Hi there i recently inherited an antique fishing rod from my grandad and i was looking for some help to find out more about it. It is a 2 piece 7 foot split cane Jas Aspindale Dalesman fly rod. I was looking if anyone could date the rod for me and tell me a little more about it. I also have a Hardy Marquis #7 fly reel which i would be interested in knowing more about. E-mail me at josephbarnes1@live.co.uk for images. Thankyou Joe.

Welcome to the forum

Hard to tell without seeing the rod, but Aspindale was a workmanlike rodmaker based in Redditch who turned out some nice kit. Should be a serial number on it which could help with dating. Check with somebody like Mullock's Auctions or VintageTackle for more info. They made a lot of match rods in split cane, up to 12/14 feet which were fairly unwieldy but all that was available at the time.

Fly rods were OK, I've never used the 7' model to which you refer. Not especially valuable to collectors, they change hands on eBay anywhere from £30 - £60 but since your rod is an inheritance I assume you'd like to hang on to it. Stick a #5 WF on it and enjoy.

Same applies with regard to the Marquis reel, there's a huge variation in quality and its value will depend on its age. Generally, the earlier the better and Hardy did produce some cr*p reels in this range. I had a Marquis Multiplier which was truly awful

HTH

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Game fish are too valuable to be caught only once - Lee Wulff

have a look here you may find something ..

James Aspindale and Sons - Vintage Rods - InTheNetUK

---------- Post added at 10:49 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:43 PM ----------

have a look here also theres a guy wanting dalesmans cash waiting etc etc i know your not after selling but he/she maybe able to tell you about it mate ..
scroll to bottom of page ....

Bargain Box Fishing Tackle Sales 23.4.09

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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 !!

Peter Asdpindale still restores and sells the family rods, and may have more information for you.

You can contact him on 1527 528408.

Regards,

Doc