Being a complete tackle tart I have had my eye on the beautiful Hardy Marksman Rods for some time. However there always seemed to be insufficient funds in the bank to be able to argue a strong enough case with the wife.
With recommended retail prices on the Hardy Marksman rods somewhere between £280 and £390 the argument that, “I have always wanted a Hardy Rod” or “Hardy make the finest rods in the world…even Prince Charles uses them” fell on deaf ears.
That is until I was lucky enough to be able to purchase a brand spanking new 11’ Hardy Marksman Avon from Chapman’s for less than £120 during their open day at their Hull branch in Hessle.
I am sure you will agree an incredible price for such an outstanding rod.
The rods have been designed and tested by the gentlemen of T.V angling Alan Yates and John Bailey.
With Alan Yates spending over three years on the design of the Marksman rods, and John Bailey testing them over the same period, these rods have a quintessentially English character and uniqueness all their own despite being manufactured in China.
The Marksman Avon like all Marksman rods is built around an extremely lightweight high modulus carbon blank that Hardy claim is “remarkably similar to traditional split cane Avon rods, but with much faster casting and striking qualities”.
The rod is supplied in a quality cloth rod bag, as you would expect with such an expensive rod, within a very strong cordura finished tube.
The blank of the rod is beautifully finished in light olive green accented with gold lettering with matching whipping securing the Fuji SIC rings to the blank.
The Portuguese cork of the handle is by far the best on any rod I have seen and is an absolute pleasure to hold. Everyone that has tried or held the rod have all commented on how incredibly light and well balanced it is and how perfectly it fishes.
I purchased The Hardy Marksman Avon rod specifically to partner with my J. W. Young’s Ray Walton centre pin. When matched with this reel there is, in my opinion, simply no better way to fish for barbel and chub. Whether stalking your prey close to the bank or trotting at range this is sublime angling at its very best.
Would I consider the Marksman in such glowing terms had I paid the full asking price? The answer to that is that I have just ordered another rod from the Hardy Marksman range, the 13’ specialist float, and with the wife’s blessing to boot.
