FOR SALE: FAMOUS ROD THAT CAUGHT LEGENDARY CARP
Chris Yates hopes he’ll be able to handle his MkIV again
THE rod Chris Yates used to land his unofficially recognised British record carp is being auctioned.
In 1980 Chris caught the 51lb 8oz giant ‘The Bishop’ at Redmire Pool. Now the rod – hand-built by the ‘Godfather of Angling’, Dick Walker, and sold by Chris in 1997 – will go under the hammer at Angling Auctions in Romsey, Hampshire.
It’s expected to fetch £4,000 to £6,000, and the MkIV Avon rod is reckoned by auctioneers to be ‘one of the most important pieces of modern carp angling history to come to auction in two decades.’
“It will no doubt be of huge interest to carp fishing fanatics out there when it goes to auction at midday on Saturday, September 30,” said Neil Freeman, owner of Angling Auctions.
Not only did Chris use the rod to catch The Bishop, but it tamed his first-ever barbel.
The winner of the auction will not only own a piece of fishing history with a hand-written letter of provenance from Chris on Golden Scale Club headed paper dated July 30, 1997, but the ‘A Passion For Angling’ star will also supply an updated letter and join the lucky recipient of the rod for either a day’s fishing or a cup of tea at his home.
“I get a touch emotional when I think about this rod and the memories attached to it,” admitted Chris.
“This was one of my favourite and most cherished pieces of tackle and I really regret selling it, but I desperately needed the money at the time.
“It seemed so fitting that a rod built by the great man himself went on to beat his own UK carp record. It’s a rod that has a real presence and personality about it, and I really hope that the lucky winner of the auction will allow me some time with it when we meet up.”