However despite the disadvantages I enjoyed using it and often hankered over owning another.  I can now confirm that I have one its called a Thinkfish Bold . Now this reel is very different beautifully made with aerospace aluminium which makes it incredibly light a great improvement on my earlier model, take a look below, this photo was courtesy of Jim Williams.

Its a modern and very stylish piece of kit with a very contemporary design. This is a large arbour reel so has bags of capacity #6 with 60 metres of backing.  I have used it both from a boat and on a river and found it to be equally at home on either.  The absolute benefit is the way that you can retrieve line instantly no messing.  Here is some of the technical stuff that you might like to be aware of:

Construction: Aluminuim frame, spool & assembly, S/Steel gearing

Weight: 6.51 ounces

Diameter: 8.97cm

Retrieve Capacity: 1.2 meters by pull, ratio 1:5.5

Drag: Conic Multi disc

Line rating: up to #7

Backing Capacity: #5 = 100 mtrs, #6 = 60 mtrs, #7 = 30 mtrs

Spools are large arbor and easily changed with the press of a button.  The reel  comes with a  full replacement  guarantee in the event of failure in the first two years after purchase and unlimited free repairs (except for carriage costs) of any genuine defect from there on.

The reel lever distance from the rod handle can be adjusted with a simple saw tooth design on the reel seat allowing for different sized hands.  Generally whilst fishing though you are not aware of the reel lever until you catch a fish it is then that the rapid retrieve becomes apparent.

Brian pushing his 5 weight

What experts they were the leading light of BFCC, Mike Marshall, and FFF Master Mike Heritage, along with GAIA members Roger and John so much quality in one place. Group lessons were arranged for those who wanted them followed by competitions which were great fun.

I was delighted to see the enthusiasm of some of our Glasgow boys the young bucks were taking to distance casting like ducks to water.  I must make special mention of Willie McGuire and Malcolm Prescot who won trophies.  Full results will be posted on the BFCC web site in the next few days, please do not ask how I got on all I know is that I need to do a great deal of practice before next year, yes the date is fixed for the 9th September 2012 and as this year places will be restricted so book early through me or Mike Marshall.

Pollok Park in the rain

On a final note Mike Marshall celebrated his 75 birthday earlier this year and one of the competitions the BFCC run is for a  T120 Double Handed Fly Distance  (Any rod up to 17’ (5.2m). Any shooting head line 120gm max)  they looked like carp rods with an extension.  Mike on the day won by a mile somewhere in the region of 212 ft.  We watched as he prepared a very slow and beautifully prepared false cast and then he let go it was effortless and from where we stood we could tell it was a long one as the guys marking  had to run backwards, thanks Mike for showing us that it really is down to technique.

A handsome 3lb Brownie from the Coe

Thats a pity really because the River Coe presumably rose over night and it fished well to the fly and Matthew seems to have fed the whole camp on a 5 weight and a dunkeld, Matthew only had a 9ft 5# in his possession.

A happy man with his Grilse

I spend loads to fish the Tay and Tweed and have not caught as many salmon this year.  I think that he end up with 2 salmon.

Glencoe and the River Coe

River Coe in spate

I am now thinking that I should take out a salmon ticket for the river before the catch returns improve any further.

The Cliff Pool

The water was good after a week of sunshine and heavy showers. These small stream fish are not choosy and as long as they are not spooked will take most food items choice of fly does not matter. The secret is not to spook them and to plan your attack this is jungle war fair.

Gem of a Trout

Where and what  is the best approach, the best place to stand and the best angle to cast from.  I struggled to get Matthew to approach correctly with a short line and then the father son relationship came into play.  ”Do not laugh at me” he was saying I was only trying to get him to think the process through and not laughing at him but with him as he struggled with branches, thistles and brambles. Eventually he settled into the task at hand and caught some nice little trout nothing big but respectable enough in a stream where 8 inches would be a good fish.

Will we go back you bet  we will to pit our wits against the trout and undergrowth and hopefully improve the father son bit!

Concentration and Matthew

Now the show, as usual it was a great day lots to see and although I had done a list in advance I still spent more than I should of and would have liked a lot more.  Funny the guys you meet when you are sitting tying, dour Scotsman who dislikes grayling and not willing to share his name, to fantastic children who marvel at anything new and absorb as much info as you can give them. I was representing GAIA along with Mark Roberts and Louis Noble, I enjoyed it and will go back next year if I am invited.

A personal thank you to the guys at Fishtec for my listing. This has also made me set up a long over due links page.