Two mint-condition rods by the excellent cane rodmaker Walter Brunner both went over €2000 at Hildebrant’s latest auction in Germany. A 7ft 6in 4-5 weight Pielach soared to €2350, while an 8ft  Thymalli finished on €2300. Brunner, who died in 2007, was an Austrian who specialised in bamboo rods and his output has always been collectable, but these two have far exceed any previous prices at auction. Another very high price was achieved by an Ari ‘t Hart Stu Apte Bonefish saltwater fly reel model (pictured). Unfished and with its leather case, this climbed to  €2100.The sale also saw a very unusual original photograph of two naked girls taken in the former German Democratic Republic about 1960 make €230. Udo Hildebrant commented: “Nudity on every possible and sometimes impossible occasions was one the few little personal escapes tolerated by the Staatspartei of the DDR.” Sorry, but it’s a bit risqué for us to show. Some of our readers are quite elderly and it could be bad for their hearts. You’ll have to check the website here.