Posts Tagged ‘Fishtec’
Fly of the Week – Mayfly Dry Fly
Most fly anglers long for the day that the mayflies start to hatch. Some of the best fishing in the UK can be found on large, silty or sandy bottom lakes. The trout are very fond of the mayfly in its adult stage and as you can imagine it will provide a very satisfying meal. There are many versions of the mayfly you may like to use such as the humpy, wulff or realistic mayfly pattern. My favourite though is this ‘ducks dunn’ style fly, which the colour and size can be altered to represent almost any upwing fly.
Simply attach your thread to a hook of choice. Here I have used a Kamasan B170 size 10, you need something fairly strong but lightweight, as these flies are extremely large. Tie in four or five strands of pheasant tail as a tail, keeping them fairly long to add to the length of the fly. By the tips, attach another three strands of PT, this will act as a rib to give the fly a very pronounced segmented body.
Dub some light tan dubbing to the hook, tapering in a teardrop shape towards the eye of the hook leaving yourself sufficient room at the head to tie in a wing and hackle. This gives the flies body some volume. Wind the rib through the dubbing and secure off at the thorax.
Lay a bed of thread at the thorax to give a solid platform to tie in the wings. Select four full CDC feathers and marry the tips together and secure on top of the hook laying flat over the back.
Tie in a grizzle hackle at the head and fill the thorax with some hares ear dubbing, ensuring to bulk up behind the CDC feather to get it to kick up. Wind the hackle through the thorax and behind the wings. Secure in with your thread and wind through the hackle ribbing it, securing tightly in place. Whip finish off and you’re complete!
Make sure to varnish the head of the fly as this pattern will get a beating from hungry trout! See here for more fly tying videos: Fly Tying Videos
Tags: dry mayfly, ducks dunn, Fishtec, Fly of the Week - Mayfly Dry Fly, kieron jenkins, mayfly pattern | 
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Upgrading dated Coarse Fishing Tackle
Much water has rushed beneath my personal bridge these past few months: I turned a certain age for a start; then I upped my Essex sticks and started afresh less than two hundred yards from a river blessed with barbel and chav’s – not to mention the odd migrant and some hefty pike. The icing on this idyllic cake is employment within a well-organized jungle of fishing gear – TF Gear to be precise – and my new role has kindly compelled me to re-think my lot as an angler: it’s brought me up to date. Fishing is a field in which I might be described as conservative – not averse to change but reluctant to dump the learning of decades. I still enjoy watching a bobbin and deciding for myself when the hook should go in, but some species and methods don’t lend themselves to such niceties and I ain’t arguing – long may those Whiskered Ones continue to wallop the carbon!
What’s changed is my will to experiment with new coarse fishing tackle, while they’re still new – not two years down the line when everyone’s had their fill of fish and the novelty’s worn off. I do, however, have some catching-up to do so, this season, I’ll be swapping the PVA bags for in-line mesh-sticks: better for casting, better for baiting-up – and you can use the dispenser to splint a broken finger if necessary! I shall stock-pile my sticks before fishing to keep the faff-factor to a minimum; I’ll deliver them more comfortably too, thanks to my nice new Nan-Tec Classic 2lb barbel rods. These beauties have full cork handles and dependable, well made screw-fittings…I wonder if I’ll christen them with a double?
Another thing I’ll be using for the first time this season is a feeder mould – something I’ve always passed off as unnecessary because, well…it is! You really don’t need one to fish effectively, but how much simpler and neater it is to push out a nice firm cake containing your hook-bait? It’s got to be done, eh? And anti-tangle rubbers! I’ll never present an untidy rig again, I promise. For the sake of a near-weightless piece of rubber we can all now streamline our rigs – be they light or heavy – and fish with that bit more confidence. It’s the semi-rigid nature of the anti-tangle sleeves that I like; it converts the rubber into a very effective miniature boom that prevents squabbles between end-tackle components (and there’s another good argument for in-line stick-fishing…)
I’ll be using my own very successful tench bait in the early weeks of the season, but for barbus…will it be as effective? An old pal took at least two doubles on it from the Hampshire Avon and I was with him for the first capture made from the Sandy Balls stretch in mid-November. Talk about the madness of anglers! Mick would pick me up in Chelmsford, Essex at around 2pm and we’d arrive in the New Forest shortly before dark; by the time we’d settled in and got a fishing rod out it was pitch black down there in the wooded gorge and after just six or seven hours of serious fishing in total darkness we’d pack up and make our way back to Essex, arriving home at 04.30 – 05.00hrs. I still think that was crazy, but then mild insanity was fairly normal within the angling fraternity at that time.
So, the capture of two barbel on my concoction proved nothing about its efficacy as a river-bait and Mick doesn’t live close enough to a decent river where he might test it out – but the signs are good. For tench it’s a superb bait so let’s hope their whiskered cousins have similar tastes.
So…June 16th will see the smartest, best-equipped dude in the West sitting in his Dave Lane Hardcore chair and tending to his Nan-Tec Classics. Bait will be my precious creation – plus a nice, firmly packed mesh-stick to draw them in..
Cliff Hatton tench 9lb
Tags: barbel rods, fishing rod, fishing rods, fishing with bait, Fishtec, nantec classic barbel rod, tf gear | No Comments »
New Airflo SuperDri Lines – In Stock!
The revolutionary SuperDri fly line range from Airflo! Full stock of these fly lines will soon be on the shelves here at Fishtec and at your local fishing tackle store. We’re looking for them all to be ready by the middle of next week, 17/04/13!
The Airflo Super Dry fly line has been developed over a long period of time, taking into consideration all aspects of floating line fishing and developing something that will perform to the highest level possible, without compromise. Designed specifically for the floating line angler, the Super Dri lines feature some super impressive traits.
Super-DRI Features & Benefits
- Ultimate high floating PVC Free material – Floats 12-15% higher than any other floating line.
- Repels water better than any other material.
- Repels dirt and surface scum with a vengeance.
- Slides through the guides better, adding distance to every cast with ease.
- Floating material Permanently part of the line, not a coating that leaches out – migration is only good for birds!
- Easily lifts off the waters surface, less disturbance adding stealth to every fishing situation.
- Easy mending capabilities due to higher floating, adding length to drag free drifts.
- Looped at both ends for easy leader changes.
- Ridged for greater shoot ability and less tangles.
- Power Core for ultra low stretch, extreme feel, and solid hook set.
Zone Technology is another new feature of the SuperDri range. This new technology gives us the opportunity to use different material configurations in every part of he fly line, imagine a line that has a super high floating tip zone, a supple belly zone that throws loops that are exceptionally tight and features a strategically places ’hauling zone’ that incorporates harder material with less compression making double hauling effortless and extreme durability in high wear areas. This new line technology minimizes friction during the cast, helping with distance and extending the life of your floating line. You will notice the difference from your very first cast.
Float ability of a fly line is key. If it sinks at the tip or throughout any part of the line, it’s not doing what it should. Below we’ve pictured an 8# SuperDri Mend with a conventional 7# PVC fly line and the ‘ride height’ is very noticeable. SuperDri lines float high on the waters surface rather than in it, sitting 10-15% higher than any other floating fly line.
Airflo SuperDri Elite
The Super Dry Elite has been designed for the average caster, with Airflo’s ‘go to’ trout taper. This line will be ideal for fishing buzzers, nymphs or dries on large reservoirs, still-waters or for the small lake angler. The standard head length and modest front taper allow casters to present the fly well at distance or in tight spots when pin point accuracy is needed. This line does it all, and available in both weight forward (WF) or double taper (DT) make ups, you’ll find something to suit you!
Airflo SuperDri Xceed
The SuperDri Xceed has been designed to load today’s faster action fly rods. This slightly heavier weight forward head has a condensed taper optimized for casting into the wind and generating higher line speeds. This is the best floating line whether your fishing dries or subsurface. Available in weight forward (WF) configurations from 3 to 9 weights.
Airflo SuperDri Mend
Designed to make nymphing and chucking big bugs easy, the Airflo Mend SuperDri is the ultimate nymphing fly line for both rivers and lakes. This line has a thicker tip diameter which helps turn over indicators or bungs, coupled to an extended head for enhanced mending control when fishing that crease across the other side of the river.
Airflo SuperDri Lake Pro
Airflo’s Super-Dri Lake Pro has been specifically designed for the Stillwater use, this line utilizes the popular DELTA taper profile for easy distance even when casting multiple flies. This is the ideal fly line for lough style fishing with multiple methods.
Airflo SuperDri Distance Pro
The Super-Dri Distance Pro has been designed for ultimate distance whether your fishing from the bank or boat. Featuring our longest belly on any single hand fly line, the Distance Pro is a firm Pro-Staff Favorite.
Tags: Airflo, airflo super dri fly lines, Fishtec, Fly Fishing, fly lines, super dri lines, super dry | No Comments »
Fishtec Open Day 23rd March 2013
We are delighted to announce that we will be holding the Fishtec annual warehouse clearance sale at our Brecon Factory outlet this coming weekend – Saturday 23rd March 2013 - 9am to 5pm.
Throughout the day there will be a huge selection of discounted fishing tackle at rock bottom prices – the ideal opportunity to grab yourself a bargain.
What do you need to look out for? Here at the Fishtec Open Day we’ll have Ex-Demo stock. clearance items with big discounts and also a line of new products from across three disciplines including fly lines, clothing and rods, all with sale prices!
Take this opportunity to ‘try before you buy’ on all fly fishing rods that we have in stock, see how fast you can erect a bivvy or test our bed-chairs. You can also embark in conversation with out resident fly, sea and coarse fishing experts and talk to our knowledgeable customer service team with any queries you may have. Fly tying demonstrations from a well known Welsh Angler, Jonathan Williams along with fishing tackle and tactic advice on coarse, sea and fly fishing.
If you need any more information please don’t hesitate to get in touch! Call: 08719117001 or Website: www.fishtec.co.uk. Free parking and food available onsite.
For directions, please take a look here.
Save hundreds of pounds on sale items from Fox, Greys, Hardy, Nash, Delkim, Simms, Airflo, TF Gear, Sage, Shimano and many more!
Tags: discount fishing tackle, fishing tackle sale, Fishtec, Fishtec open day, warehouse clearance | No Comments »
Fly of the Week – UV Crystal Hackle Damsel
The Damsel is one of the most prolific insects which inhabit our lakes here in the UK. This is reflected in what anglers prefer to fish on small waters and reservoirs with most anglers ‘go to’ fly being a damsel of some sort. Variants consist of chain eyes, gold heads or leaded bodies with marabou tails either woven or stacked, both of these additions add the most possible movement. Kieron Jenkins shows how to tie one of the more modern variants using UV Crystal hackle fritz for the body.
Simply start off by attaching a bead of choice to your favourite hook. Here I have chosen the Fulling Mill Grip Gape Hook size 10, with a 3.8 silver brass bead. Attach your UTC Thread to the hook, building up a section of thread behind the bead to stop any slippage then run the thread down the hook creating a solid platform to latch your marabou tail onto.
Take an inch or so of olive marabou from a turkey feather and trim away the end waste. This makes tying the marabou in easier and it also adds less bulk to the body. Run the thread over the marabou to the bead to form a smooth, flat body then take the thread back down to the bend of the hook. Offer up a strand of crinkle flash to each side of the tail for added sparkle and tie in.
For the body I have used FlyBox UV Crystal Hackle in olive colour. The UV adds some extra sparkle in low light conditions, primarily what we get this time of year in the UK! Take the front end of the fritz, the tip where the fibres fall back down the hank. This ensures that each time you wind the fritz each turn falls perfectly into place and sits right. Latch the fritz to the hook and wind – in touching turns – back towards the bead, pulling the fibres back after each turn. Simply tie in, build a little hot spot with the bright coloured thread and tie off.
This pattern can also be tied in many different colour combinations, all black, black and green, white and green, all white… A great versatile pattern for grown on or stocked fish.
UV Crystal Hackle Damsel Tying Materials
Hook: Fulling Mill Heavyweight Champ Barbless Size 10
Thread: Orange UTC 140
Bead: Silver 3.3mm
Tail: Olive Marabou
Flash: Crinkle Flash
Body: Olive UV Crystal Hackle
Tags: damsel, Fishtec, fly of the week, fly patterns, fly tying, how to tie, tying flies | No Comments »
Why Fly Fishing late season pays off
I have never understood why many put there rods away come October or November. I took a trip to Grafham late November and caught the record 8 fish bag weight for 2012, 33lb 14oz.
The fly fishing was outstanding at the best fish was a 6lb 4oz Rainbow which I caught on my third cast on a new 2013 buzzer pattern. I was fishing a floating line with a buzzer, 2 cut throat crunchers or a sz 8 Killer Shrimp with a Candy Split Blob on the point. This is the same set up I used to win the Grafham Trophy for Team England September last year.
The fishing gear I used was my trusted i#8 Enigma fly rod, coupled with a #8 line and 8lb G3 fluorocarbon. It is imperative that you use fluorocarbon this time of year as the water is often crystal clear.
Fish like it slow this time of year and that day was no exception. They literally wanted it static! I was guiding for the day and my pal Paul Norris soon clocked on to this fact. We would cast it out and simply leave it alone for 20 seconds or so. We would then do 2 or 3 quick ‘flicks’ of the line like a fig of 8 and count to 20 or so again. It was a calm day and we were fishing relatively short lines as often fishing in 3-6 foot of water close to the sailing club shoreline between the yachts and The Seat. More often than not we would see our fly lines start to move before we saw anything at out finger tips. This is key if you want to catch more fish!
Although I stuck with the Blob and Nymph method, my partner tried a Minkie and caught a cracking Rainbow of 4lb 9oz, a personal best and first fish from Grafham after several visits with no joy. He landed 5 for 16lb and had plenty of other action on what has to be the 2nd best days fishing on Grafham I can remember. The best being 2 years back on Buzzers on the West Bank when it was almost a 3lb+ fish every other cast and there’s no better way to catch them than nymphing on a floater.
Dust down them resting fly rods and go fishing. Winter fishing is often superb, if like me, monitor the weather and choose good conditions. Next trip Farmoor 1 Reservoir where the sz 10 size limit of fly has been lifted and the Booby ban has also gone. See how I get on here first!
Tags: Fishtec, Fly Fishing, fly fishing gear, fly lines, grafham water, iain barr | No Comments »
Fly of the Week – Yellow Dancer
The lure to have in your fly box this winter! Take a look here how to tie the yellow dancer, a fly with Scottish roots that can be accounted for some of the best and biggest fish catches all around the country. This lure puts movement and life into the fly without being too over the top. Try tying it in as many different colour combinations as you can think of, they all work!
Attach a 3mm rainbow bead to a size 8 Kamasan b175, this fly works in a range of sizes so don’t be shy to experiment. Build a layer of White UTC Thread behind the bead to secure it in place. Run a layer of thread down the hook shanks and stop just opposite the barb.
Tare a piece of marabou from the stalk, around an inch and a half should give plenty of movement. What I like to do is cut the waste material off, pull the short herls forward and then pull them from each stalk (shown in the video at 0:40 seconds). This helps when tying the marabou in, it allows a thinner base layer underneath your body material. Tie the waste end of the marabou onto the hook shank and run the thread towards the top of the hook, completely covering the waste.
Attach a length of Uni soft Wire and pearl mylar tinsel to the top of the hook then run a layer of thread back down to the tail and back up, in touching turns. Creating a perfect base layer to run the body.
Wind the pearl tinsel to the top of the hook in touching turns, cover the body with a few layer, just to give the pearl a more pronounced colouration. It also helps by giving the body more robustness. Tie the pearl off after two or three layers.
Attach a yellow hackle just behind the bead, make sure its long enough be wound four or five times along the hook shank! Cut away the excess stalk and tie down. Attach a hackle pliers at the tips and wind down the hook in even spacings. Gently hold at the back of the hook and tie in with the wire. Whilst winding the rib try and wobble the wire back and fore this helps to keep the hackles standing proud and not got trapped down.
Simple tie off the wire, break it free and whip finish.
The Yellow Dancer- Tying Materials
Hook: Kamasan 175 Size 8
Bead: 3mm Rianbow bead
Thread: UTC White 70 Denier
Tail: White Marabou
Rib: Silver Oval Wire
Body: Pearl Mylar Tinsel
Hackle: Yellow Cock
Tags: Fishtec, Fly Fishing, fly tying video, lure, tying flies, yellow dancer | No Comments »
Filming Airflo’s Fly Fishing Product Videos
Recent visits Tim and Todd have been with us here at the Airflo factory in Brecon. We’ve been filming the ‘Airflo Story’ which is a run-down of who we are and what the company is about, whilst Gareth delves into detail about the technologies and passion which goes into designing and making all of our fly lines.
I was fortunate enough to be invited along to Blagdon Water and also to the River Avon. These two idyllic locations are the said to be the birthplace of modern fly fishing in the UK. Blagdon was the first stocked rainbow trout fishery in the UK and the Avon was amongst one of the first chalkstreams to see a dry fly. We thought what better places are there to film our fly fishing tackle videos than the places which have had such an influence on what fishing tackle we make?
The river Avon flows seamlessly through 96km of land before it hits the English channel, rising from the county of Wiltshire and flowing through Salisbury, Hampshire. Our beat for the day had been organised through Bill and William at www.famousfishing.co.uk, a pristine three mile stretch of well groomed countryside.
As we turned up at the water the fish were already on the move. Trout and grayling lying harmlessly along side one another happily feeding on small crustations and insects from the bottom. The trout however were easily spooked, whilst the grayling were resilient to us being there, within a minute they were back on the feed. After setting up our fishing tackle and Todd his camera kit, we headed off to the pump house pool to get the first of the interviews under-way whilst the sun was low.
Once the Interviews were complete we headed to the river armed with only one rod and a box of dry flies. Todd was always a few steps behind with the camera as we worked the runs searching for rising fish. Some pools we came across a lot of fish taking from the surface, others, they were stagnant on the bottom. Being so late in the season we didn’t really see any significant fly hatch, but there were the odd few small olives and we’d captured one mayfly on its journey downstream.
Gareth and Tim filmed some great product videos, showing the technical side of our range of trout fly lines, when to use them and why each line is vital to any fly fisherman’s armoury.
As the day wore on we get some good fish for the camera, the latter part of the day produced trout ranging between 1 and 3lbs and also a few Grayling up to 2lb. As the olives started to die off and the light faded it was time to pack up the camera kit and head to Heathrow ready for the departure of the Americans.
Keep an eye out in the next few months for the ‘Airflo Story’
Tags: fishing lines, Fishtec, Fly Fishing Product Videos, fly fishing tackle, trout fly lines | No Comments »
New Simms Fishing Clothing
Finding the right fishing jacket, fleece or softshell could be a long and tedious process. Trying on a jacket and walking around a fishing store isn’t the ideal environment to test a product. It could fit perfectly but as soon as you start waving a fishing rod around the garment could soon become uncomfortable. The designers at Simms have tried to make everything a little easier for the fly angler who wants everything at the click of a button.
Introducing the new Simms’ new fall line-up of technical fishing clothing. These garments offer serious protection from the worst the winter can throw at you.
The range of simms fall gear here at fishtec
Featuring the Bulkley Jacket, Simms have designed this jacket for the enthusiastic boat or bank angler who doesn’t need a jacket which they can deep wade in. By extending it’s length the bulkley will cover the back of all waterproof trousers eliminating damp patches and draught. Boasting a 2 layer GORE-TEX® outer shell with the innovative all-weather insulation of PrimaLoft® One technology.
Simms developed the Fall run jacket for the angler who like to travel light. This amazing piece of kit is lightweight and packable and will defiantly keep you warm on those cool winter mornings as you’re waiting on the bank for the mist to clear. Primaloft® One material traps and holds heat in its pours making it one of the best mid/top layers on the market.
The Simms Guide Windstopper jacket has been designed for the most extreme angler wanting the most out of their fishing clothing. This jacket is said to be the jacket for fall 2012 and Spring of 2013, featuring a Windproof, breathable and showerproof outer construction finished with DWR, this jacket is immune to the elements.
Tags: fishing clothing, Fishtec, gore-tex jackets, New Simms Fishing Clothing, primaloft, softshell | 1 Comment »
Interested in joining the Fishtec team?
If you live within 30 miles of our Brecon headquarters and are interested in working as part of our busy mail order team, please email a CV for consideration to customerservice@fishtec.co.uk
Applicants will need to have prior call centre/customer service work experience, be computer literate, and have at least a basic knowledge of angling and fishing tackle.
We look forward to hearing from you!
Tags: fishing tackle, Fishtec, job opportunity | No Comments »