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Thought you might like to see my new carp pb that I caught on one of the superb Chimera Specialist No2 rods you recently built for me.
I had fished for tench for four hours. The swim was stuffed full of fish with liners occuring every few minutes. Somehow I conspired to lose three fish, getting one screaming run whilst at the top of a tree!
When the liners dried up I thought I'd take a look at a bar at the other end of this, my 'secret' lake (located on the edge of a golf course where no-one else fishes). Sure enough there was a carp present - one of maybe eight fish in this deep, 1 acre lake. I catapulted out a few pouches of corn and went back to pack up, the tench fishing over.
Having moved my tackle and tied up a new rig, baited with a stack of corn, I sneaked into position only to see about five carp were now milling over the bar. The ripple was making it difficult to see where the fish were and, after quarter of an hour, I decided to risk a cast, first catting in some more corn.
I put the rod on the floor, baitrunner on lose, and rolled a cigarette. I only had to wait about four minutes before it simply tore off. An eight minute scrap ensued but the Chimera was taking no prisoners!
These rods really are the best I have ever owned by miles. Thanks for doing such a great job.
The fish tipped the scales at 21lb 8oz, beating my old best by almost 4lb.

Cheers,
Greg Whitehead, Angling Times

This is the 14lb 14oz barbel that I caught from the River Nene this autumn past ( 2008 ). I beat it with one of the pair of barbel Flood/Big River rods that you made me. The rods are superb and will cast a six ounce groundbait feeder no trouble at all. They also stop barbel in their tracks as this fish quickly discovered - I must have had it in the net less than five minutes (fish to catch them, not to lose them!). I've never been able to put so much pressure on a fish that I've had to bring the left hand to play above the reel because my right wrist couldn't take the pressure on its own. Keep up the good work mate and I'm sure I'll find an excuse to buy something else from your arsenal soon!

Greg Whitehead, Angling Times

Terry Weldon.

Terry Weldon

Thanks Again, stunning rods.

Terence Weadon

A first class service, a top class product and a great bloke too.

Paul Burgess

This email of thanks is long overdue.  Around March 2007 you built three Harrison Helium 2.5lb TC Carp Rods up for me with full cork, Fuji SICs and burgundy finish.  I just wanted to drop you this line as your advice produced exactly what I was looking for.  The Heliums are an absolute joy to use - you may recall that I wanted a rod which put the pleasure back into playing a fish and these rods certainly do that.  The rods have been thoroughly put through their paces this year with many 20 lb carp up to 30 lb, these fish are very hard fighting and the rods have been superb, a real pleasure to use.  They also cast very well too, accurate with feel.  To look at, the rods are stunning and the finish is excellent - although understated/subtle in appearance they have caused several passing anglers to stop and enquire about them.
I hope to be doing some big tench and bream fishing in the future and I know where to come for some new rods..!
Thanks again and tight lines.

Steve

Just a quick update after a weeks fishing in France. Fishing was very hard only 6 fish caught from 8 anglers. I caught 2 (top rod!!!). The rods were exceptional in their performance whether casting at range or playing fish under the rod tip. The action was perfect, caught the biggest (32.12) at 60 yards in 7 foot of water and was able to play the fish with complete confidence.

Thanks for the rods fantastic design and workmanship.

Regards

Phil Flynn

Just a quick mail to thank you for the top quality job you did on my rods – I have been meaning to drop you a line for a while as I am so pleased with them. You were spot on with your advice on the rings - they look sooooo good and cast like a dream.
Earlier this year I took them to France and as you suggested, they were more than able to cope with everything I threw at them (62 carp in 5 days including 6 30’s). I have just come back from a short session on my local lake and yet again I was impressed with the power in the mid section as they can stop a charging carp in its tracks without any danger of locking up.
Above is one of the fish I had today – new English PB 33lb 8oz and a new top weight for this fish – you can just see the rods in the background.

Neville Golding

Hi Mark,

The Barbel Chub 2 rod finally got to do the job you built it for and it really was a pleasure to use. I must admit even the small torpedoes charge about angrily and the rod cushions all the lunges, but the double made it worthwhile and put the rod to a good test, fantastic. Great rod Mark fantastic isn't a good enough word to discribe it.

Mick Harris

Hi Mark,

Thought you’d like to add the pic of my 12 lbs'er to your testimony page ( see below ) seeing as I took her on one of my Chimera Specialist No2’s that you built for me. I hooked her on a flooded Lower Severn, and despite a very slow dogged fight, the rod did all that I asked of it, and gave some considerable enjoyment to the fight too. The intial surge downstream was easily countered by the action of the blank, and I soon had her head upstream. She then decided to hug the bottom and chug up and down the deep margins like an old steam engine shunting trucks in the yard.
The rod spent a good 2/3rds of the fight bent at a critical angle, but never once did I feel I had to loosen the clutch to avoid the hook pull. The chimera blanks just don’t seem to allow that to happen. When I finally landed her and rested her in the margins in the net, I looked at the rod which now lay discarded on the bank, in the mud, and felt a tinge of shame that I could discard it in that manner after such a performance. Only when I laid the Barbel on the unhooking mat, did I realise just how close I had come to losing the fish. The hook hold from the size 10 wasn’t particularly good, being in the roof of her mouth towards the bonier regions, and a small sliver of tough skin was all that made the difference between success and failure. It was then that I realised just how much difference the Chimera had made to the outcome. Had I been using any other of the numerous Barbel rods, I have owned previously, I think the result may have been very different. The rod seems to want to go on bending when others would have begun locking up, and that’s where the hookpull would have occurred.

So, a new PB on a brilliant rod, and one very happy Barbel Angler.

Thanks Mark

Paul Thompson

Mark Tunley Custom Rods. What can be said, top rods, top service, top guy. After breaking one of my infinities I thought I'd look at custom rods, but in truth didn't think I could afford them. So to say I was pleasantly surprised by the price is an understatement. There not any dearer than a good factory built rod, but in my opinion a far better build. So much so that on delivery of my new rod and a few weekends trying it, I ordered another four rods, which were equally as good as the first. If you are looking for new rods I would highly recommend talking to Mark, it costs nothing to talk.

Regards Tony Randall

Hi Mark,

Firstly, I have to say a big thank you for the great job you carried out on my rods, to say I have been impressed is a huge understatement...   You have produced a rod of exactly the right feel that I was searching for, forgiving at the net on those heart thumping surges yet still have enough body to punch those leads out at range... a great tool all round !!   I have attached a couple of kippers for you to envy !!   Thanks Again and tight lines !!!

Regards Mike McShannon

Hi Mark

Just to congratulate you on an excellent choice of blank for the Catfish 2 rods you built for me recently. The pictures are of two cats I had from Yateley Split lake last week at 36:08 and 32:00 pounds respectively, both caught on surface fished live baits using the front clips I asked you to put on the rods, (works a treat mate - thanks). I can honestly say that using the rods, it was the first time I have ever felt in full control of the situation with a 30+ Wells pulling in the opposite direction. They are awesome to use with just the right balance of power and action to absorb any sudden lunges.

Cheers mate,
‘Tyke’

Mark is very knowledgeable, when you are looking for the ideal rods he offers excellent advice regarding application and technology. He helped me with the selection of the rod for my requirements. I have been very impressed with Mark's knowledge of rod building and the build quality of the rods he has produced for me. The rods are now my pride and joy and I would recommend Mark to anyone looking to purchase new rods.

Steve Owen

Just a few words to express the superb service I have had off Mark . After breaking 4 bones in my elbow I needed to buy softer rods, but still be able to hit the distance. I put a post up on RMC website and Mark came back to me with his phone number to contact him. I did so and after a lot of discussion and using his knowledge, we came up with the right model, with full handles and even had a choice of colour of blank. It took 3 weeks from paying for them till delivery and what can I say, I will never buy another rod from anyone else, Mark will be the first I will telephone. I need a 3rd rod shortly to match and will certainly be contacting Mark to get it sorted. All in all, I can say, if you are in the market for new rods give Mark a call you wont be disappointed, he has allowed me to carry on fishing when I thought I wouldn't be able to.

Thanx Mark

Mick Clarke

Hi Mark,

just to let you know had a season best Barbel today on 'Natlu' my Chimera Specialist 2, she went in at 11lb 8oz and the rod handled her great, was a little extra water in the river with the rain of late but had no problem stopping the fish getting into the flow, which has been a problem in the pass fishing the swim that I was today with my old rod.  Here is a picture, but not the best of shots being on the mat.

Regards

Malcolm

Sorry I have not been in touch before, just a quick update on the Harrison 15' SU you built me a couple of years ago now, my how times fly. Well the rod continues to perform superbly especially when twinned with the Pin. I have enclosed a couple of photos. The barbel are fun and the rod was superb, everything I could have asked for, I doubt any other rod could have handled the fish in quite a strong current and 6lb hooklength?? (or was it good angling?? I doubt it)

Regards

Chris Saunders

Well as promised in my txt message here are a couple of photos for you.

The PB and then the PB that bettered it. You built me my rods, Harrison Chimera 3lb TC blanks, about 3 years ago and since then they have given me hours of pleasure.I asked you for something beefy enough to chuck a lead 100yds, but with enough softness to absorb hard lunges under the rod tip, and I have to say that they have delivered on both counts.

Thank You!
Best Rgds

Steve Green
(Lincolnshire)