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Another tackle shop going

Paul Whiteing

Paul Whiteing

Administrator
Staff member
Sad to read that Davis Tackle in Christchurch is closing at the end of the river season.

Not for me to post details, maybe Nigel who's a BFW member will.
 
Paul Whiteing said:
Sad to read that Davis Tackle in Christchurch is closing at the end of the river season.

Not for me to post details, maybe Nigel who's a BFW member will.
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So sad, many of my most precious memories revolve around my first fishing trips to the Wessex rivers and calling into Davies to buy bait and tackle. I have four of their Harrison Avon Specials (2 @ 1 - 6 and 2 @ 1 - 10) that I use for 90 % of my angling.
 
Even I have been in their shop. So sad that the retail side of the tackle industry is so vunerable.
 
Steve Kenchington said:
So sad, many of my most precious memories revolve around my first fishing trips to the Wessex rivers and calling into Davies to buy bait and tackle. I have four of their Harrison Avon Specials (2 @ 1 - 6 and 2 @ 1 - 10) that I use for 90 % of my angling.
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Hi Steve,
I have a Harrison 1.4lb which is the 1lb 6oz I have found it a bit soft, very nice but a bit soft. I have been wondering how the 1.6lb, 1lb 10oz compares and you seem well placed to describe the difference. Did you ever feel the 11ft 1.75lb Torrix may have been a better option rather than the 1.6lb Avon?
 
Ralph Harris said:
Hi Steve,
I have a Harrison 1.4lb which is the 1lb 6oz I have found it a bit soft, very nice but a bit soft. I have been wondering how the 1.6lb, 1lb 10oz compares and you seem well placed to describe the difference. Did you ever feel the 11ft 1.75lb Torrix may have been a better option rather than the 1.6lb Avon?
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Hi Ralph, I agree that the 1.4’s did feel a little soft on anything but low summer levels on the H Avon but I have still managed to land barbel over 12lbs on them. These days I use them on stillwaters for tench and crucians and the occasional small carp. I bought the 1.6’s and found the difference appeared greater than the difference would imply if that makes sense. I have had two barbel over 15lb on them so far and have not felt under gunned yet. I should state that these days I don’t fish any of the bigger rivers and not much in flood conditions due to a busy work load leaving limited fishing time. I haven’t used the Torrix so cannot really compare to the Avon Specials but maybe someone else on here can advise ? All the best. Steve.
 
Depresses me when I hear things like this. I know everything is online and cheaper, & I know business rates on properties are helping to kill the retail trade... I'd love to think there would be a time when things come full circle, when shops would reopen. But I know this will never happen.

What amazes me, is that angling is meant to be one of the most heavily participated hobbies/sport in the country, yet this doesn't stop businesses from closing.

That feeling of walking into an old established tackle shop, seeing the old regulars is something I've missed for years already
 
Steve Kenchington said:
Hi Ralph, I agree that the 1.4’s did feel a little soft on anything but low summer levels on the H Avon but I have still managed to land barbel over 12lbs on them. These days I use them on stillwaters for tench and crucians and the occasional small carp. I bought the 1.6’s and found the difference appeared greater than the difference would imply if that makes sense. I have had two barbel over 15lb on them so far and have not felt under gunned yet. I should state that these days I don’t fish any of the bigger rivers and not much in flood conditions due to a busy work load leaving limited fishing time. I haven’t used the Torrix so cannot really compare to the Avon Specials but maybe someone else on here can advise ? All the best. Steve.
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Thanks Steve, at some time I will want to build another rod, so it’s good to hear your opinion.
 
We’re lucky enough to have two independent tackle shops in York (York Tackle and England Angling). There was a third, but it closed a couple of years ago because the owners were fed up of the job! BobCo was only 35mins away too, but I used to feel a bit guilty going over there 😆 There’s no AD in York (yet), but we’ve got a massive Go Outdoors with a fishing section which is about as much use as a chocolate teapot in my opinion.
 
As a local I find it sad that it may be closing permanently (don't know if it will be sold due to Nigel's retirement). But also, I have to admit not being a regular customer. Even 60+ years ago my local was Bill Longman's Tackle shop at Jumpers Corner near Iford (less than 3 miles from Davis Tackle) or Dave Swallow's Custom Tackle (a similar distance but the other way!). When I returned to Dorset it was to the other side of Poole which at times almost develops into a "major road trip" to get to Bargates in Christchurch!

But fond memories of Davis Tackle, particularly through my late uncles and early days on Royalty in the Compound and Parlour. Also, a little bit later, when Davis Tackle under Graham's and Carol's stewardship, sponsored my uncle's Match Group for several years.

More importantly, whenever I do drop in to the shop, Nigel is always welcoming. We swapped messages from time to time especially after my last two uncles passed away and I inherited so much fishing "stuff", he was a mine of information and memories.

Davis Tackle.jpg
DavisTackle1988.jpg
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Ralph Harris said:
Hi Steve,
I have a Harrison 1.4lb which is the 1lb 6oz I have found it a bit soft, very nice but a bit soft. I have been wondering how the 1.6lb, 1lb 10oz compares and you seem well placed to describe the difference. Did you ever feel the 11ft 1.75lb Torrix may have been a better option rather than the 1.6lb Avon?
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Ralph. I can tell you that the 1.06lb Harrison Avon is very different to the Torrix 11' 1.75. I own both. The Avon is a progressive action and will bend right through and is a great rod for playing Barbel on at close range. The Torrix is much more tippy in action. It has a very fine tip but is much stiffer in the middle and butt. I'm no expert when it comes to rods but I know enough to tell you they are very different rods. I like both but personally I think the Avon is a nicer rod for playing Barbel on. The blank has been around for a long time now and I have one that I built myself and one that was sold as a SEER Specialist Rover, built by Andy and Jill Orme back in the 90s. I'm pretty sure it's the same blank in a ground form. It's the rod I've used the most for Barbel on the Avon, Stour and Teme. 🙂
 
Sad time to see the end of Davis tackle, have some great memories of the place from when Graham had it and then Nigel, always happy to chat and a mine of useful information, the Royalty will never be the same.
 
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