I have a desire to get back to single hook salmon fly fishing next season and came across the Alaskabou style of tying for Steelheads flies like the Popsickle all of which are happily fished as singles. So I tied one up in Altantic salmon colours and here is the result, I am going to tie a few more and I am certain that they will work. The photo is courtesy of my friend John Symonds.
Alaskabou Gunn
Many years ago probably more than I care to remember when I started my game fishing career I used a French automatic reel. It was good at the time I fished in Dorset on a lake and chalk stream. I found the automatic reel to be great in that when I hooked a fish it very quickly got the line back on the spool and I was less likely to get snagged. The downside to this particular reel was its weight, very heavy and occasionally it ran out of steam and you had to rewind it whilst trying to control a fish.
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.
The Bristish Fly Casting Club contacted us over a year ago now and asked if we could assist in organising a Scottish day well it happened today in Glasgow. About 30 of us gathered in Pollok Park on a bleak September day in the pouring rain but despite the rain we all had a great day. Mike Marshall organised the event and Mike Heritage, John Reynolds, Rodger Miles and Tracey Thomas gave up of their time, traveled from the deep south by road and air and proceeded to share their expertise with us.
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.
My daughter Clare is getting married at long last someone is assuming responsibility for her, a nice guy Scott he fishes which is a good start, cycles on Mountain Bikes and seems to enjoy fixing them which is great as I have just bought a Specialised Rockhopper Comp and plan to do some off road. I might post a picture of my new bike in the next day or so. Any way the wedding is on the 25th September and the stag weekend was the 4th and 5th would you believe on Rannock Moor. I could not go as I have a spey casting workshop to run on the Tay at Newtyle on the 5th. It was raining all night and I was relieved to be in my bed that is until my son Matthew began to send me the photos.
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
