John Wilson Avon Quiver Deluxe/TFG Classic Rod - Need a 11ft 1.25lb rod

I'm after a couple of 11ft rods with something like a 1.25lb tip for general feeder work with bobbins for specimen "silvers"

Can anyone tell me if the latest version of the John Wilson Avon Quiver Delux rod is as good as claimed (this is the latest 11/13ft version) ??
Angling Direct have these on offer for £50 .... Does this cheap price reflect the quality, action, weight of rod & blank thickness etc.



A much longer shot, but does anyone have any feedback on the 1.2lb TFG Classic Specialist 11ft (also on offer £50) .......... or any of the TFG classic of rods ??

Rods are a very personal matter, I am sure that eventually some one will post on this thread to say that either or both of these rods are the best thing they ever used.
Ask yourself this question- why have the manufacturers reduced the price by half? Because no one is buying them! Not enough people are telling their mates how good they are.

I am heavily biased here, but the originol John Wilson rod is an awesome fishing rod and i still use mine regularly. I don't think I would buy the new version.

Have you had a look at the J W Young avon quiver? 'Great' British brand - made in the middle east (sadly) can be found for around £50 if you on-line shop. Even the truly expensive (but super quality) Hardy course fishing rods are built abroad...............

I personally don't think there will be much to choose between the different models. Avon top/quiver combination rods follow a proven design and if you looking to spend £50, they will all be of a similar quality - EXTREMELY good quality for the money!!!

If i was to break my J W Avon quiver (god forbid!!) I would try and replace with a good second hand version - not easy these days as they can go for for upto £60 - the same my Mum paid for mine nearly 12 years ag................

it was myself that reviewed the latest rod and seeing it against previous models that I have owned and my friends have owned, it appeared to be quite a good well made product. The rod in question was later won as a prize by Peter Crabtree, so maybe if he sees this thread, he can also comment.

the reason it is a little cheaper than the previous 11-13ft model is, I was told, because they found a new manufaturer. what that means is anyone's guess, but not necessarily that the product is any worse than its predecessor. I doubt that Masterline would risk their long established good name and reputation by selling something that is 'sub-standard', hence I believe the rod to be every bit as good as it ever was.

However, time will only tell.

I've taken a flier & gone for the TFG Classic 1.2lb. I wanted 3 in the end & stock was dwindling so bit the bullet as 11' for choice is limted. I have recently had some TFG carp rods & for the money they are fantastic rods that surpass others twice the price imo. Here's hoping these other rods are the same. Its a gamble but fingers crossed

That's interesting Woody, as I didn't think Masterline were involved anymore in the production of John Wilson rods?

Now I find it's MasterlineWalker Rovex..they'll have to start making 15foot rods to get it all on soon......


'Masterline - Home To All The Number One Brands'



I've now had the opportunity to have a waggle with a few different models of these rods and without doubt the first, green blanked, rod is the best..it has an amazing through action that is unique amongst all the carbon rods I have tried. This first rod had an all cork handle. Then they put on a half cork, half foam handle and some appalling 'graphite' reel clamps...which didn't work. Fortunately they can be changed for John Roberst Real Fits without dismantling the rod at all...you simply prize out the plug from the end of the foam and this allows it to deform enough to just get them off without damage.

Then they did a screwdown reel clamp which I haven't tried...here is one.....

Masterline John Wilson Avon Quiver Rod on eBay (end time 12-Mar-11 12:19:27 GMT)


£18!!!! Somebody had a right result there! Bu**er, why didn't I bid for that?

Then it all went wrong. They did a grey blank, with a 2 foot extension ...to take it to 13 feet. This is the rod with the three separate push in quivertips. It's a horrible stiff rod when compared to the original blank, even when you disregard the new screw-down reel seat that broke first time out, which they later fixed.


A fair rod as a quivertip I suppose, but a pale immitation of the original.


How good the newish Rovex rods are I don't yet know, I have yet to try one...but if they were as good as the original, I feel sure we would have heard about it by now. I hope they are an improvement on the grey ones.


I'm sure there are plenty of people out there with a grey one who are content with it. All I will say to them is this..just try and get a go with an old green one and you'll see what I'm on about, but you can't have mine!

"Then they did a screwdown reel clamp which I haven't tried...here is one"
Masterline John Wilson Avon Quiver Rod on eBay (end time 12-Mar-11 12:19:27 GMT)

Your not joking, taking a closer look at this £18 special, its actually appears to be a John Wilson Heritage WHR 110 Avon quiver. The photogragh does not do it justice, it does not show the burgundy blank, its a cracker, I`ve a couple of these, they are a much underated rod. Actually on par with the original JW Avon/quiver

As for the original posting, I`d go with the "original" JW Avon/quiver as mentioned by previous posters

rovex avon quiver deluxe

I've just bought one of these dispite some initial reservations. I wanted something for roach fishing but with the option of a slightly stiffer quiver than the other rods that I use for this discipline. I put off using it several times because I 'decided' I didn't like the chunky handle but having walked past several very seductive looking far bank swims because I wasn't properly equipped with my other rods I bit the bullet.

I am 'surprisingly' absolutely delighted. This is not to say that the rod is perfect in every configuration.
I cannot see myself using it at 13ft for instance because it feels somehow floppy and clumsy. However as an 11ft quiver rod it is superb, virtually indistinguishable in action from the original with the green blank (I also own one of these) though better in respect of the fact that it provides a choice of quivers. The 'chunky handle' has actually turned out to be one of the rods best features and after my initial misgivings I find it very comfortable.

I've now caught perhaps two dozen chub between 2 & 5lbs on the rod (the roach weren't having it), all on 1.7 or 2.6lb hooklengths and I haven't lost one yet, never felt as if I didn't have total control when playing any of these fish. Its better than some of the rods I own that have set me back three times the price.
I'm so impressed I'm getting another one.

Ah, now that is good to know, Tim. I'm pleased they appear to have got their act together again.


With the basic rod as cheap as £47 at some places I had wondered if it was another dodgy one. I recall paying almost £70 for my grey rod a few years ago.


Well done Masterline.

I've just rigged both the old (first) rod and the new one up with line to compare the actions.

Observations:
The older rod feels lighter in the hand but I'm sure this partly is an illusion caused by the chunky handle because when I held both rods in the middle I couldn't detect much of a difference.

The new rod is a tiny little bit stiffer (faster) above the middle joint probably to accomodate the stiffer quivertip supplied without producing a flat spot.
I prefer this as it makes the rod feel crisper. It also seems to make the rod more suitable for light lines. I knoticed when playing fish that the sensations were heightened, enabling me to respond by giving line. I'm certain I would have lost some of those chub I mentioned with the older rod.

With small 3000 to 3500 sized reels attached the new rod feels much better balanced.
I don't think it is as good as the original, I think it is better.

Strewth! High praise indeed.

By pure co-incidence I was playing with the butt section of a very rare cane rod last month. It's a two piece 11 and a half foot float rod that is hollow built in both the butt and unusually half of the tip section. It is rare because they all broke. Which is why I only have the butt section.

The length and action of the butt of this rod, the Aspindales Aero 894B, is near identical to the original Avon Quiver butt.

I did wonder if JW had ever fished with one?

I suspect the through action is needed to still protect your line when when fishing with the quiver tip, as you are effectively down to a nine foot rod once a fish is on.

Strangely I struggle to get on with this type of soft cane rod, like Wizards, Aeros, Avocets and Suredales, perhaps because the action is so slow. It does enable you to fish light and still land larger fish though, but with the JW rod it just feels right.


Nice to hear they've done it again at last.

They did do it before. JW did produce an Avon in the 80`s with a superb through action, it was the specialist Avon 1.25 (Three versions made). A full cork handle, a slimmer blank, no quiver section, cracking for chub and alike. It can take some stick & still does
At a later stage the Heritage Avon Whr 110, which also has a good through action.
The problem with the early original JW Avon’s, was that they were a tad more beefy than the rating given. Then again that’s no problem when trundling meat, touch ledgering etc. But the quiver tip section is still a cracker, probably around the 2oz rating.

I don’t think I would compare the early JW with the earlier cane rods, they`re two different beast. But I still don`t understand the prices some folk pay for the early JW`s.

michaels said:

They did do it before. JW did produce an Avon in the 80`s with a superb through action, it was the specialist Avon 1.25 (Two versions). A full cork handle, a slimmer blank, no quiver section, cracking for chub and alike. It can take some stick & still does
At a later stage the Heritage Avon Whr 110, which also has a good through action.
The problem with the early original JW Avon’s, was that they were a tad more beefy than the rating given. Then again that’s no problem when trundling meat, touch ledgering etc. But the quiver tip section is still a cracker, probably around the 2oz rating.

I don’t think I would compare the early JW with the earlier cane rods, they`re two different beast. But I still don`t understand the prices some folk pay for the early JW`s.

Click to expand...

I have the wilson avon specialist with just the avon top and a screw in top eye to add a swing tip or quiver tip. Although it's stated to be 1.25 test it's actually rated to 8lb mono where as the avon quiver is rated to 6lb (wierd really). I think the butt blank on the two is about the same thickness but the avon quiver the top section is definatly thinner. I must addmitt the through action on these older rods is second to none.

michaels said:

JW did produce an Avon in the 80`s with a superb through action, it was the specialist Avon 1.25 (Two versions). A full cork handle, a slimmer blank, no quiver section, cracking for chub and alike.

Click to expand...

I had two of these bought new in the 90s, about 1994/5. Beautiful rods, but one met an untimely end when I put them in the car one day and caught the tip somewhere. The sudden compression smashed it like pot.

I had one fantastic night catching bream to 8lbs on a lake with them and must have had over 24 fish. I did get another tip, but moved on to get a pair of Daiwa Powermesh and sold the Avon Specialists. It often makes me wonder if I actually gained anything.

Blimey I`m a sad one Tigger, just before the rugby gets underway, I`ve got out the rods and measured just above the whippings were the retaining clip is situated.
The Older of the two specialist Avons is 13.02mm, the newer is 11.04mm and the classic Avon quiver is 14.14mm......
But as stated the through action is just sublime on the older versions.