attendants over the two days on the rod stand, and a report on the more unusual items in the auction will be winging its way back here to those who cannot attend.
