The cult of the John Wilson Avon.

sam vimes · Jun 8, 2011

Why is the John Wilson Avon so revered? Am I the only one that just doesn't get it? I had, probably still have somewhere, one of the original part duplon handled jobs and thought it was terrible. Not light enough in the quiver for smaller stillwater fish and not quite man enough for any rivers I fish. I seem to remember standing on the butt many years ago and hardly batting an eyelid. Considering some of the junk gear I've managed to form a bizarre emotional attachment to I'm amazed that it left me so cold.

What am I missing?

Does it owe an awful lot to the fact that it featured so heavily in Go Fishing?

stikflote · Jun 8, 2011

No, never did like it myself, and my mate who bought one could not get a reel to fit ,we tried no end of different reels on it in the finish, Masterline sent him a new butt section, he asked me if i wanted a couple weeks ago, i said no thanks,and i believe it was given to a young lad fishing with his dad for first time

chav professor · Jun 9, 2011

It is legendary!!! For one thing, I own a number of expensive rods (including drennan super Specialists) in my opinion the action of the originol green blank is perfect for chub fishing on the sorts of rivers I fish and nothing else comes close.

The rod guides are cheap and not fantastic - but this does nor seem to effect the rod in any way. the lack of a screw reel seat is fine when you get used to it.

I prefer a single quiver rather than a load that can get lost - it is fine for roach, chub and has landed river carp to 16lb... It is by far my favourite Chub rod. Someone offered me one last year and I was stupid not to take them up on the offer.

Its got John wilson writtten on the blank!! what more could you want????

Perhaps I am weird - apart from my cane rods (they can't count on this discussion - and no, that is not an oportunity for you to be rude about them

), my second favourite rod is a D.A.M. 7ft Winkle picker - because it does the job i want it to perfectly.

watatoad · Jun 9, 2011

chav professor said:
It is legendary!!! For one thing, I own a number of expensive rods (including drennan super Specialists) in my opinion the action of the originol green blank is perfect for chub fishing on the sorts of rivers I fish and nothing else comes close.

The rod guides are cheap and not fantastic - but this does nor seem to effect the rod in any way. the lack of a screw reel seat is fine when you get used to it.

I prefer a single quiver rather than a load that can get lost - it is fine for roach, chub and has landed river carp to 16lb... It is by far my favourite Chub rod. Someone offered me one last year and I was stupid not to take them up on the offer.

Its got John wilson writtten on the blank!! what more could you want????

Perhaps I am weird - apart from my cane rods (they can't count on this discussion - and no, that is not an oportunity for you to be rude about them), my second favourite rod is a D.A.M. 7ft Winkle picker - because it does the job i want it to perfectly.

hehehe...how can anyone be rude about cane rods none of them would be fishing now if it was not for the steady advances made through cane rods, they would still be using yew branches...hehehe... or is it just crazy old Toads like me that appreciate cane rods - solid - split or built - tonkin - greenheart...great rods of yesteryear. I still use a cane rod now and again and built myself a new split cane rod just a few years ago, yes I did it from solid canes cutting and shaping, told you I was a crazy Toad. Though due to health and weight to get to the river/water side I have to usually use a modern more lightweight rod. I still have a brand new unused D.A.M. quickstick

But Wilson rods I never did like them always seemed to miss the very target of what they were suppose to be designed to hit.

S-Kippy · Jun 9, 2011

IMO the original Wislon was a great rod....largely because there was nothing else quite like it around at the time.Rubbish rings,rubbish reel fitting and with the Avon top on quite unbelievably awful BUT in its fixed quiver configuration a very versatile rod. I used mine for years for everything from roach,chub & barbel on rivers to chucking a method feeder for carp. It did all that more than competently and was a lovely rod to play fish on....probably best as a chub rod which is not surprising given its origins.

But I didn't like what it became and other,better rods appeared. Mine is in the shed dreaming of past glories. It needs a complete strip down and refurbishment & frankly I cannot be ar$ed to do it. Mine will never get used again.

Its like the Mitchell 300....great in its time but that has long since passed.That said I still think it qualifies as a "great" rod...just not any more.

Alan Tyler · Jun 9, 2011

In its day, it was the heir apparent to the MkIV Avon, but with an extra foot of reach, or the Wallis Super Wizard minus the tendency to sprain your wrist if you tried anything so foolhardy as striking at bites. It could do anything, moderately well. It still can.
Nowadays, specialised rods at pocket-money prices mean we all have a wallful of one-job wonders, each of which could blow the Wilson away within its own particular field; but if you are forced to take just one rod to an unknown water - the holidaying angler springs to mind - then what is the "Go to" rod that will cope with anything from gudgeon to pike?
It's got to be something based on the progressive action of the Nottingham pattern, hasn't it?
Your favourites? I like cane; I might take my Harcol, especially as it's a three-piece and packs up small; but if i had room, it would have to be the Wilson. Just in case there are scary great carp. I should hate to knacker the Harcol, but you could hang the dictator of your choice from a Wilson without inflicting more harm on it than a bruised cork, maybe a bent guide.

P.S. Fashion victim note: An' it's GREEN!!!

the indifferent crucian · Jun 9, 2011

I think you have to remember that there are a number of versions of this rod. In my opinion they got worse as time went on, but the first two versions, all cork handle and part cork/part duplon had a fine blank with an extraordinary 'through' action. As an Avon, and remember no one had done this before, it handled big fish well, and as a spliced-in quivertip it was great for small feeder work. It sold so well that every other manufacturer went out and blatantly copied it.

It was spoilt only by the 'graphite' reel clamps on the cork-duplon model that often let your reel fall of the rod!

These are easily replaced with a pair of John Roberts 27mm Reel-Fit clamps. All you need to do is pull the bung out the end of the duplon, it is only lightly glued in. This allows the duplon to deform enough to get the old reel clamps off and the new ones on before re-gluing the bung back in.

I've just spent a few days with mine quiver-tipping for carp with a lump of meat in the margins at a famous Devon fishery. It was the only method working and it was so nice to use the rod and not worry about the reel.

With the Avon top on I tried out in deeper water with a few boilies...truly an all-round rod.

Then they did the push in quivertips with a choice of three and it all went downhill. I did use my push-in one the other day chucking a two ounce lead with the Avon top on. I was forever watching the screw-down reel seat to see if it was going to crack again.

Lord Paul of Sheffield · Jun 9, 2011

For a 1 rod holiday rod - it's a great all rounder - even better get the travel version

Dave Slater · Jun 9, 2011

I totally agree with The Indifferent Crucian. The original version was very good apart from the reel fittings which, as said, could be replaced easily. I caught many good fish on these rods. The later versions were truly awful in my opinion.

itsfishingnotcatching · Jun 9, 2011

Lord Paul of Sheffield said:
For a 1 rod holiday rod - it's a great all rounder - even better get the travel version

Got the travel version, easily packed, well protected and from my limited experience, it seems to do exactly what it says on the label. Would also say that when SWMBO managed to break the tip section

mg:

mg: Masterline sent a replacement within five days.

904_cannon · Jun 9, 2011

I bought the full cork handle rod c1989 and haven't used it for about 20 years.
As has already been said rubbish reelfits and rings, and the middle/lower sections locked up with a big-ish fish on.

My GP 1lb-02oz with put over quiver was a far better rod. I couldn't afford the GP Avon and standard barbel quiver at the time I bought the JW rod.

Interestingly (or not) I later had a 'Seer' rod built by Andy Orme and he used similar cr&p reelfits, but even worse, as used by Masterline on the JW Avon.

How you doing Dave, still catching?

Alan Tyler · Jun 9, 2011

Rose-coloured glasses alert - mine is the old Masterline version with the full cork handle.

It's a bit like the saga of the Super Tench rod, isn't it?

tigger · Jun 9, 2011

I have the slightly older version ( I think the second version with a half cork half duplon handle) and as has been said already I think the guides are rubbish(even though they work perfectly well, just their appearance really) but I have to be honest and find as a through action blank it's as good as it gets imo of course. I have the specialist version with the full cork handle which has better guides and again a fantastic through action...both of them show no signs of locking up and bend straight through into a full loop.

chav professor · Jun 9, 2011

I would love a blank that is in need of TLC! I wouldn't touch my originol, but add a decent reel seat, some fuji rings and i think I would have the perfect chub rod IMO..... anyone out there prepard to shift an old JW Avonn quiver with the half duplon handle and green blank - in exchange for magic beans (might even stretch to some real money) - I await your PM's...............

Dave Slater · Jun 9, 2011

Hi John
Still catching a few, as I hope you are. I am currently fishing for bream, crucians and tench on different waters. Later on I will move on to barbel and carp, leaving my chub fishing until later in the season. I must have a serious go for an Avon 'eight' to go with my Stour fish as Uncle Bill has now caught 'eight's' from both rivers.

Chav Professor
The green blank with the half cork, half duplon handle was what I used for my chub, and sometimes roach and barbel, fishing for many years. I had two of them and they served me very well. They were superb chub rods and the action was ideal. They also handled barbel to over 13lb well.

Must go now as I am just off on a bream session and my friend has just phoned to let me know he has secured the best swim on the pit for us.

Lord Paul of Sheffield · Jun 9, 2011

chav professor said:
I would love a blank that is in need of TLC! I wouldn't touch my originol, but add a decent reel seat, some fuji rings and i think I would have the perfect chub rod IMO..... anyone out there prepard to shift an old JW Avonn quiver with the half duplon handle and green blank - in exchange for magic beans (might even stretch to some real money) - I await your PM's...............

I have once that I bought in 2006 or 2007 but it was from Calcotts in Sheffield so I'm not sure how lon it had been in the shop - top bit of handle is duplon rest cork - is this the type yo are looking for - not sure I'd sell though unless the money was right/good

Paul H · Jun 9, 2011

Love my full cork handled Wilson bought around 2005/06 ish.

I have enjoyed fishing with it and still do, in fact it last went into service at a local tench lake only two weeks or so back.

I have caught some memorable (for me) fish with my Wilson (signed on the cork with excellent good grace and a smile by the man himself at Go Fishing).

It may not be as good as a decicated avon or a dedicated quiver or a dedicated 11ft rod or a dedicated 13ft rod, but it does a damn good job of being the most versitile rod in my collection.

The bad one · Jun 9, 2011

Paul H said:
Love my full cork handled Wilson bought around 2005/06 ish.

I have enjoyed fishing with it and still do, in fact it last went into service at a local tench lake only two weeks or so back.

I have caught some memorable (for me) fish with my Wilson (signed on the cork with excellent good grace and a smile by the man himself at Go Fishing).

It may not be as good as a decicated avon or a dedicated quiver or a dedicated 11ft rod or a dedicated 13ft rod, but it does a damn good job of being the most versitile rod in my collection.

Agree Paul had mine since about 2005. Great small river ledger chub rod at 11ft. Has the ability at 13ft to trot for chub with a big chubber float. The quiver top section is great for for feeder fishing for bream up to 5lb at close to medium range. The 11 ft Avon comes into its own as a perch rod fished on the bite alarms.

Landed both barbel and carp into double figure on mine by accident when fishing for the above species.

If i'm going for a pleasure maggot session with no particular species in mind, it's always the rod I reach for for the tip work.

mark brailsford 2 · Jun 9, 2011

will allways remember being talked into buying a JW in bennets about 20 years ago as the assistant said that they are fine river rods (well, they never had much choice anyway!!) and when I got it home 5 of the rings had the lining missing! Well, took it back and never looked at one since.

mark

the indifferent crucian · Jun 9, 2011

john m h said:
I bought the full cork handle rod c1989 and haven't used it for about 20 years.
As has already been said rubbish reelfits and rings, and the middle/lower sections locked up with a big-ish fish on.

My GP 1lb-02oz with put over quiver was a far better rod. I couldn't afford the GP Avon and standard barbel quiver at the time I bought the JW rod.

Interestingly (or not) I later had a 'Seer' rod built by Andy Orme and he used similar cr&p reelfits, but even worse, as used by Masterline on the JW Avon.

How you doing Dave, still catching?

Some confusion here, surely....

Masterline have never used John Roberts Reel Fits, though they should have! Reel Fits have been used by many bespoke makers, including Jill Orme and Paul Boote.

The all cork handle rod that is the 'first version' has a green blank with dark brown whippings with gold tipping.Then they added the half cork handle with silly 'graphite' ( that's what it said on them) reel clamps. That's the second version, same blank as the first.

Then there is version three, green blank but with three push in tips, not a very nice rod. Then version four, grey blank, push in tips and a screw down reel clamp that split, quickly replaced by version four a, with a better reel clamp.

Now there is version five, back to green again, three push in tips.

There is also version six a five piece travel rod.

On top of this ther were versions in the Signature series, two of them I think and one in the Heritage series( maroon blank)

That's not mentioning the original 11 foot quiver rod with no Avon top.

A cork handle rod from this century is not the same as a first version.

The cult of the John Wilson Avon.

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