Introduction:
Thomas Turner originally a prestigious gunsmith founded in 1838, is a brand now recognised for their expertise and great service in the world of collectable rods and reels. The team at Thomas Turner are only too aware that much sought-after items are often hard to find, to the extent there are not always enough to meet demand. A classic example can be seen with Hardy Marksman coarse rods, which were launched in 2006. They became very sought after, but production stopped when Hardy returned to being a game fishing only brand. This was despite the second Marksman Supero generation winning the European Fishing Tackle Trade Association Best New Rod award in 2011, along with Angling Times Best Specialist Rod award in 2012. There is now a strong second-hand market in the rods and often rods are changing hands for more money than they originally retailed for. Modern Classics indeed!
In view of the demand for these high modulus rods, Thomas Turner approached the well-known anglers who were involved with them from the beginning. John Bailey who came up with the concept and Dave Coster who designed the later models. Both were more than happy to continue the journey as there was an opportunity to improve on these high-performance blanks even more. Latest nano carbon technology makes rods lighter, faster in action and even stronger. That’s exactly what has been achieved with the new range of Thomas Turner Classic+ rods. There are state-of-the-art float, quivertip, traditional Avon and bomb rods to begin with. The first samples have already hugely impressed highly experienced anglers who have had the privilege to try them out. Interest has been so good, additions to the range have already been ordered for field testing.
Although they can be used anywhere, Dave Coster describes the new range as high performance “Big Boy” rods. Rods designed with natural venues in mind, featuring beautiful actions, a classic finish and crafted for discerning anglers. They all come with custom made rod sleeves and protective cordura tubes, hard wearing and smooth-running high-tech ceramic lined guides and top-grade cork handles. The blanks themselves are super high modulus nano carbon, a big advancement on standard prepreg carbon used in cheaper rods, resulting in better stability, greater flexibility and faster recoil. These significant advancements make fishing with them an even more pleasurable experience.
The Current Range:
Thomas Turner Classic+ 10ft BOMB ROD
Designed with finesse in mind for winkling out bites when the fishing is hard, or those occasions when big fish are proving just plain difficult to catch. This super lightweight and slim blank has enough backbone to flick out light to medium leger weights, or small feeders with up to 20g loadings. A generous four solid carbon quivertips cover wide-ranging requirements with their 3/4oz, 1oz, 1.5oz and 2oz ratings. But where this superb rod really comes into its own is with its surprising strength, combined with a lovely through action, which comfortably cushions light tackle against the lunges of bigger fish. During testing John Bailey landed a sizeable barbel from a raging big river slack, while Dave Coster targeted specimen sized roach from stillwaters and big chub from smaller streams with no problems, just absolute delight in using such an awesome featherweight wand of a rod.
Weight (with a quivertip installed) 147g. Action: Through. Recommended Casting Load: up to 25g. Reel Line Rating: 3lb to 6lb. Hook Length Rating: 1.0lb to 5lb.
Thomas Turner Classic+ 12ft QUIVERTIP
A two-piece design, having equal lengths when a quivertip is installed. This allows convenient pre-tackling, with a generous choice of four solid carbon and super sensitive quivertips. As with the Thomas Turner Classic+ Bomb Rod, the latter have versatile 3/4oz, 1oz, 1.5oz and 2oz test curve ratings. Designer Dave Coster classes this 12-footer as a true all-rounder, equally at home launching feeders good distances on bigger lakes, gravel pits and reservoirs, as it is casting heavier models on powerful rivers. It’s a rod with plenty of progressive action, allowing light lines to be used with it, if required. The responsive blank comfortably casts out all types of feeders with loadings up to 50g, and of course can be used for straight leger tactics as well. This exquisite rod has enough lower spine to aid accurate casting and gain good fish control, while bending beautifully into anything big, absorbing the most powerful of lunges.
Weight (with a quivertip installed) 189g. Action: Progressive. Recommended Casting Load: up to 50g. Reel Line Rating: 4lb to 8lb. Hook Length Rating: 1.5lb to 7lb.
Thomas Turner Classic+ 13ft FLOAT
Exceptionally light and well-balanced in the hand, this wonderful float rod can be held all day, whether punching out a waggler on stillwaters or running a stick float through on rivers. It’s a joy to use, crisp when mending or sinking the line and super-fast when hitting bites. But where this model really surprises is the way it can handle big fish, never wanting to lock up, thanks to its state-of-the-art nano carbon construction. During extensive testing some whopping river chub were landed on surprisingly light tackle, the same applying with wild stillwater carp. This really is a go anywhere, do anything type of float rod, destined to be the first choice from any serious angler’s holdall. It can happily be used with light and delicate floats, right through to big loaded wagglers and sliders. It laps up punishment from big fish, having a unique balance of a forgiving nature, but with plenty of power in reserve.
Weight 192g. Action: Through. Recommended Casting Load: up to 14g. Reel Line Rating: 2lb to 7lb. Hook Length Rating: 1.0lb to 6lb.
Thomas Turner Classic+ 14ft FLOAT
Boasts a slightly more progressive action compared to the 13ft model, while the extra length is hardly noticeable, apart from giving vital extra tackle control when long trotting or fishing deeper stillwaters. Retains a lightweight, well-balanced feel, to avoid arm ache when controlling a wide range of float designs during longer sessions. This rod is extra responsive when mending or sinking line, with plenty of lower down backbone, providing a superb anti-lock progressive action when playing big fish. The latter feature allows light, medium or surprisingly strong tackle to be used, depending on what’s needed for different species and types of venue. The longer reach comes into its own when trotting traditional big river floats like larger sticks, Avons, chubbers and all-balsas, being equally at home launching out big wagglers and semi loaded sliders on deeper lakes, not forgetting margin fishing.
Weight 207g. Action: Progressive. Recommended Casting Load: up to 16g. Reel Line Rating: 2.5lb to 8lb. Hook Length Rating: 1.5lb to 7lb.
Thomas Turner Classic+ 11ft AVON Test Curve 1lb
Already John Bailey’s favourite for targeting big river fish, especially when a slightly lighter approach is required for touch legering on flowing water. Every movement of the end tackle and any attention hook baits receive is clearly transmitted down the high modulus nano carbon blank. This rod has fast recovery for a through action design, being made from superior modern materials. It’s certainly more forgiving when playing and controlling big fish. It bends beautifully, never wanting to lock up, retaining plenty of lower set power in reserve. John says this is the best Avon he’s ever had the pleasure to use and has well proved the point, seeing the first prototype land loads of big River Wye chub and barbel, including a huge double figure whiskers. A lot of rods in this category are all about brute strength. This new classic offers a far subtler action, for those anglers who like to use greater finesse on heavily pressured venues. Dave Coster has also used it for stepped up pellet waggler fishing, extracting some surprisingly weighty carp with it.
Weight 164g. Action. Through. Recommended Casting Load: up to 60g. Reel Line Rating: 4lb to 8lb. Hook Length Rating: 2.5lb to 7lb.
Kingpin reels:
Thomas Turner are also launching two stunning, centrepin reels, developed in collaboration with Kingpin. The olive green colour is exclusive to Thomas Turner to compliment the new Thomas Turner Classic+ rods. The first is a Kinetic reel in a special 4.25″ size, available now. A matching Imperial reel will be available shortly. Both reels are available in an initial, limited edition, numbered run of 25.
