[Rob Brownfield]

Leading on from a couple of recent sales by GRHE, I decided to visit the B & W website for the first time in several years.

It openned my eyes a bit. They have some interesting rods for sale. One for Ben, two dedicated Tournament salmon rods designed purely for distance Spey casting in 15 and 18 foot. Not many companies can offer that. Added to that, they can be completely customised at the factory.

Next is twin tip Kola Spey rods. They come with two different rated tips.

Then they have several different models of spey rod designed for small rivers, floating line through to big rivers, sinking line and also a dedicated shooting head rod.

Whats more you can have your name on the rod, messages, custom colours, including bright pink! and so on.

I remember B & W being available off the shelf in Somers and what is now Turriff Tackle, and I once bought a 10 foot Multispin blank for under £60 and that was spot on.

its a pity there advertising, or lack of it, does not show what a truely adaptable, totally British and totally hand made in UK company they are.

[Hamish Young]

Until recently I had a B&W rod and had some dealings with the company.
From my discussions with them my interpretation is that essentially they've almost become a 'boutique' company. They do not seem to consider themselves to be in the bigger tackle market to the extent we 'the punters' might have seen them in the past - even as little as ten years ago.
When was the last time you heard of a B&W trout rod in a major review
It seems to me that specialist or bespoke market is their main aim these days, not the major player of the past.
H

[Ben Dixon]

Their website has had a major overhaul since I last looked.  The tournament rods are new as is the 14' shooting head rod.

Cheers

Ben

[Rob Brownfield]

Hamish,
Around 15 years ago B & W were producing some of the most advanced carp rods on the market. They had one, The Green Dragon, that was an out and out distance rod. It was constructed with a high Boron content and became a bit of a cult rod.

They also produced the Hexagraph carp rods for idiots like myself who liked the look and action of cane. I paid £200 for  mine, I see the same rod is now £970!!!! I am starting to wish I had bought 3!

To my mind I am amazed they are still in business and still producing unusual rods. Prices seem to have doubled and trebled and even quadrupeled for rods that were being made years ago and that have not been updated. That I find strange.

But on the other hand, I like the idea of an eccentric British firm producing one offs

[Ben Dixon]

Rob,

I'd be surprised if todays green dragon is the same as the rod made 15 years ago, B&W make running changes without letting on.  Most of their recent rods I have tried have been quite nice.

CHeers

Ben

[Rob Brownfield]

I was in Mortimers in Grantown at the weekend and they had some of the newer B&W salmon rods in. The handles were far removed from standard salmon handles, with the shape at the top buldging out to give a secure hand hold. They actually looked ultar modern when sat next to Guide/Hardy/Vision rids etc.

The finish was superb too!

[Derek Roxborough]

some one once tried to sell me a10 ft hexagraph, it was a nicely finished rod but it was so soft with reccomended line
I declined ,just didnt like the action, and a pal of mine bought one and was glad to almost give it away,just didnt seem to have any backbone, easgach1