I recollect these were the rods to have in the late 70's prior to the arrival of carbon. Not that I had one then of course but looked on many enviously. I've totally induldged myself tonight with this purchase....

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...m=170309864047

Now I need to spend some time worrying about whether to team it up with my Mitchell Match or ABU 501

Anyone else remember them??

personally i would say the mitchell ,i think the abu maybe a bit light for it and probably feel tip heavy !!!!

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WHEN YOU LEAVE THE RIVER, TAKE NOTHING, AND LEAVE ONLY FOOTPRINT'S!!!

THA CAN TELL A YORKSHIREMAN ,BUT THA CAN'T TELL HIM MUCH !!

Go for the mitchell, I use to team mine with Abu Cardinal 4, 4x, if your lucky you may be able to find one of the softer spliced top section that shakey made for these rods.
Great river rod and tench on the bread/corn.
Still have mine and the cardinals(best reels).
sewinfly.....

Thanks for the replys Gents, I'm looking forward to giving it an outing.
Regards,
Dave.

Dave, I've got the 13' version of the Alpha - one of the few items from my yoof not to get nicked. Its tucked away in the loft, although I got it down the other week for this nostalgic photo for another club website:


Note the Abu 506, Abu Cardinal 40, Efgeeco seat box and bait box and 6' knotted keepnet! If I were you I'd team it up with your 501

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Nice photo Jeff, you have some classic tackle there. I can remember those Efgeeco bait boxes and the seat boxes. I'm lucky enough to still have my wicker basket that must be pushing 30 years old now.

I did still have my wicker basket in the shed - complete with my initials painted on it from when I was a teenage would-be Ivan Marks-alike - but it sort of disintegrated when I tried to pick it up a few months back I bet you wore your waders turned down too, like me? - nothing to do with wading, purely a match scene fashion statement of course...together with green plastic visor and boiler suit.....

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Am I right in thionking they did a 10 foot Carp Alpha too..in the same colour? If so I had a pair that have gone missing in various house moves over the years Would love to get a couple more for stalking..great all through action.

Will just have to stick with my Sharpes Cane carp rod

I think you may be right, that model must be like hens teeth now.

Hi ,

Thanks for putting the photo up,christ that brought back memorys,my fishing mate got an alpha and we all wanted one.

And why did we wear boilersuits not the warmest attire,no skeetex available
the rolled down waders soon perished..

Id team the alpha with the 501.

regards

Jason