The Complete Fisher Forum

[Allrounder]

[wylye]

Alan,

I started off with the most basic of kit. A 2 piece glass fly rod bought with the proceeds of a paper round; a clapped out Intrepid reel passed on from my father. I forget where the fly line came from but it certainly wasn't new.

In my early '30's I got quite good at tying flies and negotiated a deal with a local tackle shop whereby I tied flies and I traded them for fly fishing kit. I got my first reservoir rod that way and actually bought my first brand new floating fly line - a Cortland 444. I was 30 at the time. A bit later on my first carbon fly rod came about in the same way. Basically I was prepared to do extra work in order to pay for the gear I wanted.

Nowadays I have as many fly rods as I need and don't have to tie flies in order to get them. I have never looked in envy at what others use or thought that top end gear is a waste of money and that a £50 rod is every bit as good as a £500 one. It isn't. I guided for a chap on the Kennet a week ago who had bought himself a Shakespeare Agility. As a rod it was OK, just. Skimped a bit on the fittings and the top two sections flew off in mid-cast which should not happen. Functional, but a pleasure to use? No, not really. Not the rod one would shed tears over if the dog chewed it - UNLESS it was all one could afford at the time, which in his case it wasn't. He just wanted a cheap knockabout rod in a 9' #5 and that fitted the bill.

I've fished with, and against, many hundreds of people and I can truthfully say I have never paid the slightest attention to the kit they are using. I've never thought, "Oh Hell, he's got a Sage/Scott/Winston/Loomis or Orvis rod and therefore he must be a great angler." I'm more interested in whether or not he IS a great angler irrespective of the kit he uses. Conversely I have never thought, "He's only using a Vision/ Shakespeare/ Wychwood/ Greys or Sportfish cheap rod so he must be a useless angler." I seldom even look at the kit they are using unless asked to do so by the client I happen to be guiding for. I certainly don't patrol the banks at Farmoor sizing up the gear others are using. Total waste of time in my view and anyone who DOES do that needs to pay more attention to their own fishing - they'll catch more.

There is certainly a lot in what I said in my last post concerning the British psyche. There is a lot of inverted snobbery out there. Something I read back in the '70's - British worker - he's got a big posh Rolls, it should be taken away from him......... American worker - he's got a big Cadillac. If I work hard one day I'll have two of them.

[trout]

[drybuzzer]

[Whistlekiller]

Admin comment: Like I said, I'm keeping an eye on this. It's not "the other place" and we don't tolerate handbags here. Everybody behave themselves......
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[drybuzzer]

Sorry, wont bring it up again.
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The rules of Fishing 1) Tie your own flies 2) Clean your own fish 3) Tell your own lies

[Allrounder]

[trout]

Try out your leeda reel you recently bought, and see what you think, try and play a fish off the reel etc. I have some leeda gear and the stuff I've bought has been good value I think.


large arbor, the drag im sure will be OK, and as long as the build quality is of a reasonable standard it should be fine. I'm always surprised how much I get for my money with fishing gear to be honest with most brands and disciplines. The shimano course reel I bought should last me ten years or much more, as long as I wash it after it gets salty.
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Trout

[BlankDay]

[midlander]

[arkle]

I've never really been "into" Orvis reels, never owned one etc, but now you mention it & looking back the reels did look VERY similar. I'll vow to your experience on this particular model.

Maybe they had produced a surplus & thought if we drill some more holes & re-badge them, that should get shot of them, in non-marketing terms, of course.

My own reels include a couple of Hardy LRH's + a few extra spools, not sure if I'll use them again as my style of fishing has changed somewhat since I purchased them. I also have 3 Grey GT/R X's in 5/6 & a 7/8 both with quite a few cassettes for normal "everyday" use. As you say, once the cassettes get damaged, initially it'll reduce the number of line options, as they're like rocking horse droppings on ebay now. I also have a couple of Speedex narrow spool "jobbies" with a few spools that I'll probably sell sometime.
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Hi there, I have around 40 yrs exp. of tying flies, incl. some semi-pro work. I've taught at adult evening classes, written for and supplied photos for most U.K. fly magazines. Given talks/slide shows/lectures/demonstrations etc. Am founder and life pres. of local Fly Dressers Guild (27years), our members have won more prizes for tying than any other similar club, we've also won several national flyfishing comps. I look forward to both learning from and contributing to this highly respected forum.

[Allrounder]

Great discussion on fly reels, guys!

Many years ago I had an Okuma Integrity and over time had accumulated 3 spare spools to go with it. It was on the heavy side even back then and certainly by today's standards, but I loved the smooth, free running spool and the one way drag. I thought it was bomb proof but unfortunately I was proved wrong when it went under the wheel of my car!

A few years ago a brand new example still in the box with 2 spare spools came under the hammer at a Bristol Reservoir Fly Fishers Association tackle auction. I didn't bid because I didn't need another 7/8 reel but I was gutted when it went for just £8!!!! I am still kicking myself.

So if you are looking for a reel and you know what you want, don't ignore second hand tackle auctions and car boot sales. Bargains can and do turn up.

Alan
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Member of ...
The Angling Trust
BRFFA
B.A.S.S.
Pike Fly Fishing Association

If you see me on the bank, say hello!

[arkle]

Yeah, the BRFFA auction is a great place to buy stuff, but don't expect to retire on whatever you try to sell there.
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Hi there, I have around 40 yrs exp. of tying flies, incl. some semi-pro work. I've taught at adult evening classes, written for and supplied photos for most U.K. fly magazines. Given talks/slide shows/lectures/demonstrations etc. Am founder and life pres. of local Fly Dressers Guild (27years), our members have won more prizes for tying than any other similar club, we've also won several national flyfishing comps. I look forward to both learning from and contributing to this highly respected forum.

[Allrounder]

I agree. Apart from a few well know brands like Sage or Hardy, it is hard to get anything for second hand tackle these days. I have tackle I rarely use but I would rather hang on to it than give it away for next to nothing.

Alan
_________________
Member of ...
The Angling Trust
BRFFA
B.A.S.S.
Pike Fly Fishing Association

If you see me on the bank, say hello!

[JCP]

Well my old rimfly's/gearfly's and Mitchell Autos are still here.They served their time well and no complaints.Couple of Hardys in their by appointment to HRH Prince of Wales cases and a lone rare Shakespear Magnesium Alloy.Have not the heart to part with any of them :lol:My first venture into more modern reservoir reels were with Snowbee Cassette systems and I still have them too.Then I began to fish lighter set-ups mainly from a boat and over time collected a few more with some big guns amongst them and no regrets.A quality reel is worth having in my book and I appreciate it may take time to get there but when you put a piece of class on a good rod it just works for me.I quite often fish solo so no one is looking . Same on the river.It is not a brand thing theses reels are a pleasure to fish with.Finally I think I have all I need unless that special one comes along at the right price.Happened recently when a mint Waterworks Force LT came up and I bought it thinking I would sell one of the others but just never seems to happen

Best JP