There are fly reels… and then there are Abel reels. For decades, Abel Reels have occupied a unique place in the world of fly fishing — combining exceptional engineering with distinctive American craftsmanship and some of the finest finishes ever applied to a reel. Built in California and admired worldwide, Abel reels have become as […]
Category Archives: News & Events
28
Apr
Apr
From the earliest days of transatlantic trade, British tackle has held a special place in American angling. Names like Hardy, Farlow’s, and Allcock have long been associated with craftsmanship, heritage, and a certain understated quality that continues to resonate today. It’s something we see daily—whether it’s a finely made split cane rod, a classic reel, […]
Collecting, General articles, News & Events, Reels, Rods, The Thomas Turner Collector's guide, Thomas Turner blog
🎣 Introducing: Thomas Turner Tackle Tailoring™
01
Apr
Apr
Following our annual stocktake (and a week spent rediscovering some truly exceptional pieces), one thing became clear — anglers don’t just want great tackle… they want their tackle. So, we’re pleased to introduce a new in-house service: A bespoke finishing service designed to bring a new level of personalisation to rods, reels and accessories. […]
Collecting, News & Events, Rods, The Thomas Turner Collector's guide
B. James Split Cane Rods – Timeless Classics, Ready to Fish Again
18
Mar
Mar
We’ve recently listed a superb selection of B. James & Son split cane rods, including some particularly fine examples of the iconic Richard Walker MKIV and Avon models from the 1950s–60s. These rods represent a golden era of British angling—beautifully crafted from split cane, with a progressive action that still feels incredibly relevant on the bank […]
General articles, News & Events, Rods, The Thomas Turner Collector's guide, Thomas Turner blog
In the Nymph of Time: Perfecting Your Drift
11
Mar
Mar
Pick up any European fly-fishing magazine this month and there will be an article on nymph fishing. ‘Czech nymph’ fishing has become one of the most effective techniques in modern European-style fly fishing. Developed by competitive anglers in Central Europe, it focuses on presenting weighted nymphs close to the riverbed where trout and grayling feed most […]
Collecting, General articles, News & Events, The Thomas Turner Collector's guide, Thomas Turner blog, Uncategorized, Wanted
Not Quite a Bonanza, but an Encouraging January for TT
04
Feb
Feb
January has been a remarkably encouraging month for us here at Thomas Turner. Despite the ongoing challenges of exporting to the USA—particularly tariffs affecting aluminium and steel—we’ve seen a sharp rise in trade. Our January Sale certainly helped, but there were also several exceptional individual sales. The standout highlight was the sale of a 2½” […]
Collecting, Ephemera & Misc., News & Events, The Thomas Turner Collector's guide, Thomas Turner blog
Major Albert Smalley – inventor of the elder pith float?
19
Dec
Dec
Within the remarkable Peter Wheat collection—much of which has yet to be catalogued—are a number of fascinating elder pith floats made by Major Albert Smalley. Peter Wheat has written extensively about both these floats and Smalley himself, in Angling magazine and in The Pelham Manual of River Coarse Fishing. The assertion that Major Smalley was the inventor of […]
03
Dec
Dec
As we approach Christmas — a season of goodwill and reflection — I wanted to highlight one of our most precious yet often overlooked natural resources: our freshwater fish. In an age of increasing pollution, excessive water extraction, and growing predation pressures, many UK fish populations face enormous challenges. That’s why I was proud to help […]
Collecting, General articles, Hardy, News & Events, The Thomas Turner Collector's guide, Thomas Turner blog
When Gothenburg Called: The Story of an Extraordinary Collection
19
Nov
Nov
Every day I scan through the various collections offered to us via our online “Sell to Us” forms. Much of it is fairly routine, but one recent submission from Gothenburg immediately caught my imagination: “Would you be interested in purchasing 40 Hardy and Bruce & Walker rods, 40 Hardy reels including Perfects and Gold Sovereigns, […]
Collecting, General articles, Hardy, News & Events, Reels, The Thomas Turner Collector's guide, Uncategorized, Wanted
Hardy Gold Sovereign Reels – Still Reigning Supreme
12
Nov
Nov
Few modern Hardy reels have achieved the same cult following as the Gold Sovereign series. First introduced in the late 1980s and running through the 1990s, these reels represented Hardy’s dedication to precision engineering and luxury finish at a time when traditional craftsmanship was meeting modern technology. Available in both trout and salmon sizes, the […]