Thomas Turner
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Those who collect the fine reels made by Paul Witcher call them the Rolls-Royce of centrepins.
On a more modest scale, their prices are even comparable. Many centrepin users would flinch at the very idea of paying £200 for a reel. Witcher’s work costs ten times as much (though there is actually a very strong link with the maker and Rolls-Royce). What is it that makes his output so special, his prices on a par with the very finest classic Allcock Aerials?
Witcher himself recalls: “My first introduction to fishing started in 1968 via a friend who lived nearby. At that time, everyone used fixed-spools. I had seen pictures of centrepins in angling books and I remember that even then, they caught my imagination.
“I lived very near the river Test. Most days in the holidays were taken up by walking and exploring the river. On one occasion, there was a fishing match being held by a local club. As we walked down the bank, we came across a chap fishing with a centrepin. This was the first time that I’d even seen one. The angler using it was, to my eyes, an expert. His skill at trotting a float with a ‘pin’ was mesmerising, very controlled and smooth. Watching him using it seemed to have a lasting effect on me, because many years later, that memory would influence my fishing.”
Witcher lives in Wiltshire, an area in the south of England that offers a wide range of excellent fishing, from the chalkstreams of the Test and Itchen to the Avon and Stour, famed as ideal waters to fish with a centrepin.
“In 1988, I was looking for a centrepin to trot for roach on the Hampshire Avon. I quickly discovered that except for a nice chap living by Ibsley Bridge who made centrepins, my choices were limited. So, I looked at older reels and settled on a Speedia, made by WR Products, which I bought at a Bonhams auction in London. And I still own it!”
But Witcher wanted more from his reel than the Speedia could offer. “The limited choice of centrepins at that time made me consider the possibility of making my own reel. I served an apprenticeship as a toolmaker for four years, during which time I made parts for Rolls-Royce aircraft engines and Concorde. This gave me the necessary skills to make the sort of reel that I wanted.”
During 1989, he designed and built a prototype reel. It was loosely based on the Aerial design, having parallel spokes and a lever ratchet mechanism. “The reel performed very well and was a great success trotting the Avon. I felt, though, that plenty of improvements could be made, but that is all part of the journey. But on visits to the river, other anglers would comment on the reel and would ask me where I got it from. A lot were surprised and impressed that I had made it myself and would ask if I could make one for them. I then started to think about the possibility of producing my first reel to sell. I called it the Avon Centrepin. This was around 1991.”
These were Aerial-like, black anodised with a narrow drum and 41in wide. The reel proved a great success and made Witcher realise that there was a healthy market for a well-made reel. This was around 1991. “I still felt the design of the reel could be improved. I also had a growing order book, so I made some improvements and renamed it the Avon Elite. I made 20 black anodised and 20 plain un-anodised.” Around this time, he started to look at antique finishes, which would appear on future reels.
Precisely how many Witcher made of each reel is a mystery. “Unfortunately, I didn’t keep a detailed record of all the reels I made, because I never for a moment thought that years later, they would become collectable. For me, it has always been about designing and creating a reel of beauty that is a pleasure to use. The fact that other people think the same is humbling.”
He hasn’t made reels steadily since that first batch. Over the years, Witcher has had times when making them has had to take a back seat because of family or work pressures, “or simply because I had lost my mojo”, he admits.
But those gaps between his production have actually made his limited output highly sought-after. “Although I never planned it, this seems to have made my reels more collectable. Also, my production has always been low. There was a point when I thought about giving up the day job to make reels full time, but I always felt that would spoil the fun. For me, that was one of the most important factors. Creating must be fun.”
In 1996 he met Chris Yates on the famous Bisterne beat of the Avon for a barbel-fishing session. “We had a very pleasant evening, catching a barbel each and talking about centrepins. Chris was using his favourite reel, a 4in wide-drum Allcock Aerial given to him by Donald Leney, who stocked Redmire Pool with carp.
Paul Witcher’s rarest centrepin, the Centenary Coxon, was inspired by Henry Coxon. He made only two of them
“We discussed the types of reel available at that time and both thought it would be great fun to try to recreate the magic of the Aerial design, similar to Chris’s Aerial but if possible, better. This led to a collaboration between us to create a reel which we decided to name the Bisterne Aerial.”
It was to be a 4in wide-drum reel in a limited edition of 21, in a leather case and accompanied by a certificate signed by both Yates and Witcher. “The rest was left totally up to me. I decided to use the caliper ratchet mechanism, as I have always liked its look and easy operation. It would also have the added component of what I call ‘pixie dust.’ This is the unknown element that makes the reels extra-special. I made a prototype, and once Chris and I were happy with it, I started to make the reels. By 2004, I had made 14, but at that point I ran out of steam and pixie dust.”
Tough on those who had ordered a Bisterne Aerial. But fourteen years later, Witcher found the inclination and desire to finish the project. “I had a little more time to devote to making reels again. Each one takes about 80 hours to complete, and it is quite intense. I also wanted to incorporate some improvements to the original design. Some are quite small; others are bigger. The biggest change is in the centre boss. The boss and pin are now sealed, so spool removal is by undoing a brass screw on the backplate in case of any line tangles. This means the pin only needs oiling once a year. It also cuts contamination of the bearing surfaces, and therefore the spinning performance is more consistent. In my opinion, it also improves the lines and look, because there is no need for springs and clips on one of the spokes to keep the spool on.”
With normal use, Witcher reckons his reels need only a few minutes to return them to as-new condition. “Slight powdery marks may appear occasionally if the reel is unused for some time, but these can usually be wiped off with a soft damp cloth. The oil regime is very important, though, and I recommend light sewing-machine oil. But it only needs oiling once a year.”
Every reel is hand-made in his small work- shop, and there’s certainly no production line to his output. “Many hours of thought about the design and manufacture go into each reel. I feel that this culminates in possibly the best reel available’’. (He’s been accused of breaking up a reel if it isn’t totally to his satisfaction.)
“My aim has always been to design and make a reel that others will enjoy using and owning. It also has to look and feel right and most importantly, work as a trotting reel. In some ways, they are similar to a fine Swiss watch, precision-made and highly tuned, and if looked-after, they should last two lifetimes.”
All his reels come with a lifetime guarantee. How many reel makers can offer that with confidence? The trouble is that because his work has become so collectable, most buyers are not using them to run a float downriver Instead, they take pride of place in a centrepin collection. There’s a strange irony here: what are arguably the finest centrepins ever made are now rarely used for fishing.
Copyright Classic Angling Publication
The post Witcher, the craftsman who makes the Rolls Royce of centrepin reels appeared first on Thomas Turner Fishing Antiques.
Continue reading...
On a more modest scale, their prices are even comparable. Many centrepin users would flinch at the very idea of paying £200 for a reel. Witcher’s work costs ten times as much (though there is actually a very strong link with the maker and Rolls-Royce). What is it that makes his output so special, his prices on a par with the very finest classic Allcock Aerials?
Witcher himself recalls: “My first introduction to fishing started in 1968 via a friend who lived nearby. At that time, everyone used fixed-spools. I had seen pictures of centrepins in angling books and I remember that even then, they caught my imagination.
“I lived very near the river Test. Most days in the holidays were taken up by walking and exploring the river. On one occasion, there was a fishing match being held by a local club. As we walked down the bank, we came across a chap fishing with a centrepin. This was the first time that I’d even seen one. The angler using it was, to my eyes, an expert. His skill at trotting a float with a ‘pin’ was mesmerising, very controlled and smooth. Watching him using it seemed to have a lasting effect on me, because many years later, that memory would influence my fishing.”
Witcher lives in Wiltshire, an area in the south of England that offers a wide range of excellent fishing, from the chalkstreams of the Test and Itchen to the Avon and Stour, famed as ideal waters to fish with a centrepin.
“In 1988, I was looking for a centrepin to trot for roach on the Hampshire Avon. I quickly discovered that except for a nice chap living by Ibsley Bridge who made centrepins, my choices were limited. So, I looked at older reels and settled on a Speedia, made by WR Products, which I bought at a Bonhams auction in London. And I still own it!”
But Witcher wanted more from his reel than the Speedia could offer. “The limited choice of centrepins at that time made me consider the possibility of making my own reel. I served an apprenticeship as a toolmaker for four years, during which time I made parts for Rolls-Royce aircraft engines and Concorde. This gave me the necessary skills to make the sort of reel that I wanted.”
During 1989, he designed and built a prototype reel. It was loosely based on the Aerial design, having parallel spokes and a lever ratchet mechanism. “The reel performed very well and was a great success trotting the Avon. I felt, though, that plenty of improvements could be made, but that is all part of the journey. But on visits to the river, other anglers would comment on the reel and would ask me where I got it from. A lot were surprised and impressed that I had made it myself and would ask if I could make one for them. I then started to think about the possibility of producing my first reel to sell. I called it the Avon Centrepin. This was around 1991.”
These were Aerial-like, black anodised with a narrow drum and 41in wide. The reel proved a great success and made Witcher realise that there was a healthy market for a well-made reel. This was around 1991. “I still felt the design of the reel could be improved. I also had a growing order book, so I made some improvements and renamed it the Avon Elite. I made 20 black anodised and 20 plain un-anodised.” Around this time, he started to look at antique finishes, which would appear on future reels.
Precisely how many Witcher made of each reel is a mystery. “Unfortunately, I didn’t keep a detailed record of all the reels I made, because I never for a moment thought that years later, they would become collectable. For me, it has always been about designing and creating a reel of beauty that is a pleasure to use. The fact that other people think the same is humbling.”
He hasn’t made reels steadily since that first batch. Over the years, Witcher has had times when making them has had to take a back seat because of family or work pressures, “or simply because I had lost my mojo”, he admits.
But those gaps between his production have actually made his limited output highly sought-after. “Although I never planned it, this seems to have made my reels more collectable. Also, my production has always been low. There was a point when I thought about giving up the day job to make reels full time, but I always felt that would spoil the fun. For me, that was one of the most important factors. Creating must be fun.”
In 1996 he met Chris Yates on the famous Bisterne beat of the Avon for a barbel-fishing session. “We had a very pleasant evening, catching a barbel each and talking about centrepins. Chris was using his favourite reel, a 4in wide-drum Allcock Aerial given to him by Donald Leney, who stocked Redmire Pool with carp.
Paul Witcher’s rarest centrepin, the Centenary Coxon, was inspired by Henry Coxon. He made only two of them
“We discussed the types of reel available at that time and both thought it would be great fun to try to recreate the magic of the Aerial design, similar to Chris’s Aerial but if possible, better. This led to a collaboration between us to create a reel which we decided to name the Bisterne Aerial.”
It was to be a 4in wide-drum reel in a limited edition of 21, in a leather case and accompanied by a certificate signed by both Yates and Witcher. “The rest was left totally up to me. I decided to use the caliper ratchet mechanism, as I have always liked its look and easy operation. It would also have the added component of what I call ‘pixie dust.’ This is the unknown element that makes the reels extra-special. I made a prototype, and once Chris and I were happy with it, I started to make the reels. By 2004, I had made 14, but at that point I ran out of steam and pixie dust.”
Tough on those who had ordered a Bisterne Aerial. But fourteen years later, Witcher found the inclination and desire to finish the project. “I had a little more time to devote to making reels again. Each one takes about 80 hours to complete, and it is quite intense. I also wanted to incorporate some improvements to the original design. Some are quite small; others are bigger. The biggest change is in the centre boss. The boss and pin are now sealed, so spool removal is by undoing a brass screw on the backplate in case of any line tangles. This means the pin only needs oiling once a year. It also cuts contamination of the bearing surfaces, and therefore the spinning performance is more consistent. In my opinion, it also improves the lines and look, because there is no need for springs and clips on one of the spokes to keep the spool on.”
With normal use, Witcher reckons his reels need only a few minutes to return them to as-new condition. “Slight powdery marks may appear occasionally if the reel is unused for some time, but these can usually be wiped off with a soft damp cloth. The oil regime is very important, though, and I recommend light sewing-machine oil. But it only needs oiling once a year.”
Every reel is hand-made in his small work- shop, and there’s certainly no production line to his output. “Many hours of thought about the design and manufacture go into each reel. I feel that this culminates in possibly the best reel available’’. (He’s been accused of breaking up a reel if it isn’t totally to his satisfaction.)
“My aim has always been to design and make a reel that others will enjoy using and owning. It also has to look and feel right and most importantly, work as a trotting reel. In some ways, they are similar to a fine Swiss watch, precision-made and highly tuned, and if looked-after, they should last two lifetimes.”
All his reels come with a lifetime guarantee. How many reel makers can offer that with confidence? The trouble is that because his work has become so collectable, most buyers are not using them to run a float downriver Instead, they take pride of place in a centrepin collection. There’s a strange irony here: what are arguably the finest centrepins ever made are now rarely used for fishing.
Copyright Classic Angling Publication
The post Witcher, the craftsman who makes the Rolls Royce of centrepin reels appeared first on Thomas Turner Fishing Antiques.
Continue reading...