Category Archives: The Thomas Turner Collector’s guide

Collecting, Ephemera & Misc., Rods, The Thomas Turner Collector's guide, Thomas Turner blog

Rare Rods – Something a Little Special at TT

Posted on by Matt Daymond
19
Aug

We love modern fishing rods at Thomas Turner. Modern materials and technology have given us rods that are lighter, stronger, faster in recovery and incredibly efficient to cast and fish with. There’s no denying the benefits of modern carbon. But every now and again, something comes through our doors that makes us sit back and appreciate […]

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Collecting, Ephemera & Misc., News & Events, Rods, The Thomas Turner Collector's guide, Thomas Turner blog

The London Roach Pole – A Forgotten Piece of Angling History

Posted on by Matt Daymond
22
Jul

Long before carbon fibre poles became a familiar sight on match waters, anglers relied on beautifully crafted London roach poles to fish with remarkable precision. Designed for gently lowering a float into position rather than casting, these elegant poles were the tackle of choice for roach anglers on rivers such as the Thames and the […]

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Collecting, General articles, The Thomas Turner Collector's guide, Uncategorized

If Dave Was Heading Trout Fishing This Weekend…

Posted on by Matt Daymond
01
Jul

When we listed a lovely leather and canvas fishing bag this week, it sparked a conversation in the office. Looking around the shelves at everything we currently have in stock, I asked Dave Townsend a simple question: “If you were heading off for a day’s trout fishing this weekend, what would you take?” Here’s what […]

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General articles, News & Events, The Thomas Turner Collector's guide, Thomas Turner blog

The Glorious 16th – A Tradition Like No Other

Posted on by Matt Daymond
Glorious 16th June
04
Jun

For generations of coarse anglers, few dates have carried quite the same significance as the 16th of June. After three months of river (and some lakes) close season, the dawn of the 16th signals a welcome return to flowing water, mist-covered meadows, early starts, and the chance of that first river-caught roach, chub, bream, or […]

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General articles, The Thomas Turner Collector's guide, Thomas Turner blog

A Thousand Tiny Flies… and a Thousand Questions

Posted on by Matt Daymond
20
May

Recently sent to us on commission was an extraordinary assortment of approximately 1,000 micro trout flies, arranged meticulously in a Richard Wheatley aluminium fly box. Tiny in scale but enormous in detail, the collection immediately captured our attention — not simply because of the quantity, but because of the obvious skill, consistency and thought behind […]

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Collecting, General articles, News & Events, The Thomas Turner Collector's guide, Thomas Turner blog

Abel by Name. Able by Nature.

Posted on by Matt Daymond
06
May

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 […]

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Collecting, Hardy, The Thomas Turner Collector's guide, Thomas Turner blog, Uncategorized

Hardy of Alnwick Salmon Flies: Signed, Sealed, Delivered

Posted on by Matt Daymond
22
Apr

There are moments in the life of a tackle dealer when something truly special arrives—pieces that stop you in your tracks, not just for their rarity, but for what they represent. This is one of those moments. We are delighted to present a newly listed collection of over 120 Hardy salmon flies, all dating to […]

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Collecting, General articles, The Thomas Turner Collector's guide, Thomas Turner blog, Uncategorized

The Zulu Principle: What Fishing Tackle Collectors Can Learn from Jim Slater

Posted on by Richard Hewitt
15
Apr

How specialist knowledge turns passion into expertise in vintage, retro, and antique fishing tackle. Some of you may remember Jim Slater, best known for Slater Walker, the asset-stripping firm he established with MP Peter Walker in the 1960s. Beyond the world of finance, however, he was also a devoted salmon fisherman. Slater purchased a number of prestigious […]

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Collecting, General articles, News & Events, Reels, Rods, The Thomas Turner Collector's guide, Thomas Turner blog

🎣 Introducing: Thomas Turner Tackle Tailoring™

Posted on by Matt Daymond
01
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. […]

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Collecting, News & Events, Rods, The Thomas Turner Collector's guide

B. James Split Cane Rods – Timeless Classics, Ready to Fish Again

Posted on by Matt Daymond
18
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 […]

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