dezza
Well-known member
Mention the word "traditional" and it conjures up all sorts of visions of the past. Centrepin reels, quill floats, cane and wooden rods, plaited silk lines, greaves, bullocks pith and brains, creed wheat, tweeds, Norfolk jackets, Kelly kettles, bicycles, Peter Crabtree freezing his poor little nuts off dressed in a pair of shorts in the middle of winter, Chris Yates?
But other than Chris Yates, are the items I have mentioned really traditional in relation with the times when they were in regular use?
They certainly were not - I had to wear shorts too.
Return to the times of JW Martin or Henry Coxon. Was the use of split cane traditional? If you study the matter carefully you will find it was pretty revolutionary. And were there traditionalists around in those days muttering about the Coxon's latest Aerial centrepin reel being unfair on the fish?
Not a damn!
If you read the writings of Martin, Coxon, Bailey and even later: Bazley, you will discover that these guys were streets ahead of even today's traditionalists, and to be honest, in their day, there were no such things as traditionalists!
Jump aboard Tardis and give Martin the latest carbon rod, and he would chuck his bamboo, greenheart and hickory creations into the nearest skip!
Wouldn't he?
The protestations and pontifications of some of today's traditionalists make me laugh out loud!
What about you?
But other than Chris Yates, are the items I have mentioned really traditional in relation with the times when they were in regular use?
They certainly were not - I had to wear shorts too.
Return to the times of JW Martin or Henry Coxon. Was the use of split cane traditional? If you study the matter carefully you will find it was pretty revolutionary. And were there traditionalists around in those days muttering about the Coxon's latest Aerial centrepin reel being unfair on the fish?
Not a damn!
If you read the writings of Martin, Coxon, Bailey and even later: Bazley, you will discover that these guys were streets ahead of even today's traditionalists, and to be honest, in their day, there were no such things as traditionalists!
Jump aboard Tardis and give Martin the latest carbon rod, and he would chuck his bamboo, greenheart and hickory creations into the nearest skip!
Wouldn't he?
The protestations and pontifications of some of today's traditionalists make me laugh out loud!
What about you?
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