Cane rods, babies and Mangers
Since the angling bug bit at the age of 13, birthdays and Christmas have tended to have a similar theme with regard to the presents I receive, and as you might expect the common thread is angling. From the Observers Book of Coarse Fishing (a Christmas present from my parents in 1981) through seat boxes, rods, reels, more angling books, lures and floats there have been more presents in the "fishing category" than any other. That's not to say that I don't receive non-angling gifts (chocolates, wine, whisky, and books of a non-angling nature also feature from time to time and are very welcome) but it's piscatorial presents that tend to dominate. Among my favourites over the years are a number of rods: my first decent match rod, made by the no longer in existence East Anglian Rod Company and my first ever carbon rod (a spinning rod) both purchased by my parents, a fine custom built lure rod made for me by my American friend Don Morse, and the splendidly refurbished