[Gardener]

Spent a pleasant few hours on the banks of the Thames today at the inaugural London Spey meet.

I forgot to bring out the camera until rather late in the day, but here are a couple of pictures for you. The next gathering is provisionally scheduled for September.

 

[Willie Gunn]

Charlie
The pictures arn't working.

 

[Gardener]

Thanks Malcolm; that's strange as I'm seeing them no problem. Anyway, here are the links:

http://tinypic.com/2nol86

http://tinypic.com/2nolrd

 

[juro]

Nice job Gardener!

Here's a bit of trivia (or is it a trival bit)... I lived in Blackheath, London as a child for a short time while my Dad worked at Oxford. The English good manners didn't rub off me I guess :saevilw:

Seriously, that looks like a great spot for a clave.

 

[Willie Gunn]

Charlie working now, not a lot of tweed to be seen, and not a fore and aft in sight

 

[Dana]

that's cool! who all was there that we'd recognize from their speypages usernames?

 

[Gardener]

Dana, I think the only speypages member in that shot is **** Bell, the man behind Bloke rods, who is in the cap to the right of picture. Can't remember his user name here, and he was saying he hadn't visited for a bit. Otherwise the event was organised by 'Sagefly' who posts here occasionally, but I think that by the time I remembered the camera he was probably already in the pub! As Juro says, it was a good spot to choose as there was easy access and we could have crossed the bridge to cast from the other side if we wanted to try casts with opposite hands. The fact that there was a rather pleasant riverside pub immediately behind us had nothing to do with the choice of location, obviously! The only slight downside was the presence of quite a few rowing crews (you can see someone launching a sculler in the background of the first picture). That said, there was one ladies four whose cox was obviously something of a novice and couldn't help getting very close to us, which added to the attraction!

Incidentally, in case anyone is looking askance at that wave in Corin's D-loop in the first picture, I should point out that he was casting a 15' Grant Vibration greenheart at the time, which might have something to do with it.

 

[harry jamieson]

London spey clave

Hi Gardener,
You mention one person was using a Grant V rod, its a Grant rod if it has drop rings and no cork, if it has snake and cork it is a Playfair, made in Aberdeen.
Best regards,
Harry at Clan

 

[Gardener]

Harry, it has snakes and has a cork handle, so no doubt it was made by Playfair. But the splices all are stamped 'Grant Patent' and numbered. I've seen a number of rods like this and have always heard them referred to as Grant Vibrations. Are you saying this terminology is incorrect? Didn't Playfair continue to market the rods as 'Grant Vibrations' after they bought Grant's designs?

Charlie

 

[EskimoR]

That doesn't look like the Thames River we tourists see - by Tower Bridge or the Millenium Wheel!

I was in London on Sunday but not knowing about this event, I went on the Old Soho Pub Walk. My arms tossed some Guiness instead.... :devil:

 

[harry jamieson]

London spey meeting

Hi Charlie,
Yes the Grant stamp and number continued long after Grant sold his patent, in fact he held the patent on the splice and the drop rings, I have a copy of the splice papers.
Regarding the cork, or lack off, He did not like the masking of the action the greenheart produced and any torgue from the wood, in fact I beleave the torgue is a big part of his ability to throw very long lines.
I hope to start reproducing his rods again, as I have all the micro measurements from the Grant rods held by the Inverness museum, can you imagine working a greenheart and 50 yard silk line on the Thames this summer.

Tight lines,
Harry at Clan.

 

[fredaevans]

Great Photo's; only wish there were more.

As a regular poster on the UK board, could you identify whose who?
Fred

 

[Gardener]

Fred, in the group picture reading from the right you have Mark Anderson from Orvis (not a forum user), **** Bell (Bloke), FliBri, Chris, RichardB and (I think) Guinea. The guy casting is Corin4. I'll try to get more pictures at the next meet.

Harry, I'd be interested to try a 21' greenheart. More importantly, I'd love to try a big silk line. It seems to me that there is some considerable advantage to be gained in the distance casting game from a silk line, as compared to a less aerodynamic plastic floater, so long as it is well enough greased to pick up cleanly. You would certainly be welcome at future events if you felt like making the long trip south; getting manufacturers represented so people can try out new stuff is one of the objects.

Eskimo, the bridge in the background is Chiswick Bridge, about 8 miles as the crow flies from the Millennium Wheel. The river is still tidal at this point, and in fact the wall that you can see to the right of the group picture was entirely submerged a few hours after these were taken. But at low tide there is good firm shingle on both banks. You would of course have been welcome, but I hope you had a pleasant day exploring the delights of Soho!

Malcolm, sorry about the lack of tweed, but when in Rome and all that. And rather than a fore-and-aft, here's what the well dressed urban fisherman is wearing this year:

http://tinypic.com/4glzj8

 

[Willie Gunn]

Malcolm, sorry about the lack of tweed, but when in Rome and all that. And rather than a fore-and-aft, here's what the well dressed urban fisherman is wearing this year:

http://tinypic.com/4glzj8

Oh dear oh dear oh dear, did you not explain to them that D loops form much better when properly dressed.

A baseball hat is not properl attire for fishing more suitable for playing rounders or what ever.