“The Crown” fishing scenes – tackle provided by Thomas Turner

We were very excited to watch the first episode of the Crown (Season four), which shows Prince Charles salmon fishing in Iceland using tackle provided by Thomas Turner!

The studio contacted us last year to ask if we could provide some tackle for them to use in filming various scenes set in 1979. They were looking for the very best quality fly fishing tackle of the type that Royalty may have used at the time, as well as sea fishing tackle for a port scene. Fortunately, with over 2000 items in stock, we had plenty to offer.

Our Chairman, Richard Hewitt, has previously held the Royal Warrant as Chairman of Farlows, and so is well-acquainted with the type of tackle favoured by Prince Charles. We provided a selection of Hardy rods including the Wye for Prince Charles himself, paired with a Farlows Dee reel. His fishing companions used a Hardy the Shearwater Neocane salmon rod, a Hardy LRH salmon 15ft cane rod, and a range of Fibalite and glass salmon rods. These were paired with various Hardy Perfects, a Hardy Hydra, and a special Hardy brass-faced Perfect reel.

We also provided tackle as background dressing for scenes at the Icelandic fishing lodge, including Hardy Hollolite rods, various Hardy trout rods, several Hardy Perfect reels, Hardy Marquis multipliers, and St Aiden reels.

Lord Mountbatten’s house in Ireland was dressed with sea rods including a Hardy 7ft boat fishing rod, Farlow split cane boat rods, a Vom Hoff tarpon/tuna rod, and various sea reels including a Hardy Longstone, and Hardy Sea Silexes. The team also needed sea fishing tackle for an Ireland port fishing scene.

In the end we sent over 120 separate items for the production, including nets, creels, flies and fly boxes, wading staffs, bags, bait kettles and even lobster pots! These appear throughout the series but most prominently in the first episode. We are always happy to hire tackle for film and TV productions, please contact kirsty@thomasturner.com for more information.