John Wilson Avons ££?

[Terry Simner]

Hi All, I've got a pair of John Wilson twin-tip carbon Avons (Avon+quiver tip), the Ryobi/Masterline ones, green blank/brown+gold whippings, 11ft/1.25lb. I've not used either for ~15+ years and was wondering if they had any/much value. Any idea?
ATBA

 

[Lee Williams]

Peanuts mate. Keep em as back up rods or give em someone starting out.

 

[Stephen Goderski]

Peanuts mate. Keep em as back up rods or give em someone starting out.

Totally agree

 

[Rhys Perry]

Might be worth a bit more now he's passed away!

 

[Paul Collins]

Often come up on EBay. Usually priced around £50.
Never checked if they sell for that though.

 

[Terry Simner]

Cheers all. I did a search but didn't find any complete (2 tips) versions of the old Ryobi version for sale/sold. Shame really, brilliant chub rods. Probably give them away eh.
ATBA

 

[Graham Elliott]

Terry.
Yes very good chub rods.

But as said probably only worth around £50. Each.

So give them away.

Address to send is......

 

[Jon Kennard]

I've got the same rod it'll be used by my boys. Although def a soft rod from memory.

 

[Anthony Pearson]

Good rods for playing perch with on the quiver tips...very forgiving when those big stripeys shake their heads.

 

[Lawrence Breakspear]

Superb chub and perch rods, if they are mint they will be worth about £70, good condition but used about £40 to £50, Chub and Perch specialists really rate them because of their through action and ability to be used with a range of lines from 4Ib to 8Ib, there are no flat spots on the action of the blank and the quiver tip to glass is seamless, its fair to say they dont make em like this anymore....lovely rods, and its nice to know that both Andy Orme and John Wilson had an active role in their design and manufacture, nice well made rods.

 

[Steve Lewis]

The older green and grey Masterline iterations with the full cork handle and screw seat are very sought after rods now, but so many of them were made and made well that they're in abundance and I don't think there will ever be a time when they'll be difficult to get hold of or fetch much more than their original RRP.

Yeah, excellent rods - I've got six or seven of them, including one of the early versions with the 50/50 duplon-cork butt, which is still in use some 26/27 years later.

As Jon Kennard says they are quite soft - they have a through action right down to the butt - but that doesn't mean they're only good for smaller species - they've tamed my personal best carp (21lbs) and barbel (9lb 4oz) with ease and they'll stand up to a lot of grunt without overplaying.

 

[Terry Simner]

The older green and grey Masterline iterations with the full cork handle and screw seat are very sought after rods now, but so many of them were made and made well that they're in abundance and I don't think there will ever be a time when they'll be difficult to get hold of or fetch much more than their original RRP.

Yeah, excellent rods - I've got six or seven of them, including one of the early versions with the 50/50 duplon-cork butt, which is still in use some 26/27 years later.

As Jon Kennard says they are quite soft - they have a through action right down to the butt - but that doesn't mean they're only good for smaller species - they've tamed my personal best carp (21lbs) and barbel (9lb 4oz) with ease and they'll stand up to a lot of grunt without overplaying.

Did they use the same blank on all the early versions Steve? The pair that I've got have loose/sliding reel seating collars (a la "Realfit Reel Seats") Yeah, I've had double figure carp out of the Salwarpe on them, when flake fishing for chub. Great, cork-creaking, fun

 

[Steve Lewis]

Did they use the same blank on all the early versions Steve? The pair that I've got have loose/sliding reel seating collars (a la "Realfit Reel Seats") Yeah, I've had double figure carp out of the Salwarpe on them, when flake fishing for chub. Great, cork-creaking, fun

Sorry to say I can't answer that definitively Terry. I think the early rods (with the loose reel seats) had a different blank than the later green/grey rods with the screw seat, but after that I'm not too sure.

But even if every different iteration DID use a different blank, they're all good - I've got one of each from the early 50/50 duplon-cork version to the most recent Rovex version, and they've all proven themselves several times over.

In fact, I think the only one I haven't got is the prototype version with a full foam handle that, from memory, was branded Ryobi (as opposed to Ryobi Masterline) and sold exclusively at John's shop.

 

[Neil Smart]

Sorry to say I can't answer that definitively Terry. I think the early rods (with the loose reel seats) had a different blank than the later green/grey rods with the screw seat, but after that I'm not too sure.

But even if every different iteration DID use a different blank, they're all good - I've got one of each from the early 50/50 duplon-cork version to the most recent Rovex version, and they've all proven themselves several times over.

In fact, I think the only one I haven't got is the prototype version with a full foam handle that, from memory, was branded Ryobi (as opposed to Ryobi Masterline) and sold exclusively at John's shop.

Actually had a tidy up all my rods to-day, putting them in bags and marrying up sections. Have 4/5 JW's Avons, including what I think was the very first, a lighter green blank, bought off a forum a few years back, what attracted me was that it had s Fuji screw seat which as we all know JW's Avons are known to have reel slippage
Steve I have what I think is a rare version...the Project Avon, with two tips and an Avon top, don't think it's nearly as good as the early models.

 

[Terry Simner]

JW's Avons are known to have reel slippage

Yep, they sure benefited from a bit of insulation tape around the reel seats with them having the old 'Realfit' seats on ... but then most rods had that charming eek feature years ago.

 

[Graham Elliott]

I'm probably not the only one playing a barbel and holding the reel to the handle when the sliding bit .....slid!

 

[John Newman]

I picked one up on ebay for around £50. It's the one with the duplon top part of the handle, full cork below with a code number AQ1102. It was in great nick and had all three of the glass tips (a rarity) and the 2 foot extension to make it up to 13ft. I have seen the same rod with same code number without the extension. I tried to find out what ratings the tips are but got a lot of conflicting answers so last weekend performed a simple and not very scientific test by hanging the same 2oz weight from each of the tips in turn, with the rest of the top section supported (the tips have different colour codes). My expectation was that each tip would deflect by a noticably different amount. Two had the same deflection and one less but only very slightly leading me to believe they ain't much different! Having had a waggle of the new Drennan Duo Twin Tip rod and being attracted to the cosmetics I have to say the JW takes some beating despite it's age.