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The last days I exchanged some mails with John.He told me that he intended to give my new 3/2 7'6'' for #5 rod the last varnish last Tuesday and will send it to me to Germany when dry.It is the first ' continental' version of a rod he made.I asked John to make the signature wraps starting with 20 cm - instead of 8''- every 5 cm up to 45 cm ( sorry no more room for 50 cm ) and write the measurements in cm beside the wraps.He agreed to do so and proposed later to incribe the other measurements in a continental way, too.Thus I shall get a rod inscribed 2.29 m ( instead of 7'6'' ) weighing 116 gr ( instead of ? ounces ).Naturally there will be also a personal inscription.I think is just great to get such a special rod.John also told me he is getting his first digital camera last Tuesday and is willing to send me some photos of the rod .
When I wrote the article about John in the German magazine 'Der Fliegenfischer' ( to be found here - thank you Mrs.Jensen= Pink Panther - in the Forum in English )I told there are 3 Bradford rods in the Germany /Austria. About 2 weeks ago a 4th one is in Austria and John will have finished another one to be brought to Austria in April this year.Thus with my new Bradford rod there will be 6 of his rods in Germany/Austria.I hope you enjoyed my article about John's 80th birthday.

I am a stupid German and do not know how to publish photos in this forum.But I do know how to send pictures per e-mail. When I get photos from John or my new rod to make photos I shall ask my Austrian friend to help me to show them here.This will not be before next week - if I get photos from John- or when I got the rod and can make photos by myself.I also got some photos of my other Bradford rods.I could send these to my knowledgeable Austrian friend, too.

The last days I read the discussion here about the the best rod maker ever.Most voted for Jim Payne.I think John is the true successor of Jim Payne !

Today I received the announced ' continental ' rod from John Bradford.It is a ' custom built ' (inscribed by John this way ) flawless rod with 6 instead the usual 4 signature wraps starting with 20 cm up to 45 cm for measuring trout or other fishes.It is a wonderful 3/2 rod in 2.29 m length for # 5. I already snow cast it.The rod is very light in hand and nearly casts by itself.No power needed and no shock waves at all.Like his other rods I am certain it will be a great , great rod to fish, too.
I also made some photos of the rod- unfortunately I am no good in making photographs - and mailed them to my Austrian friend.He will put them in this Forum till tomorrow evening- I hope- together with some other photos of Bradford rods we two own.

The reel is made entirely entirely of titan by the Dutch rod-und reelmaker Leen Huisman ( L.H.design ).They are sold in the USA by Just Reels.The reel is about 20 years old, the engraved fly was added about 2 years ago.
Yes,John told me my rods were made of pre-embargo cane.

I already wrote here (02/25/2009) about the continental' ( 3/2 for a 5 line in 2.29m = 7'6'') rod ( SN 1810 ) I got from John Bradford at the beginning of this fishing season.It is the first one he ever made and inscribed with m and gr for length and weigh.It is custom made with the signature wraps every 5 cm instead of 2 inches, adding 2 extra wraps up to ferrule of the butt.I lawn cast it when I got and was very happy I got this outstanding rod.John told me he wanted to make a rod for me I think of first when I go fishing and he put all his skill in it.I believe in fishing any rod .That is what they are made for.Thus I wanted to try this rod as soon as possible and catch fish with.I went to South Tirol in Austria in the middle of April in order to fish the Passer, an 'early ' stream.Unfortunately the Passer is best fished with nymphs and the trout do not rise at this time.I fished it for a whole day,caught some nice trout and a marmorata ( special kind of trout living only south of the Alp's) with this rod (on a nymph) and thought to be very happy man to own such a great rod.But somehow I must have offended the Roman gods with my happiness and I got punished.The next ( second day) I fished John's SN1810, slipped when going down to the river and swung against a tree.When I got up I saw the butt was splintered and half broken.I was very sad , did not sleep well for 2 days and did not fish any more while staying in Italy.When hope in Germany I phoned the rod-maker Dr.Schott and Henseler asking them whether they were willing to repair John's rod .At the same time I sent pictures of the nearly broken butt to John telling him the story .When Dr. Schott saw the rod he said he would be unable to repair it properly and later guenter Henseler told me the same.After John had got the pictures of the butt disaster he also told me, that even he could not repair it.But this time the Gods were smiling .John offered me to make a new butt for me out of the same culm the rod was made of.He promised me to make a butt and rod as near to the broken one as possible.I had not asked him to make a new butt , because his wife got seriously ill and he had cancelled most of his orders.He also told me he would start at once .He only needed the middle and the tips sent to him .I sent these parts the next day at the beginning of May, being very happy to have such a good friend !!

At the end of August John announced to me that he had finished the butt and will send the rod back just in time for a fishing trip in Austria.It was delivered the 31st of August and I lawn cast it at once.What a great job john had done!With the new butt it cast without any shock waves and with ease distances of about 80 feet.When comparing the colors of the new butt and the other pieces I could not see any difference.Even the inking was nearly the same, there were only some minor differences .Two days later I left for Austria .I fished SN 1810 for 5 full days with a dry fly and could not but wonder.John is a wizard. He made the best all round rod I ever held in hands.For me the fishing qualities are most important part of a rod..And this rod fishes like a dream : it casts any distance needed or more, casts very,very accurate, can be cast and fished with only 2 yards of line out and protects fine tippets I caught grayling and trout of nearly 2 pounds in a strong current on a 6X leader without ever fearing to get broken! All this on a rod with a 'second' butt.What a rod ! By the way John did not charge me anything for making a new butt , he only wanted a refund of the shipping costs.I am happy I got such a good and generous friend.

I hope this evining my friend Peter Schuster will add some pictures of SN 1810 I made today.I am still too stupid to get photos in here.

I plan to write another article about John in the on-line magazine 'Der Fliegenfischer'.It is about the butt story and some additional information about John's rod and additional pictures . I guess it will be published at the end of this year.When published there will be an announcement here.