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As a new fly fishing season approaches across Europe, there’s a familiar sense of anticipation in the air. Rivers are beginning to wake, lakes are slowly warming, and anglers everywhere are tying fresh leaders, sorting fly boxes, and dreaming of the first take of 2026.
At Flyfish Europe, we’d like to wish all our readers a memorable season ahead - one filled with great fishing, new discoveries, and time well spent on the water. Whether your year leads you to remote mountain streams, iconic salmon rivers, or the waters close to home, we hope this season brings both challenge and reward.
In this issue, you’ll find inspiring stories, destination features, and the latest product news from across the fly fishing world. Our aim is not only to inform, but to motivate - to encourage exploration, curiosity, and a deeper connection with the waters we fish.
Just as importantly, we hope these pages remind us all of our shared responsibility. Protecting and conserving Europe’s fisheries is essential. By respecting local waters, supporting conservation efforts, fishing thoughtfully, and helping others get into fly fishing, we each play a part in safeguarding what we love.
Here’s to tight lines, healthy rivers, and a great 2026 fly fishing season.
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Roy
Editorial staff: Rasmus Ovesen, Roy Thue, Tom Roger Bekkeli, Tommy Josefsen, Jarle L. Kristiansen, Morten Valeur, Håkan Karsnäser
Artwork & Design: Rasmus Ovesen Repro: Basecamp
Håkan Karsnäser
Håkan Karsnäser
of Flyfish Europe Magazine: Morten Valeur, Håkan Karsnäser, Rasmus Ovesen, Karim Kharkhour, Matt Harris, Brian Grossenbacher, Omar Gade, Martin Ejler Olsen, Tom Roger Bekkeli, Scot de Bruyn, Peter Lyngby, Clem McIntosh, A Zanghieri, A Seletti, Roy Vanstreels - and many more.
Italy may not always be the first country that comes to mind when thinking about trout fishing in Europe, yet few destinations can rival its diversity, beauty, and depth of tradition. From snow fed Alpine rivers to hidden mountain creeks far from the coast, Italy hosts some of the continent’s most fascinating trout species, both native and introduced, thriving in remarkably varied environments.
By
Images by Omar Gade, Clem McIntosh, A.Zanghieri, and A Seletti
At the heart of Italy’s trout heritage stands one of Europe’s most iconic fish, the marble trout (Salmo marmoratus). Native to the northern Alpine regions, this extraordinary species represents a dream catch for many anglers, as elusive as it is magnificent. Alongside it, Italy is also home to the macrostigma trout, a rare Mediterranean lineage mentioned here not for its angling value, but for its biological importance. Once widespread across several Mediterranean countries, it now survives only in fragmented and highly fragile populations and deserves protection rather than pursuit.
Having grown up fishing in Italy and spent a lifetime exploring its waters, and actively promoting the country as a fly fishing destination, I can say with confidence that northern Italy offers some of the most compelling trout fishing experiences in Europe. The Italian Alps stretch from Piedmont in the west all the way east to Friuli Venezia Giulia, forming a continuous mountain arc, combines pristine rivers and breathtaking scenery.
Like much of Europe, Italy’s trout populations consist of a balance between wild native fish and stocked species. Their survival depends largely on the commitment of local angling associations, which work relentlessly to protect river ecosystems, often in the face of short sighted policies and regulations created far from the water by decision makers disconnected from nature.
In the higher altitude, smaller fast flowing streams, anglers will often find wild, autochthonous Italian brown trout. These fish are typically smaller, but astonishingly beautiful, marked by vivid colors and darker patterns. These fish are often aggressive and willing, especially when compared to marble trout, which tend to hold deeper water, feed selectively, and remain inactive for long periods, further adding to their mystique.
Fishing in Italy is rarely about numbers. It is technical, demanding, and deeply rewarding. Nymph fishing dominates most rivers, especially in pressured waters, requiring precision, patience, and a refined approach. But Italy’s appeal extends far beyond the act of fishing itself. The landscapes, the culture, the history, and inevitably the food and wine elevate every day spent on the water into a complete experience. Come on…we are taking about Italy!
You will find more than just solitude in the Italian alps. Here, there are also healthy stocks of wild trout.
Piedmont, wild rivers and untouched valleys
In Piedmont, several rivers wind their way through deep valleys and dense forests. The Val di Susa, for example, is a scenic valley with a number of interesting fishing waters, located west of Turin, the capital of Piedmont and the birthplace of the Fiat automobile industry as well as Juventus and Torino football clubs. Another area renowned for its outstanding rivers is the Valsesia. Among the waters of the Valsesia region, the Mastallone and the Sesia stand out as two of the most well known rivers, offering a raw and authentic fishing environment.
The Mastallone, with its cold, clear water and rugged surroundings, delivers a challenging and genuine fishing experience. The Sesia, equally technical and visually stunning, is another exceptional river, offering both private stretches and public day permit zones governed by varying regulations. Both the Mastallone and the Sesia rivers host populations of marble trout, although the species is naturally scarce and challenging to encounter. Brown and rainbow trout are more numerous here, but the marble trout remains the ultimate prize. An important practical advantage of these rivers is their ability to clear quickly after rainfall thanks to their natural structure.
What truly defines fishing in this part of Piedmont is its unspoiled, rustic character. Unlike more touristic destinations, these valleys remain largely untouched, and the sense of isolation and immersion lingers long after the trip has ended. The experience is further elevated by the region’s remarkable culinary heritage and red wines, from Barolo and Barbaresco to more local expressions such as Gattinara. Iconic products like the celebrated truffles of Alba and the Nocciole del Piemonte complete a setting where fishing, food, and landscape come together in a way that is both authentic and unforgettable.
For those interested in the cultural roots of Italian fly fishing, a visit to the Italian Fly Fishing Museum in Varallo can be a rewarding experience. The museum is not open on a daily basis, but it offers a fascinating insight into the Valsesiana technique, a traditional method reminiscent of Tenkara, and stands as a testament to Italy’s deep craftsmanship and angling heritage. Above all, the museum exists thanks to the dedication and passion of a small group of volunteers who, with remarkable commitment, continue to preserve and pass on the tradition of this unique local technique to future generations.
Moving east along the Alpine chain, the high mountain regions of Trentino Alto Adige offer an entirely different perspective on trout fishing in Italy. Here, the density of fishable waters is remarkable, with hundreds of kilometers of rivers, streams, and lakes shaped by glaciers and alpine valleys.
Over the past decade, fly fishing tourism has grown steadily, supported by well organized fisheries, professional guides, and clear regulations. Fishing here is generally more accessible and structured, making it suitable for anglers who appreciate a high level of organization without sacrificing natural beauty.
The waters of the upper Alpine valleys are crystal clear and host thriving populations of marble trout, brown trout, rainbow trout, and grayling. Some of the largest marble trout I have personally encountered came from these alpine regions. It is worth noting, however, that the larger main valley rivers often require more time to clear after heavy rainfall or significant snowmelt.
“Anglers can immerse themselves in a rich mountain culture
What sets this part of the Alps apart is the balance between fishing and great lifestyle. After a day on the river, anglers can immerse themselves in a rich mountain culture shaped by both Italian and Central European influences. Traditional dishes such as Canederli, Speck, Carne Salada, and Polenta reflect this heritage, along with refined local wines and a long tradition of alpine hospitality. This is also a region internationally known for its landscapes and sporting excellence, from iconic skiing and snowboarding destinations like the Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage site, to the upper Alpine valleys that are home to world class athletes such as tennis champion Jannik Sinner. Luxurious wellness hotels, spas, and a wide range of outdoor activities further enrich the overall experience, making this area ideal for anglers traveling with family or seeking comfort alongside adventure.
A good guide offers far more than technical assistance “
While Piedmont and the Alpine regions extending east across northern Italy to Friuli Venezia Giulia -including areas such as the Carnia- stand out for the quality of their waters and the overall experience, trout can be found throughout all Italy.
Even in the southern regions, cold mountain streams harbor trout populations, though these areas are generally of limited interest from a fishing perspective. Sardinia, for example, hosts a unique native strain, Salmo macrostigma, living in small inland creeks.
This trout is rare and biologically significant, and I do not encourage fishing for it. A Sardinian friend of mine, Francesco Curreli, is currently involved in academic research to assess remaining populations, an important reminder of how fragile these ecosystems can be.
Regions such as Abruzzo, Tuscany, Marche, and Emilia Romagna also offer lesser known fishing opportunities, often far from the classic itineraries. In these areas, success depends less on maps and more on local knowledge and personal connections.
In Emilia Romagna, trout fishing is limited to a handful of small, clear Apennine streams, intimate waters where, with the right local guidance, even a single brown trout taken on a dry fly can define an entire session. Local support is essential here.
What truly sets the experience apart, however, is everything that surrounds the fishing. This is the land of Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Maserati, of Luciano Pavarotti, of Parmigiano Reggiano, traditional cured meats, Lambrusco, and handmade pasta such as tortellini and lasagne. This area is widely known as Italy’s Food and Motor Valley, a place with a deep sense of identity.
No other places in the world allow an angler to spend half a day fishing a low mountain creek and, on the very same day, visit iconic sites such as the Ferrari Museum in Maranello, experiencing names, flavors, and traditions known far beyond Italy’s borders.
The Italian trout season generally runs from spring through autumn, with most rivers closed during winter. While independent fishing is possible in some of the more organized and touristic alpine areas, hiring a local guide is always strongly recommended, especially for visiting anglers with limited time or specific goals. Working with a professional not only increases the chances of success on the water, but also supports local economies and greatly enriches the overall experience. A good guide offers far more than technical assistance, often sharing stories, local knowledge, and, not uncommonly, a glass of wine at the end of the day.
Permits throughout Italy can be complex and are not always available online, making local assistance particularly valuable. For those planning a trip, I highly recommend visiting www.italianflyfishingtours.com, created to promote fly fishing in Italy abroad and support anglers with trusted local guides, accommodations, and authentic Italian fishing experiences. Italian Fly Fishing Tours is a registered brand, supported by a licensed italian travel agency, created to offer not only guided fishing days but fully organized travel experiences throughout Italy from single guided sessions on the water to multi week family journeys through Italy with fishing as part of a broader itinerary.
Are there fishing destinations in the world with more or larger trout than in Italy? Certainly. But Italy offers something different. It combines fishing -often very good fishing- with culture, landscape, and unique lifestyle and fashion!
Very few places on this planet are home to brook trout big enough to lure fly fishermen into traveling great distances in pursuit of them. Rasmus Ovesen traversed the Atlantic Ocean to fly fish for brook trout in the Canadian province, Newfoundland and Labrador, and the fish that awaited him weren’t exactly small…
The most effective way to catch brook trout on Igloo Lake is to blindcast streamers using intermediate or sink3 lines. The dry fly fishing, however, can be magical.
Getting to Igloo Lake Lodge requires a transfer from Goose Bay on a Twin Otter floatplane.
SHIVERING COLD NORTHERN WINDS have been licking greedily across the lake’s nutrient rich water masses ever since we arrived here at Igloo Lake Lodge. Steep waves underneath frothing foam tops have rolled across the shallow lake and stirred up the water to the point where it has taken on a grainy, peat-coloured shade.
I have travelled all the way from my home country, Norway, in order to reach this mythical brook trout fishery in the Canadian province, Newfoundland and Labradors’, outback. For years, my dreams have circled around the lake’s massive and well-nourished brook trout. I have envisioned schools of rising fish in shallow bays hectically feeding on mayflies. I have tied dry flies, nymphs, and streamers and have spent numerous hours putting the right equipment together.
I have hand-tied leaders and packed everything from small necessities to heavy camera equipment. I have invested considerable amounts of time, energy, and money into the dream of catching a wild, trophy brook trout over the magical eight pound mark, and while the dream might have been inadvertently naïve in character, it has definitely been within the realm of realization – up until now, it seems. If this weather continues, we won’t be able to venture out on Igloo Lake and fish its many bays and islets.
FOR THE PAST FEW DAYS we’ve sought refuge from the weather and fished the local area near the lodge, where a short river stretch drains out of the lake before plummeting blindly into the first of a series of smaller lakes on its route to the Eagle River: The mightiest of all the rivers in Newfoundland and Labrador’s trickling and lush green glacial realm.
The river isn’t unlike other rivers that I’ve fished in, for instance, Swedish Lappland. It meanders through dense forests with anorectically thin pine- and birch trees that tower above an uneven and nu-
trient-rich forest floor where partially exposed roots are superseded by almost fluorescent green moss fringes, blueberry thickets, and mushrooms in myriads of shapes and colours.
Except from the marshy path that leads to all the individual pools in the river, we’re talking about an area practically untouched by man – a wilderness that has been shaped by the seasonal forces of Nature throughout Millenia and the interplay with the local wildlife, which – apart from moose, reindeer, caribou, otters, beavers, and other rodents – include bears, wolves, lynx, wolverines, and a vast number of bird species, including ospreys, bald eagles, and loons.
IT’S EARLY SEPTEMBER. The river’s steep banks sporadically light up in narcis-yellow and fiery red colours. A heavy and quivering morning mist hoovers above its fleeting and slightly peat-coloured water masses. Here and there, a small brook trout rises and vehemently tears an unsuspecting insect off the surface film.
The biggest brook trout lurk along the bottom; in the deepest channels, behind big boulders, and below smaller cascades and waterfalls. They’re clad in golden and violet colours, they’re well-fed and broad-shouldered – and especially the males are aggressive and territorial. They are here because they’ve experienced a sudden- and at the same time both incomprehensible and irresistible gravitation towards the river; its riveting, oxygen-rich water and its many pools and gravel bars.
The spawning is – if not imminent, then at least under way. And it won’t take many weeks before the river floor is alive with brightly coloured fish, all of them tending to the same agenda: To pass along their genes and ensure the survival of their species. At that point in time, Igloo Lake Lodge will be closed down for the season, and the surrounding landscape will seem dormant; crouched under a heavy blanket of snow, at one and the same time out of sight and remarkably
eye-catching. The river, too, will slowly succumb to the relentless weight and harshness of winter - only exposed here and there by waterfalls, cascades, and whirling seams, but - by and large - covered in ice and snow, and under the cover of a darkness that won’t lift for months. When the darkness finally dissipates, new life will emanate from underneath the gravel bars, and small brook trout alevin will find their niche inside the river, - in life, and in the greater context that comprises the complex life world of the Labrador wilderness. The miracle of life seems that much greater here where such a harsh and inhospitable climate has to be continually overcome.
WE’RE AT ARCHIE’S POOL; a place where the river dumps headlong into a bigger pond – or perhaps, more correctly, a small lake. Here, a long lie extends into a quiet bay where fish have recently started to pile up. Already on the first cast, I feel the tug from a fish that aggressively collides with the big, black zonker at the end of my leader. A series of heavy pulls propagate through the fly rod, and after a few ensuing minutes of relentless pressure, I see the first orange-red flashes below the surface where the fish is thrashing around.
Travis Pinsent, our young and charismatic guide, materializes by my side, and it isn’t long until he nets the fish and tows it towards shore. Inside the knotless mesh netting lies a male, about 56 centimeters in length, and with a body that conjures up mental images of a Mexican wrestler – a wrestler in a tight-fitting and flamboyantly decorated tricot.
With its pronounced kyped jaw and a sinister look in its eyes, this fish surely looks like a primitive brawler, but there is also a subtle elegance to it – something stylish and iconic about the blushing strokes of fiery red in its flanks and the many saturated indigo- and bright olive spots that have been strewn so generously along them.
The fish is a little bit shy of seven 7 lbs, and after a few quick pictures it cuts through the surface film and glides gracefully back into the fleeting water masses and settles somewhere along the bottom of the lie. We land an additional four fish within a relatively short timeframe. After that, the activity decreases – dramatically. We experience the same thing at most of the river’s pools, and the tendency only seems to be getting more and more pronounced as the week progresses: A clear symptom that we’re a total of eight fly fisherman at the lodge taking turns and working our way through a limited number of pools with limited numbers of fish.
The river is both technically challenging and exciting to fish: It’s a real pocket water fishery where presentation is of the utmost importance, where you need to read the water thoroughly, and where your approach should be both careful and stealthy – a fishery, where every single landed fish feels both deserved and meriting.
We land several incredibly beautiful brook trout in the vicinity of 7lbs in the river, but we can’t help but feel like we’re missing out on something. It is as if the whole trip is somewhat unredeemed: As if our gravitation towards the lake’s wide blue expanse – and all the secrets that lie underneath its surface –only continue to grow stronger as the week progresses. And even though, compared to other brook trout destinations across the globe, we’ve had spectacularly good fishing again today, it is with a burning sensation of heartbreak precipitated in our bodies that we wrap things up and head back to the lodge.
FLUORESCENT GREEN NORTHERN LIGHTS dance enticingly across the pitch-black night sky later that day. Incalculable amounts of stars stand out, with quivering clarity, against the depthless dark of the celestial concave while the Milky Way oozes ghostly across the night sky above the lodge, like some thick fog out there in the abysmal nothingness.
The brook trout in Igloo Lake are generally wellfed. They feed voraciously since the summers are generally shortlived.
My trusty fishing buddy, Martin, is there silently by my side. His gaze, too, wanders leisurely up and down alternating between the starlit ceiling above us and the lake’s lightly-twinkling and drowsily resting oil-like surface below. The winds have died down during the evening. We’ve both noticed that. And even though none of us dare say it out loud, there is now hope that, tomorrow, the conditions will be favorable. Perhaps, we’ll finally be able to head out in one of the 16’ fiberglass canoes moored at the lodge and explore the many bays, drop-offs and islets on Igloo Lake?
The next morning all of our hopes are finally honored. The winds have lost their breath, Igloo Lake is more or less like a big mirror, and the following two days we experience some of the fishing that we dreamed about before arriving here. It’s still cold - cold to the point that the mayfly hatches on the lake are minimal, and we only see a sporadic few fish rise in the turbid water. It doesn’t matter though. We have absolutely no scruples casting big streamers. Now is the time to hunt for that fabled 8lb fish.
Two days after the dramatic weather change, we’re fishing Burton’s Pond – an atmospheric lake northwest of Igloo Lake’s northern shoreline. Here, we hook up with several fish in sublime condition and, by the end of the day, we’ve boated and released an awe-inspiring 20 brook trout with an average weight of 5lbs – and with several hard-fighting individuals up to 7lbs. Best of all, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the day, immensely relieved in knowing that my objective of catching a fish over 8lbs is already under the belt.
We saw the fish rolling immediately after we’d arrived “
Streamers work wonders for brook trout. But there are days, when the fish rise to different mayflies, caddis and midges. When they do, some extraordinary dry fly fishing can be had.
THE DAY BEFORE – ON IGLOO LAKE, IT FINALLY HAPPENED! We had driven the canoe to Beaver Pond; a small outpouching in the western corner of Igloo Lake where a little feeder stream comes in. We saw the fish rolling immediately after we’d arrived. It porpoised at the very back of the lie, and the wakes left very little to the imagination regarding its size.
I slowly worked my way down the lie, and once I was in the right spot – and the big, pulsating streamer swung cross-current in front of the fish – it burst onto the fly and inhaled it without any reflection or hesitation.
The fight was intense and hectic, like a battle of life and death. And it wasn’t until our guide shot the net under the fish that I realized –with great relief, how much tension and nervousness had built up in my body during the whole ordeal. It was cathartic! And, at the same time, a huge privilege to bear witness to such a magnificent and pristine old warrior of a brook trout.
The measuring tape had to be stretched out to a little more than 60 centimetres to fathom the full length of the fish, and with its broad back, distended belly and robust frame, neither the guide nor I had any doubts that it was comfortably breaking the 8lb mark. The fact that it had the most beautiful white fin strokes, refined marbled pat-
terns along the back and dorsal fin, and a colour span along the flanks that went from olive, through purple, to violet nuances only made the fish more memorable.
There wasn’t a single scar or misplaced scale on the fish. It was well worth the arduous trip across the Atlantic, and it was a stark and poignant reminder what certain bodies of water are capable of producing, when they’re set in places and surroundings that are as good as devoid of human activity and influence: Divinely beautiful fish in sizes that, otherwise, belong to a distant – but hopefully not completely lost – past.
NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR is a province in the far-eastern corner of Canada bordering the Atlantic Ocean. It covers an area of about 400.000 km2, which makes it approximately 10 times bigger than my home country, Demark. Meanwhile, its population is only one tenth of that of Denmark, which currently provides a home for some 5,8 million people. In other words, we’re talking about an enormous, wide spanning, and decidedly desolate area with a harsh climate – a place that served as a landing site for the first European immigrants into North America led by Viking, Leif den Lykkelige, in the time period around year 1000AD. Since then, Irishmen, Scots, and Frenchmen have settled here among the four indigenous local peoples, which mainly consist of Innuits.
IGLOO LAKE LODGE is the only lodge on Igloo Lake – an approximately 12,5 km2- and surprisingly shallow glacial lake, which is found in the middle of the Canadian outback out of anything but a floatplane’s reach. The atmospheric and authentic wooden lodge caters to 10 guests, and it is comfortably equipped with two big living rooms, which provide the perfect setting for evening chats and drinks. The food is wholesome and delicious, and – generally speaking, the service level is brilliant.
The lodge also offers seasonal fly-outs for Atlantic salmon and arctic char. For additional information about the lodge: http://www.igloolake.com/ and for booking enquiries: fish@arcticchar.ca
Rasmus Ovesen with the biggest fish of the trip –a 4kg+ male brook trout with massive shoulders that was found at a small inlet.
9’ 6-weights are perfect all-rounders for targeting brook trout. They can handle the biggest streamers, and - with a subtle floating linethey double as dry fly and nymphing rods.
If you’re lucky you can see very vivid northern lights when visiting Igloo Lake. This was a beautiful calm and start-lit early-September night.
THE FISHING is confined, primarily, to Igloo Lake itself, the close-by Burton’s Pond, and the river that flows out of Igloo Lake close to the lodge. 16’ fiberglass canoes, that are wide enough for guests to stand up and cast out of, are used to manoeuvre around Igloo Lake. At Burton’s Pond, Linder aluminium boats are used, while the river is fished on foot in waders.
The equipment used is fairly light. 9’ #6-7 rods paired up with WF floating- or intermediate lines are the norm. During the dry fly season, you might consider using lighter rods, but it’s worth remembering that the average brook trout in the lake is around 5lbs and that they are packed with muscles. Additionally, there are lots of craggy boulders and rocks in the lake that will tear up leaders and tippets if your tackle isn’t capable of applying the necessary pressure on the fish during the fight. This is also the reason why the guides recommend durable nylon leaders and tippets that exceed 10lbs in breaking strength.
For streamer fishing, relatively big, 10 to 12-centimeter zonkers (or Zuddlers) tied on sturdy hooks with a little bit of added weight are typically used. Black, olive, and grey flies work well on cloudy days. Brightly coloured purple, chartreuse, and yellow flies – optionally with some added Flashabou – can be surprisingly effective too, sometimes. Frequent fly changes can be necessary in order to connect on days when the fish are finicky and moody. On such days, seemingly random colours on the flies can make a huge difference.
During the dry fly season, which spans from mid-June until the end of July, the fish are typically rising to green drakes (Ephemera Guttulata). Although caddis, mosquitoes, blue duns, and sulphurs are also capable of providing great sight-fishing opportunities on the lake, high-floating green drake imitations tied on size 10 - 14 hooks are the go-to flies when the trout are hectically feeding on top in the many shallow bays. One must not forget, however, that once the fish start rising, they can also be caught on, for instance, mice patterns, bombers and other surface flies, which most fly fishermen would normally associate with pike-, bass-, salmon-, or steelhead fishing.
Last but not least, it pays off to bring a selection of nymphs and especially scuds. Scuds are present in prolific quantities throughout the lake, and they make up an easy and nutrient-rich food source for the brook trout.
CLOTHES for Igloo Lake should be packed with great care and attention since the weather can be unpredictable. Your packing list should include warm inner layers (preferably wool layers), middle layers (fleece, PrimaLoft) in addition to wind- and weather resistant shell garments (GoreTex). Furthermore, you should pack breathable waders, a wool-Buff, a cap, finger gloves, warm socks, polarized sunglasses, insect-repellent sportswear like, for instance, Simms’ Bugstopper shirts, a mosquito head net, and insect spray. The Labrador summers are capable of providing both warm and sunny weather, but especially the beginning- and end of the season can be deceptive with freezing temperatures at night and cold, wet, and windy days on the water.
THE LOGISTICS involved, when it comes to reaching Igloo Lake Lodge, are rather overwhelming. From Europe, you’re looking at transferring from one of the major international airports to either Toronto or Montreal and from there via Halifax (or St.John’s) and onwards to Goose Bay in Labrador. Here, you’ll need to arrive a day in advance, before eventually flying out to Igloo Lake on a Twin Otter floatplane. For more information, please refer to www.aircanada.com/
They stem from innovative design, cutting-edge materials, and tenacious testing. They’re also the end result of a painstaking process implemented by skilled workers who pledge allegiance to it every day.
From a blank roll of GORE-TEX fabric, the same hands that double-haul sink tips and stroke drift boat oars cut, sew, and tape every wader that bears their mark. Each stitch is sweated for perfection.
Every cut is made with fluid motion in mind. And confidence abounds at every step of the process. For over 30 years, this process has connected anglers around the world with their best days on the water.
Fishing is fishing, but more importantly, gear that performs at the highest level allows all anglers to embrace the overall fishing experience and all the unique nuances that occur before and after the catch.
Every moment we spend on the water should always be cherished and savored – and never taken for granted. At Simms, we’ve come to realize that fishing isn’t a pastime. It’s not a hobby. And it’s not a sport. Fishing is our way of life. And we firmly believe we all owe it to ourselves to make as much time as possible to do the things we truly live for.
After all, you get one life.
#FishItWell.
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Patented front & back leg seams deliver articulated fit, improved mobility, and increased durability
Abrasion-resistant built-in Neoprene Gravel Guards
Anatomically engineered neoprene stockingfeet with anti-microbial finish
Built-in low-profile
FABRIC TECH:
3-LAYER GORE-TEX® PRO SHELL IN UPPER; 4-LAYER GORE-TEX® PRO SHELL IN SEAT & LEGS
WAIST HIGH CONVERSION < BUILT-IN GRAVEL GUARDS < HOURGLASS STOCKINGFOOT <
Guide Classic Stockingfoot is a time honored, durability-first, fundamental performer featuring the perfect blend of breathability and comfort. It’s a get-backto-basics wader if your version of “basic” hinges on uncompromising performance and durability. Assembled and individually tested in Bozeman, Montana.
Attached sewn-in Tippet Tender™ pocket with retractor docking station & tippet spool sleeves included
Reach-through hand warmer chest pocket with zippered top stash pocket
Built-in low-profile back belt loops with high and low options; 1.5 inch stretch nylon belt included
Reinforced lower legs with GoreTex 4-layer laminate construction
Anatomically engineered neoprene stockingfeet with anti-microbial finish
FABRIC TECH:
UPPER: 3-LAYER GORE-TEX PRO
LOWER: 4-LAYER GORE-TEX PRO STOCKINGFOOT & GRAVEL GUARD: 100% NEOPRENE
WAIST HIGH CONVERSION < BUILT-IN GRAVEL GUARDS < HOURGLASS STOCKINGFOOT <
The Flyweight Packable Wader embraces all the wa terproof breathability of your favorite waders into a lightweight, self-stowing package for easy travel. Features include a rugged 4-layer lower, waist- to chest-high adjustability, and a comfortable stocking foot that syncs with a full range of wading footwear.
Top access zippered stretch pocket
Lightweight, packable Toray 2.5-layer upper to ensure waterproofing and breathability from the waist up
The innovative suspender design enables convertibility from chest-high protection to a waist-high solution
Patented front & back leg seams deliver articulated fit, improved mobility, and increased durability
Abrasion-resistant built-in Gravel Guards
The stockingfeet are embossed 1mm neoprene which makes this wader convertible, packable and lightweight
Easy on-off and adjustment possibilities.
FABRIC TECH:
UPPER: 2.5 LAYER TORAY
LOWER: TORAY QUADRALAM 4-LAYER
WATERPROOF BREATHABLE LAMINATE
WAIST HIGH CONVERSION
BUILT-IN GRAVEL GUARDS HOURGLASS STOCKINGFOOT
WADING BELT 50MM & 38MM - SIMMS ORANGE, CAMO CARBON, AVALON TEAL (38MM)
Constructed with 50mm/2” wide elastic webbing and a low profile side release buckle // Adjustable from 30” to 52” (76 - 132cm)
WATERPROOF WADER POUCH - CARBON
TRU® Zip waterproof self-healing zipper for 100% waterproof submersible protection // Touch-screen compatible clear window allows access to electronics without entering the pouch // Large size accommodates most phones
WADING STAFF ALUMINIUM - BLACK
Lightweight yet highly durable 7075 aluminum tubing with coated stainless steel cable and ribbed closed-cell foam handle // Simple yet firm deployment opens and closes in seconds // Extended closed-cell foam handle for multiple grab heights
BACKSAVER MAGIC BELT - BLACK
Greatly reduces lower back stress and fatigue - a musthave for any angler with back issues // Highly breathable, structured mesh for ventilation // two-part adjustable Velcro closure for an anatomical fit
NEOPRENE WADING BELT - BLACK
5-mm neoprene provides comfortable alternative to standard wading belts // Holds shape when tight for safe-wading // New heavy-load buckle for added strength & safety // 5 cm high density neoprene with a hook-&-loop side adjustment
DRY CREEK TECH POUCH - BLACK
TRU® Zip waterproof self-healing zipper for 100% waterproof-submersible protection // Touch-screen compatible clear window allows access to electronics without entering the pouch // Large size accommodates most phones // TRU® Zip
WADING STAFF RUBBER TIP - BLACK
RETRACTOR: Braided Spectra cable is extremely strong Extends up to 3 ft. // Connects to both Wading Staff strap & sheath. RUBBER TIP: StreamTread™ rubber tip grips between rocks & crevasses //Perfect for hike-to-fish applications // Quieter in the water than aluminum tip
ACCESS TECH BELT - BLACK
Highly breathable, perforated EVA foam sandwiched between moisture-wicking stretch woven back panel and bomber 210-denier nylon outer shell for comfort and durability // Compression-molded net holster sewn onto center-back for quick access and easy storage
TIPPET TENDER POCKET - BLACK
Keep your tippet, tools and flies handy and organized with Simms’ requisite zip-in wader pocket. Lightweight yet durable 210-denier nylon ripstop construction // Dual entry zippers allow easy access to main compartments // Exterior stretch mesh pockets are secured by hook and loop and accommodate most tippet brands
SHARKFIN BUCKLE - BLACK
Keep your hemostats close at hand with our patented buckle that clips into your wader suspenders // Compatible with any Simms wader with Duraflex Buckles, excludes Headwaters Stockingfoot
Loaded with smart features and built for years of abuse, breathable, mobility-friendly Freestone Z Stockingfoot & Bootfoot waders come equipped with a convenient zippered construction for easy on/off and quick relief when nature comes knocking.
Stretch elastic suspenders with Simms custom opposing male and female buckles
Upper chest pocket array features dual side-access stretch-woven zippered storage pockets, micro-fleece lined handwarmer pockets and integrated loop fly patch
Dual fleece-lined handwarmer pockets
Patented front and back leg seams deliver articulated fit, improved mobility, and increased durability
Patented, abrasion-resistant, built-in Gravel Guards
Anatomically engineered, built-in rubber boots
FABRIC TECH:
4-LAYER TORAY® QUADRALAM UPPER & LOWER STOCKINGFOOT & GRAVEL GUARD: 100% NEOPRENE
WAIST HIGH CONVERSION < BUILT-IN GRAVEL GUARDS < HOURGLASS STOCKINGFOOT
The ultimate wader for your almighty dollar, the Freestone Wader Range has been refined through years of testing and tweaking and is infused with decades of Simms wader DNA for a determined daily driver — regardless of where you fish. Available in the colours: Smoke and Midnight.
Stretch elastic suspenders with Simms custom opposing male and female buckles for easy waist-high conversion
Upper chest pocket array features a top access stretch woven storage pocket, micro-fleece lined hand-warmer pockets and integrated loop fly patch
Gusseted & zippered fly improves fit & ease of on-off Built-in Tippet Tender Pocket
Dual rear belt loops; 38mm stretch elastic wading belt included
Patented front & back leg seams deliver articulated fit, improved mobility, and increased durability
FABRIC TECH: DURABLE AND BREATHABLE TORAY QUADRALAM 4-LAYER UPPER & LOWER
WAIST HIGH CONVERSION < BUILT-IN GRAVEL GUARDS < HOURGLASS STOCKINGFOOT <
Kids, Women’s, Men’s
The best value in wading, the Tributary collection from Simms features every ounce of Simms high-performing wader DNA in an affordable package. Breathable & comfortable waterproof polyester 3-layer upper & 4-layer lower.
Custom Duraflex buckles throughout
Built-in Tippet Tender Pocket
Reach-through fleece lined hand-warming pocket with zippered top stash pocket and integrated fly patch
“Whoa-now” grab handle built into the back of wader to hold kiddos close when they wade too deep
Built-in Gravel Guards with gathered elastic bottom hem Single rear belt loop with 38mm non-stretch wading belt
Anatomically engineered neoprene stockingfeet with anti-microbial finish
FABRIC TECH:
BREATHABLE & COMFORTABLE WATERPROOF POLYESTER 3-LAYER UPPER & 4-LAYER LOWER
WAIST HIGH CONVERSION <
BUILT-IN GRAVEL GUARDS <
HOURGLASS STOCKINGFOOT <
Felt & Vibram
The most advanced wading boot on the water, G4 PRO Powerlock Boot offers supreme durability and superior grip thanks to state-of-the-art materials working in lockstep with the new Powerlock cleat system for on-the-fly traction customization.
FABRIC TECH:
OUTSOLE- 12MM FELT WITH BUILT-IN POWERLOCK SYSTEM; UPPER- HIGHLY ABRASION-RESISTANT SCRATCH LEATHER
Partial neoprene lining for comfort and easy on/off
Dual density EVA midsole for comfort
Molded TPU heel counter for comfort and in-stream ankle support
Vibram Idrogrip outsole with built-in Powerlock system for quick and customizable traction adjustment
Powerlock System for quick and customizable traction. Includes two sets of cleats: 14 G4 PRO Powerlock Aluminum Cleats. 14 G4 PRO TPR Cleats.
FABRIC TECH:
OUTSOLE- VIBRAM® IDROGRIP RUBBER; UPPERHIGHLY ABRASION-RESISTANT SCRATCH LEATHER
Felt & Virbram
The key to powering through the obstacles of a river system is great footing. The rugged, responsive Guide BOA Boot stacks agility and stability in your favor with maximum Vibram traction and an exacting BOA-lacing system fit.
FABRIC TECH: TPU OUTSOLE PLATE FOR STUD RETENTION
12mm synthetic felt outsole or Vibram Idrogrip Outsole Full TPU coated upper for durability
TPU outsole plate for stud and cleat retention BOA Fit System to dial into fast, effortless, precision fit
closed-cell neoprene foam lining
Rubber toe and heel overlays for added protection
FABRIC TECH: VIBRAM IDROGRIP OUTSOLE
A true trail-to-river vehicle. Light on weight, heavy on performance. Built with relentless dual Vibram compound in G.O.A.T. construction, this boot offers unmatched stability, unparalleled grip, and next-level comfort. Access Boots delivers game-changing slip resistance and superior durability.
FABRIC TECH: TPU WOVEN, TPU OVERLAYS, TPU HEEL COUNTER, VIBRAM IDROGRIP FLEX ZONE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE OUTSOLE
Your lean, mean, trail-to-river machine. The Flyweight Access Wading Boot cut ounces in exchange for maximum output, relentless grip, and standup stability and comfort. Optimized for best-in-class wet-slip resistance, the exclusive-to-Simms Vibram Idrogrip Flex outsole is engineered with a rubber compound that is softer and therefore grippier than the sole materials in other Simms wading boots.
FABRIC TECH: VIBRAM IDROGRIP LITE OUTSOLE, SS MIDSOLE ANCHOR POINTS FOR STUD RETENTION DUAL DENSITY EVA MIDSOLE
Felt & Virbram
A fully considered update to one of the most capable, comfortable wading boots in the Simms line, the Flyweight Boot is a balanced blend of lightweight, travel-ready performance, grippy Vibram® traction, and the kind of no-quit durability that gets it done.
FABRIC TECH: COMPATIBLE WITH SIMMS HARDBITE STUDS
12mm synthetic felt outsole provides great traction / or Vibram Idrogrip with Traction Lug outsole optimizes stability while walking and wading in water
Drain holes included in the boot so water does not stay trapped
High cushion dual-density EVA midsole for comfort and stability
Molded, rubber toe wrap and abrasion panels protect against wear and tear
Integrated lace guides for stability and optimal fit
FABRIC TECH: TPU-BASED SYNTHETIC WOVEN UPPER MATERIAL VIBRAM IDROGRIP OUTSOLE
Waterproof, synthetic scratch leather upper with toe and heel reinforcement // Partial neoprene lining for comfort and easy on/off Dual density EVA midsole for a comfortable ride underfoot // Updated rubber outsole package is compatible with Simms Hardbite Star Cleats, Hardbite Studs and Alumibite Star Cleats
Rugged synthetic leather and mesh with scratch rubber overlays in high abuse areas // Bomber, corrosion-resistant lacing hardware // Fully-gusseted tongue helps prevent debris from getting inside
Waterproof, synthetic scratch leather upper with toe and heel reinforcement // Partial neoprene lining for comfort and easy on/off // Dual density EVA midsole for a comfortable ride underfoot // 12mm felt outsole is fully compatible with Simms Hardbite Felt Studs
Bomber, corrosion-resistant lacing hardware // Fully-gusseted tongue helps prevent debris from getting inside // Full neoprene lining for durability and ease of on and off // 12mm Synthetic Felt Outsole
CHALLENGER® INSULATED BOOT
Vulcanized rubber outer, 7mm of neoprene insulation, and grid fleece lining // Simms Freestone rubber outsole offers traction in a multitude of environments and is fully compatible with Simms Hardbite Studs, Cleats, and Alumibite Cleats // Non-marking outsole
CHALLENGER® SLIP-ON SHOE 7”
Vulcanized rubber outer, neoprene cuff, and grid fleece lining // Non-marking outsole // Pull-on loop for easy on and off // 7” cuff height
CHALLENGER® SLIP-ON SHOE 5”
Vulcanized rubber outer, neoprene cuff, and grid fleece lining // Non-marking outsole // Pull-on loop for easy on and off // 5” cuff height
Built with durable, non-corrosive saltwater-friendly materials throughout the boot // Molded, rubber toe and heel cap to protect against wear and tear // Non-absorbing foam and neoprene liner for all-day comfort and protection // Non-marking, gum rubber outsole for traction on boat decks
Vulcanized rubber and neoprene hybrid construction for support and comfort // YKK corrosion-resistant zipper // Designed to be worn barefoot or with a light liner sock // Non-marking outsole
FLYWEIGHT
Technical wet-wading socks. Built-in gravel guard sheds water, gravel and muck // Silicone print grip inside gravel guard to help keep it in place // Reinforced lace hook keeps guard from lifting in strong currents
NEOPRENE WADING SOCK
Constructed using 2.5mm abrasion-resistant neoprene in the upper, and perforated 2.5mm neoprene underfoot for drainage // Anatomically correct left and right patterning for superb fit and easy don/doff
Features include a nonslip, contoured design that forms a surefire seal, a loop wrap with Velcro closure, and textured nylon jersey on the underside of the gravel guard for enhanced durability
Constructed using 3.5mm abrasion-resistant neoprene in the upper and gravel guard, and perforated 3.5mm neoprene underfoot for drainage // Anatomically correct left and right patterning for superb fit and easy don/doff // Fold down gravel guard includes boot hook for security
Pull on the Bulkley Bootie before slipping into your waders for added comfort and warmth in the coldest conditions // Low profile, fully insulated construction patterned for use inside of stockingfoot waders in cold water conditions // Stretch knit collar and microfiber outsole for comfort and durability
Includes M2 replacement knob & wire lace for easy lace system replacement in the field // S-M lace length: 100 cm, fits boot sizes 7-10 // L-XL lace length: 110 cm, fits boot sizes 11-14
Custom cleats to provide extra in-stream traction when paired with the G4 PRO Powerlock Boot // Includes 14 cleats; enough for one full pair of boots // Durable aluminum/TPU hybrid construction to balance in-stream grip and long-term durability // Includes custom drill bit for installation
The cleats are soft enough to conform to what’s under your foot as you change locations // With solid footing, your cast is better and you’re free to explore the river
These studs offer traction you can trust, so you can move and explore the river at will.
High quality denier nylon laces for increased lifespan // Feeds easily through boot hooks and eyelets // Laces measure 74” (188cm) long
Custom cleats provide protection for Powerlock docking ports on the G4 PRO Powerlock Boot outsole // TPR construction is flexible and boat deck and raft friendly // Cleats should be installed in the outsole when Aluminum Cleats are not installed to provide protection for cleat docking ports // Includes custom drill bit for installation // Includes 14 cleats; enough for one full pair of boots
Works directly with Vibram® rubber soles for traction you can trust on varied river bottoms and mossy rocks // Durable carbide chips help steady your stance
Replaceable boot studs for solid footing on variable river bottoms in felt wading boots.
The highest-tech wading jacket on the water, our updated G4 Pro® brings a GORE-TEX® Pro 3-layer build to the battle and provides a full suite of fishing features for all your on-foot and boat-focused pursuits. Constructed out of GORE-TEX ® Pro waterproof breathable 3-layer fabric for rugged waterproof performance and intended for severely wet conditions.
3-point adjustable storm hood with a high-visibility center panel
Internal stretch woven zippered pocket for accessory storage
Unique storage array includes dual zippered chest storage pockets with interior stretch mesh dividers and a stowable fly patch tool in the front seam of the jacket
Zippered side-entry handwarmer pockets have integrated pass-through zipper for wader access without removing your jacket
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Adjustable, low profile cuff and hem
High-vis center hood panel Slate
FABRIC TECH:
SHELL: NYLON 3-LAYER GORE-TEX® PRO WEIGHT: 22 OZ. (624 G) IN SIZE MEDIUM
Newly upgraded for 2026, the iconic G3 Guide™ Wading Jacket is the perfect blend of waterproof protection and wade fishing utility. Lightweight and durable, Guaranteed To Keep You Dry 3-layer GORE-TEX® is constructed with a new ePE PFAS-free laminate and C0 DWR.
3-point adjustable brimmed storm hood maintains peripheral vision and quickly cinches to seal out the elements
Shingled, internal cinch watertight cuffs prevent line catch and wetout on sleeves when releasing fish or casting
Articulated sleeves and Cast-Back constructed panel for unrestricted casting motion
Two high-capacity storage pockets are perfect for storing medium sized fly boxes
Internal YKK® zippered chest pocket with micro-fiber lens wipe
Internal dump mesh pocket perfect for storing gloves or additional gear boxes
FABRIC TECH:
LOWER FRONT AND BACK BODY - 3-LAYER
GORE-TEX - 70D 100% NYLON WITH DWR/100% NYLON TRICOT BACKER
When you’re ready to chase the biggest and brightest through the season’s coldest and harshest, the Bulkley sets the insulated-jacket standard for premium warmth meets unwavering wet- and windy-weather protection.
3-panel hood with 3-point adjustable stretch cord to lock out the cold and rain. The brim is bonded to cinch and protect
Exposed YKK center front water-resistant zipper is backed by an internal storm placket, finished with a soft brush tricot zipper guard
Zippered pocket on the upper right arm to store on-water essentials
Two water-resistant hand-warmer pockets for deep wading
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Two vertical chest pockets, and an interior mesh dump pocket
Trap the warmth with PrimaLoft® Silver insulation, lined with a comfortable, breathable polyester
SHELL - 2-LAYER GORE-TEX - 75D 100% POLYESTER WITH PFCECFREE DWR INSULATION - PRIMALOFT® SILVER 100G BODY, 60G SLEEVES, HOOD, COLLAR LINING - 100% RECYCLED POLYESTER 30D TAFFETA SCAN
FABRIC TECH:
Exposed YKK center front water-resistant zipper is backed by an internal storm placket, finished with a soft brush tricot zipper guard // The Jacket includes two water-resistant hand-warmer pockets for deep wading, two vertical chest pockets, and an interior mesh dump pocket // Articulated sleeves with safety hook and loop adjustable cuff.
Powered by a waterproof-breathable GORE-TEX® Pro construction, the updated ProDry Jacket features bolstered durability in high-wear areas and a light er-weight construction in the critical zones where enhanced mobility complements your every move. The ProDry™ Bib is cut from our highest performing stay-dry materials and features a full suite of fish-first features for on-deck anglers.
The 3-way adjustable hood is designed specifically to keep driving rain out without sacrificing your peripheral vision
High collar for extra protection from the elements
Two exterior zippered chest pockets for storage
Articulated sleeves are shaped for ease of movement and provide enough room to accommodate insulating layers under your jacket
Thigh-high 2-way side zipper for easy on/off while wearing boots
Adjustable hem, single kill switch D-ring, and reflective logos for increased visibility on the water.
FABRIC TECH:
JACKET WATERPROOF, BREATHABLE 3L MICROGRID GORE-TEX PRO TECHNOLOGY BIB 3-LAYER GORE-TEX® PRO SHELL; 3-LAYER GORE-TEX® PRO
Now available in an improved durable, stretch 3-lay er textile construction, the Simms Challenger Jacket is the ultimate waterproof, breathable fishing jacket - and the ideal rain suit when paired with Simms Chal lenger Rain Bibs
Integrated 3-way adjustable hood with brim maintains peripheral vision and protection when on fast-moving boats
Internal cinch hood adjustment eliminates pull cords flapping in the wind
Full length YKK® center front relief zipper with storm flap and two brushed micro-fleece lined hand warmer pockets
Flex webbing suspenders with opposing buckles allow the user to drop the top to waist height
TECH:
FACE: 86% RECYCLED NYLON / 14% SPANDEX WITH C0 DWR LAMINATE: WATERPROOF, BREATHABLE BACKER: 100% NYLON
Your dependable, wet-weather workhorse, GORE-TEX Guide Classic Jacket provides relentless rain protection, ample storage for fishing gear and features a timeless waist-length hemline for compatibility with waders and deep wading endeavors.
- Single point adjustable storm hood with high collar and bonded brim to shed rain
Two large chest pockets designed to carry fly boxes and an interior zippered chest pocket for essentials
Two slash hand warmer pockets are placed high behind chest pockets and backed with brush tricot for deep wading warmth
Hook and loop front patch to store drying flies and center back D-ring to attach landing net
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product
Waist-high hemline secures with stretch drawcord to pair up perfectly with waders
FABRIC TECH:
3-LAYER GORE-TEX - 70D 100% NYLON WITH DWR/100% NYLON TRICOT BACKER
WEIGHT: 22 OZ. (624 G) IN SIZE MEDIUM
Simms’ waterproof-breathable Freestone® Wading Jacket brings versatility to any adventure with a motion enhancing cut, ample pockets for storage and a full-time hood. Featuring 3-layer Toray® laminate for waterproof, breathable protection against any storm mother nature presents
Single point adjustable storm hood with high collar and bonded brim to shed rain
YKK® water-resistant front zipper with storm flap
Waist-high zippered hand warmer pockets with micro brushed tricot liner and drain holes, built for wading
Interior stretch-woven zippered chest pocket and adjustable stretch drawcord at hem for secure fit
SCAN
Articulated sleeve construction for maximum movement secured with hook and loop cuff to keep water out
FABRIC TECH:
3-LAYER TORAY - 70D 100% NYLON WITH DWR/100% NYLON TRICOT BACKER WEIGHT: 624 G IN SIZE MEDIUM
VAPOR ELITE
JACKET & BIB
Lightweight, waterproof, and highly breathable, ensuring all-day comfort across a spectrum of conditions // Highly adjustable and secure 3-point-adjust hood // Highly weather-resistant YKK® Aquaguard center front zipper // Two zippered hand pockets and one external chest pocket
FABRIC TECH: Fabric: 100% nylon face and backer; Material: 3L Toray® PrimeFlex™ with C0 DWR treatment
Cold-day mastery (minus the bulky catastrophe), the ExStream® Hooded Jacket is powered by hardworking PrimaLoft® insulation for knockout warmth that punches above its weight.
FABRIC TECH: Body - Toray® pre-quilted stretch fabric - 30D 91% polyester, 9% spandex with durable water repellent finish. Insulation: PrimaLoft® Silver Thermoplume w/ Cross Core™ technology - 200g fill rate throughout.
Jacket: Adjustable hood // Single flapped chest pocket // 2 zippered handwarmer pockets with drainage // Pant: Lightweight and packable 2.5-layer waterproof breathable nylon with DWR rain protection and mechanical stretch movement // Stretch waistband with zipper fly, featuring a D-ring for kill switch anchor
FABRIC TECH: Body fabric- 2.5-layer Toray® 50D 100% nylon w/ C6 DWR
Recycled, stretch knit face fabric is treated with DWR for water resistance and is lined with grid fleece to trap heat // Five-panel hood with high collar
FABRIC TECH: - Body - 48% Recycled Polyester, 45% Recycled Ocean Polyester, 7% Spandex, Stretch Woven with Grid Fleece Back, DWR, 262 gsm
- Chest Pockets and Cuff - 100% Recycled Polyester Interlock Flat Face Knit, DWR, 285 gsmwith DWR
Abrasion-resistant nylon textiles used for both face and liner with C0 DWR finish for water resistance // Durable nylon overlays on the knees and seat // Integrated belt with quick-release buckle and elastic waistband ensures a comfortable fit // Two front hand pockets and two rear drop-in pockets // Articulated knee and gusset construction for freedom of movement
FABRIC TECH: Lavalan® Sport 40G wool lofted insulation
FABRIC TECH: Main/Liner: 85% Nylon, 15% Spandex woven Insulation: 80% Virgin Wool, 20% Corn Based PLA Sturgeon
Lavalan® Sport 60G wool lofted insulation // Abrasion-resistant nylon textiles used for both face and liner with C0 DWR finish for water-resistance // YKK conceal-zippered chest pocket and two concealed-zippered hand pockets // Interior mesh dump pocket for gear storage
Abrasion-resistant nylon textiles used for both face and liner with C0 DWR finish for water-resistance // Adjustable hood maintains peripheral vision and ensures a secure fit // YKK conceal-zippered chest pocket and two concealed-zippered hand pockets // Two interior mesh dump pockets
Mapped Lavalan® Sport 60G wool lofted insulation in the body
Abrasion-resistant nylon textiles used for both face and liner with C0 DWR finish for water resistance // Durable nylon overlays on elbows and chest pocket // Low-profile front snaps for comfort and easy on/off
FABRIC TECH: Main/Liner: 85% Nylon, 15% Spandex woven; Overlays: 96% Nylon (45% recycled) / 4% Spandex woven; Insulation: 70% Virgin Wool, 30% Corn Based PLA
Durable stretch nylon textile for mobility and comfort // Form-fitting 3-panel hood with brim for extra weather protection // YKK® zip front chest pocket and Kangaroo pocket with concealed zippers // Self-gathering cuffs for comfort and a clean look // Interior stuff pocket for packability // Draw cord hem adjustment
FABRIC TECH: 88% Nylon / 12% Spandex, 121 gsm; Double Weave with C0 DWR
Fully windproof construction with a highly secure 3-point-adjustable hood // Reinforced on shoulders and hood with highly abrasion-resistant Spectra® yarn-based overlay // Knit face softshell bonded to a fleece backer for comfort
FABRIC TECH: Main Body: Face: 86% Nylon, 14% Spandex; Back: 100% Polyester; 320 gsm; Overlay: 86% Nylon, 12% PU, 2% Spectra; DWR finish; 134 gsm; UPF 50+
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DESTINATION: ALBERTA, CANADA
I F IT’S HARD GETTING TO, IT’S WORTH GETTING TO.
Let the extra mile be your starting line. From rugged trails to remote waters, we design, develop, and build for what’s beyond. You get one life. Fish it Well.
4-way stretch polyester knit with wool for warmth and moisture management // Raglan sleeve construction for ease of movement, breathability and comfort when layering with other clothing // Low-profile flatlock stitched seams for next-to-skin comfort // Integrated thumb holes in the sleeve // Treated with wicking and Quick-Dry Finish // Anti-microbial finish prevents odor build-up
FABRIC TECH: Main: 92% POLYESTER, 8% WOOL stretch knit; Underarm: 92%
4-way stretch polyester knit with wool for warmth and moisture management // Low-profile flatlock stitched seams for next-to-skin comfort // Comfortable elastic waistband // Treated with wicking and Quick-Dry Finish // Treated with an Anti-microbial finish which prevents odor build-up
FABRIC TECH: Main: 92% POLYESTER, 8% WOOL stretch knit; Gusset and Back Yoke: 92%; POLYESTER, 8% Elastane Stretch Jacquard Mesh
4-way stretch polyester knit with channeled construction for warmth and moisture management // Raglan sleeve construction for ease of movement, breathability and comfort when layering with other clothing // Integrated thumb holes in the sleeve // Low-profile open collar prevents bulk and stacking when layering
FABRIC TECH: Main: 96% polyester, 4% elastane stretch knit; Under arm and cuff: 92%; POLYESTER, 8% WOOL stretch knit
4-way stretch polyester knit with channeled construction for warmth and moisture management // Low-profile flatlock stitched seams for next-to-skin comfort // Internal draw cord waist adjustment // Two drop-in hand pockets
FABRIC TECH: Main: 96% polyester, 4% elastane stretch knit; Under arm and cuff: 92%; POLYESTER, 8% WOOL stretch knit
4-way stretch Storm Fleece Pro with warm lofted fleece interior and C0 DWR finish for water resistance // YKK half-zip chest for venting and easy on/off // Classic kangaroo pocket lined with warm fleece // YKK Conceal Zip waist stow pocket is discrete and secure // Low-profile wrist cuff and waist hem
FABRIC TECH: 92% recycled polyester, 8% spandex 4-way stretch polyester woven with C0 DWR
4-way stretch Storm Fleece Pro with warm lofted fleece interior and C0 DWR finish for water resistance // Dual snap closure with internal drawcord elastic waistband // YKK zip-fly construction // Two YKK Conceal zippered hand pockets and two drop-in rear pockets // Low-profile leg cuff and stirrups
FABRIC TECH: 92% recycled polyester, 8% spandex 4-way stretch polyester woven with C0 DWR
Compression-resistant Polartec® Power Stretch® double layer fleece with durable water repellent // Stretch waistband, cuff and stirrups to keep in place when wearing under waders or bibs //Adjustable waist // Stretch hand pockets
FABRIC TECH: Body - 539 gsm 92% polyester (76% recycled polyester), 8% spandex Polartec® Power Stretch® Heavyweight Solid Velour/Velour Recycled Odor Resist finish
Abrasion & odor-resistant fabric interior // Stretch-woven stirrups 2-way zipper // YKK® corrosion-resistant zipper // Thermo-laminated zippered chest pocket
FABRIC TECH: 95% polyester/5% spandex; Pock et: 85% nylon/15% spandex
NO-SEE-UM BUGSTOPPER SHIRT
TRIBUTARY VEST
CAPACITY: 8 POCKETS
FABRIC TECH: Main Body: 100% Polyester Mesh // Pockets and Back Panel:
A revision of the previous and highly sought-after Master Vest (Japan Special) that was on the market in 2013..
Both sides zipper entry back storage
Two boxed compartments on the back for additional fly box and gear storage
A bridge across the two compartments on the back for a net being steady all the time
FABRIC TECH: 100% NYLON RIPSTOP SHELL FABRIC; 100% POLYESTER MESH
CAPACITY: 20 POCKETS, 1 NET D-RING, ROD HOLDER
FLYWEIGHTTM VEST
CAPACITY: TWO QUICK-ACCESS DROP POCKETS, FOUR ZIPPERED
POCKETS AND TWO SMALL STRETCH MESH POCKETS, 1 REAR POCKET
FABRIC TECH: 150-denier robic nylon with HDPE yarns and DWR coating
All you ever really need is a hand on the rod and a foot in the river, but bringing along an arsenal of gear is a nice bonus. Simms Guide Fishing Vest is spacious, intuitive, and comfortable for outings that last from dawn until dusk.
4 tool attachment D-Rings on front & 1 net D-Ring on back
2 patented built-in retractors for attaching tools
Cushioned, stretch mesh shoulders with padded rib knit collar
FABRIC TECH:
100% NYLON FABRIC WITH DWR FINISH; 100% POLYESTER MESH LINING; WEIGHT: (538.7 G) CAPACITY:
26 TOTAL POCKETS WITH THOUGHTFUL ORGANIZATION STRATEGY
HEADWATERS VEST
CAPACITY: 13 POCKETS
FABRIC TECH: - Main Body: 100% Nylon Ripstop // Lining: 100% Polyester Mesh (380 grams per yard) // Collar: 100% Polyester Ribbed Knit
Elevate your on-water performance with the fast and light Flyweight Vest Pack that combines thoughtful fishing functionality with ample, intuitively designed storage for a vest that does more.
Single-entry backpack main compartment provides 15 liters of long-term storage
Front vest array includes two quick-access drop pockets, four zippered pockets, and two small stretch mesh pockets
Spacer mesh back, side and chest panels provide padding and breathability in warm conditions
CAPACITY:
15L BACKPACK, AVAILABLE IN S/M AND L/XL
FABRIC TECH: 150-DENIER ROBIC NYLON WITH HDPE YARNS AND DWR COATING
G3 GUIDE® BACKPACK
CAPACITY: 61 X 33 X 23CM / 50L
FABRIC TECH: Main Shell: 420D Nylon Double Ripstop with TPU coating; Liner: 200D Polyester
HEADWATERS HIP PACK
CAPACITY: 30 X 18 X 23 CM / 1OL
FABRIC TECH: Durable and water resistant 630 Denier High-Density Oxford Nylon
with TPU coated frontside and PU coated backside
HEADWATERS CHEST PACK
with TPU coated frontside and PU coated backside Waterproof Non-submersible
CAPACITY: FRONT: 28 X 14 X 22CM // BACK: 23 X 8 X 32 CM / 8L
FABRIC TECH: Durable and water resistant 630 Denier High-Density Oxford Nylon fabric with TPU coated frontside and PU coated backside
HEADWATERS BACKPACK
CAPACITY: 28 X 27 X 56 CM / 28L
FABRIC TECH: Durable and water resistant 630 Denier High-Density Oxford Nylon
HEADWATERS SLING PACK
CAPACITY: 38 X 19 X 18 CM / 12L
TECH: Durable and water resistant 630 Denier High-Density Oxford Nylon fabric with TPU coated frontside and PU coated backside
TRIBUTARY HIP PACK
CAPACITY: 35 X 23 X 10CM / 10L
FABRIC TECH: 1680D Ballistic Polyester Shell Fabric w/DWR Coating and backside PU Coating; 200D Polyester Liner
TRIBUTARY SLING PACK
CAPACITY: 38 X 22 X 12CM / 10L
FABRIC TECH: 1680D Ballistic Polyester Shell Fabric w/DWR Coating and backside PU Coating; 200D Polyester Liner
TRIBUTARY CHEST PACK
CAPACITY: 15 X 21 X 9,5CM / 6L
FABRIC TECH: Shell: 100% Recycled 600D Polyester with backside PU coating Liner: 200D Polyester
RIVERKIT WADER TOTE
CAPACITY: 42 X 51 X 30CM / 40L
FABRIC TECH: Body: 600D polyester w/backside PU coating; Mesh: 100% Polyester with PVC coating; Liner: 200D Polyester with PU coating
TACO BAG
CAPACITY: 45L
FABRIC TECH: PU-coated 600 denier ballistic nylon
Magic
SCOUT HIP PACK
CAPACITY: 30 X 23 X 10CM / 10L
FABRIC TECH: 400d Ultra PE blended with polyester. 400D face, 0.5 mil RUV film backing // Contains over 20 recycled plastic bottles per yard // 100% recycled polyester face and CrossPly yarn / 100% recycled polyester backing
Waterproof Fully submersible
DRY CREEK® Z BACKPACK
CAPACITY: 25L
FABRIC TECH: Main Shell: 420D Nylon Double Ripstop with TPU coating; Liner: 200D Polyester
Waterproof Fully submersible
Waterproof Fully submersible
CAPACITY: 12L
DRY CREEK® Z HIP PACK
CAPACITY: 8L
TECH: Main
420D
Waterproof Non-submersible
DRY CREEK®
DUFFEL - M / L
CAPACITY: 155L / 200L
FABRIC TECH: 7x7m 600D ripstop polyester with double side TPU lamination
DRY CREEK® Z SLING PACK
FABRIC TECH: Main Shell: 420D Nylon Double Ripstop with TPU coating; Liner: 200D Polyester
Waterproof Non-submersible
DRY CREEK® ROLLTOP BACKPACK
CAPACITY: 30L
FABRIC TECH: 300D Polyester Ripstop with face PU coating and backside TPU coating Midnight, Black, Simms Orange
DRY CREEK® SIMPLE TOTE
CAPACITY: 50L
FABRIC TECH: Upper material- 300D polyester ripstop with an outside PU coating and inside TPU lamination; Base material600D polyester ripstop with double side TPU lamination
DRY CREEK® DRY BAG - S, M
CAPACITY: S: 10L, M: 20L
FABRIC TECH: 210D Nylon Ripstop with PU Coating and DWR treatment Simms Orange
CAPACITY:
80L DUFFEL BAG
FABRIC TECH: High-Density 420D nylon with Carbonate Coating
Simms Orange
TAILWIND 50L DUFFEL BAG
CAPACITY: 33 X CM X 55CM / 50L
FABRIC TECH: High-Density 420D nylon with Carbonate Coating
TAILWIND ROD CANNON 4-PIECE
CAPACITY: 88 X 15 X 14CM
FABRIC TECH: 900D ballistic polyester
TAILWIND BACKPACK
CAPACITY: 27 X 19 X 46CM / 25L
FABRIC TECH: High-Density 420D nylon with Carbonate Coating
TAILWIND REEL VAULT
CAPACITY: 27 X 15 X 39CM / 20L
FABRIC TECH: 900D ballistic polyester
TAILWIND ROD & REEL VAULT
CAPACITY: 84 X 15 X 23CM / 20L
FABRIC TECH: 900D ballistic polyester
CHALLENGER MESH DUFFEL
CAPACITY: 69 X 28 X 33 CM / 60L
FABRIC TECH: base made of 600D polyester with water-resistant DWR coating (Durable Water Repellent) and backside PU coating; 200D polyester liner
DRY CREEK Z GEAR POUCH
CAPACITY: 2L / 4L
FABRIC TECH: 300D Polyester Ripstop with face PU coating and backside TPU coating
GTS DOUBLE ROD & REEL CASE
CAPACITY: 86 X 13 X 15CM
STASH BAG
GTS ROD & REEL VAULT
CAPACITY: 83 X 23 X 15CM
1680D
FLYWEIGHT BACK PACK
CAPACITY: 30L
FABRIC TECH: Shell: 100% Recycled 600D Polyester with backside PU coating Liner: 200D Polyester
100% neoprene construction keeps beverages cold for the long haul // Two webbing loops to accommodate attachment to 38mm or 2” wide wading belts // Adjustable webbing strap allows for around-the-neck carry
Attachment stems from a stainless steel pin that’s compatible with all Simms waders and packs, while the rugged PE coil extends the reach of your nippers, pliers, and tippet spools to about two feet.
Orange
Keep nippers and other key fishing tools exactly where you need them with this guide-approved, tangle-resistant lanyard // Built from indomitable Dyneema cording, details include anodized machined-aluminum hardware, a stainless steel splitring attachment, and an adjustable fit for all-day comfort // Made in America.
Durable EVA foam - resists deformation and provides constant pressure on the shank of a barbless hook for more secure hold. Durable EVA foam-resists deformation, strong memory for original form // Attach to any Simms vest with Velcro® back // Provides constant pressure on the shank of a barbless hook for more secure hold
Keep nippers, hemostats, and other fishing indispensables at the ready with the Zinger which uses a carabiner attachment for compatibility with your packs, bags, and waders.
Laser cut Hypalon strap that holds any size rod tube or other accessory // Coated Hypalon grips to keep gear from slipping // Easy open & lock cam buckle for adjustability
REVIVEX PRO CLEANER AND REVIVEX WATER REPELLENT MAX WAX, REVIVEX PRO CLEANER, REVIVEX WATER REPELLENT
Refresh, renew and revive your outerwear with ReviveX® Synthetic Fabric Cleaner by Gear Aid™ // Restore the DWR coating on GORE-TEX® jackets and waterproof-breathable outerwear with Revivex Durable Water Repellent.
Max Wax is a silicone-based zipper lubricant in solid stick form that provides maximum lubrication & protection for rain jackets, gear bags, luggage and more.
Simms Orange, Nightfall, Black
Durable injection-molded nylon and stainless steel blade for clean line cutting // No-spring construction guarantees season-after-season of line cutting performance // Built-in lanyard attachment point // Not designed to cut braided line // Made in the USA
FLYWEIGHT PLIER
Pacific, Simms Orange
Keep nippers and other key fishing tools exactly where you need them with this guide-approved, tangle-resistant lanyard // Built from indomitable Dyneema cording, details include anodized machined-aluminum hardware, a stainless steel split-ring attachment, and an adjustable fit for all-day comfort // Made in USA
Simms Orange
Prep gear in advance or make micro-adjustments in the moment with tough, functional Flyweight Pliers - the go-to tool for both freshwater and light-tackle anglers. Unique ergonomic shape allows a variety of grips for anglers with hands of all sizes
Clear
Secure storage for your fishing license with accessories to easily display for authorities.
By Matt Harris
Keen anglers will know that the Rio Marié offers those lucky enough to fish its hallowed waters a chance to catch unquestionably the biggest peacock bass in the world. Most of the IGFA world records were caught on this one river, and the strictly restricted number of anglers and an almost exclusive limitation to catch and release fly-fishing has established an exhilarating and sustainable fishery that produces trophy peacock bass of twenty pounds and more almost every week of the season.
EA trip to the Rio Marié is about so much more than just the fishing. Every minute of every day spent in this impossibly remote corner of the Amazon rainforest, surrounded by howler monkeys, pink dolphins and giant otters, is unforgettable. Dawn is perhaps my favourite time…
My alarm breaks my dream at exactly 5am. I stumble blearyeyed to the shower and feel the scalding water thaw me out of my torpor. The rest of the inhabitants of the big houseboat are still sleeping as I get dressed, grab my camera bag and tip-toe down the corridor and up the stairs to the upper deck. I greet my old friend Leandro, the brilliant chef who has somehow been conjuring his delicious magic in this remote corner of the jungle since I first visited Marié fully ten years ago. Leandro opens the hatch to the top deck, and I thank him as he passes my rucksack up to me after I’ve clambered up the ladder.
As I close the hatch behind me, I hear the first magical sounds of the jungle coming to life. Dawn is a special time in the jungleit’s still cool, and mist hangs in low wreaths over the dark forest. I carefully unpack my camera, allowing the condensation to clear from the lenses, and then set up my drone.
As the first pink rays of the dawn starts painting themselves across the eastern sky, I send the drone up into the cool clear
air. No matter how many times I fly that flimsy little machine up into the sky above the forest, the image of the jungle slowly unfolding below never fails to take my breath away as I watch the images appear on my monitor. As the drone climbs higher, the impossible endless scale of the forest becomes more and more apparent. Far to the east, the barely perceptible mountains of the Serra da Bela Adormecida and the Serra Curicuriari punctuate the horizon, but in every other direction, ranging way out to the border of Colombia and beyond, no matter how high I fly that drone, there is nothing to see but the winding serpentine waters of the Marié and an endless carpet of pristine green jungle all around.
As the shadows start to recede, the macaws, the toucans, the parakeets, the parrots and the countless other spectacular species that populate the jungle greet the dawn with their beguiling chorus, stretching way out across the impossible vastness of the forest. I send the drone out to the west and spin it around to capture the big houseboat that we call home for the week framed against the eastern horizon, where the sun is starting to creep up into the sky and skim its golden light across the countless treetops.
As the sun rises, I carefully drop the drone down to maintain the image of the sun just winking over the horizon and start to take pictures.
All too soon, the magical moment is over - the sun has climbed higher and the subtle rosy hues of the dawn are gone. I pack up my kit and clamber back down the ladder, where Leandro tells me with a wink that there’s a hot pot of fresh coffee in the dining room.
It’s still early, and I have the big room to myself. I pour myself a big steaming cup of coffee and set myself down on the sofa. I look at the numerous IGFA world record certificates framed on the wall, and I wonder if today will be my day? I sip my coffee and my gaze wanders absently to the various flies adorning the modest “tackle shop” in the corner of the room.
Pinawaka
In amongst the numerous gaudy modern streamer patterns, replete with their diverse sparkling collection of materials, my eyes come to rest on an altogether simpler, drabber pattern. I jump up to study it and - as the caffeine kicks in - I realise that I am looking at the ‘Pinawaka’ Fly that my great friend Rodrigo Salles, the architect and founder of the Untamed Angling operation on this extraordinary river has told me about.
As I hold the fly up to the light, I remember Rodrigo’s tale of the Pinawaka: When Rodrigo first approached the Baré and Tukano
tribes to explain that he wanted to work in partnership with them to bring very limited numbers of catch and release fly fishing anglers into the Rio Marié valley in which they have lived for centuries, he felt he should explain the concept of fly fishing. He showed the tribesfolk how ‘first-world’ fishermen catch peacock bass using ‘flies’. At first, Rodrigo showed off the typical rods and reels that are used, but when he came to demonstrating the flies that work best for peacocks - big streamers - an elder of the tribe politely interrupted him and invited Rodrigo to his house to show him something. That something was a Pinawaka.
The Pinawaka is a big streamer fly, the fibres made by the indigenous people of the Marié basin from the shredded bark of a specific tree named ‘Barba de Tucunare’ or Peacock Bass beard, with the hook constructed from the edge of a freshwater cone shell and sharpened to a fine point. There is compelling evidence that the indigenous folk have been using the Pinawaka with a tenkara-style fixed line set-up since at least the 16th century, and possibly for much longer. Certainly, from long before any incursion by colonial conquistadors into this remote corner of the jungle. Rodrigo realised that he and his friends were not the first fly fishermen to fish for Peacock Bass in the remote waters of the Rio Marié after all - the Baré and Tukano had been casting their Pinawakas on the waters of the river for centuries.
It was the start of a firm and special bond between Rodrigo and the indigenous people. Since that fateful meeting, Rodrigo’s company Untamed Angling - which he founded with fellow angling pioneer Marcelo Perez - have worked with the Indigenous folk and the Brazilian Fundação Nacional dos Povos Indígenas to protect and sustain the indigenous culture.
The indigenous legacy
FUNAI is an organisation set up to constructively support the indigenous cultures of Brazil. Anyone who has read Norman Lewis’s extraordinary and heartbreaking article “Genocide” published in the British “Sunday Times” Magazine in 1968 - a harrowing account cataloguing the relentless and grotesque savagery perpetrated on the indigenous peoples of Brazil by the white colonial invaders for over four centuries - will recognise how important the work of FUNAI is. Any angler visiting Rio Marié can feel justly proud that they are contributing to the protection of the Baré and Tukano communities and their way of life.
Untamed Angling split the revenue received to fish the river 5050 with the indigenous people, and this money is ring-fenced so that the tribes-folk receive their share regardless of how profitable (or otherwise) the Untamed operation is, each and every year.
Untamed Angling aren’t naive: they recognise that bringing large amounts of cash revenue into an indigenous community can actually be a recipe for disaster, and so they work with FUNAI and IBAMA (the Brazilian Institute of the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources) to make sure that the revenue is spent constructively in ways that benefit the entire community.
make sure the fishing is sustainable.
Untamed Angling sit down with the elders of the tribes and with FUNAI and IBAMA every year to discuss how the money will be used. This council also helps the villagers to purchase assets like solar panels, engines and boats, directing them to sources providing good value in Manaus and São Paulo rather than local ‘rip-off’ merchants in San Gabriel. Much of the money is also spent on healthcare, which is hugely valuable in these remote communities.
In addition to bringing revenue into the communities, Untamed Angling are bringing local indigenous people directly into the fishing operation, employing a number of the community in the day to day logistical running of the organisation and training a cohort of the young men of the tribes to become guides and
“
Rodrigo realized that he and his friends were not the first fly fishermen to fish for peacock bass.
to work as boatmen. The indigenous people are also directly involved in the scientific study and the measuring and tagging program that helps Untamed Angling and the local community to understand and thus to sustain the peacock bass population of the river.
On my most recent visit to Marié, as well as great old friends like Rafael Costa and Rafael Marques, I was also guided by a number of the native guides - some of whom I have fished with before - and they were, as always, consistently excellent.
One young indigenous guide, Carlos, nicknamed ‘Scorpion’ - stood out in particular. His knowledge of the infinite lagoons and creeks was remarkable, but he also possessed a constant curiosity and an extraordinary ability to learn new things - new knots for instance. ‘Scorpion’ also had a disarmingly warm and friendly personality that made him a pleasure to spend the day with.
Rodrigo Salles believes that the sustainable future of the indigenous communities involves a degree of evolution in their day-to-day existence. The local communities have already had contact with the outside world: the genie is out of the bottle, and the clock cannot be turned back. The Baré and Tukano want to preserve their traditions, but they also what we all want - an easier, safer, more sustainable lifestyle - and to attempt to deny them access to that would be wrong.
Rodrigo Salles and Marcelo Perez of Untamed Angling have done some extraordinary pioneering work in partnering with indigenous communities to allow a few lucky anglers to experience remarkable fishing in the Amazon rainforest in a truly sustainable way. Read more about Rio Marié at https://www.marieriver.com/ And more about other Untamed Angling Destinations at https://www.untamedangling.com/
Matt Harris will be hosting trips to Rio Marie in 2026 & 2027. Want to join? Send Matt an email: mattharris@mattharris.com
Rodrigo believes that creating a vibrant, sustainable future for the indigenous people allows these communities to stand on their own two feet, to be proudly self-sufficient and to refuse the advances and bribes of the illegal miners and loggers that are constantly looking to plunder the valuable natural resources and assets of the Amazon.
Untamed Angling have helped the Indigenous people to use the income from anglers to invest in and maintain guard posts at the confluence of the Marié with Rio Negro and at other strategic points along the river, and the Baré and Tukano people man these posts and immediately report any incursion by illegal poachers and other unauthorised visitors to the Marié.
The sustainable model that Rodrigo and Untamed Angling have used to work with the Baré and Tukano tribes for mutual benefit has worked elsewhere. Rodrigo’s business partner Marcelo Perez has worked in a similar fashion with the Chimané tribe in Bolivia to create the sensational freshwater dorado fishery, Tsimané, and Rodrigo has also worked with the Kayapo people in the Southwest Amazon basin to establish the wonderful Kendjam and Xingu fisheries.
The model is one that allows anglers to experience some of the world’s most exhilarating fly fishing in some of the most pristine and remote environments on earth, while simultaneously contributing to the protection of the indigenous people’s homeland, their traditions and their precious but fragile resources, including the monster Peacock Bass of the Rio Marié. That’s surely worth travelling a very long way to experience.
Leading design and performance, RODMOUNTS makes rod racks for all types of rods and reels.
- Suction mounts feature a lever-lock mechanism that creates suction force when activated
- Suction mounts can adhere to the slightly curved surfaces found on most cars
- Windshield mounting allows for easy use without standing on the doorsill to reach the roof
- Magnets adhere to steel only – Check your car with a refrigerator magnet
- Each magnet mount is 83mm in diameter
- Magnets are equipped with silicone boots to protect your car’s surface
- SUMO can transport up to 6 rods of all types.
Salmon fishing is religion and, as such, it’s only for the inaugurated few. Long-time trout obsessed fly fisherman, Rasmus Ovesen, however, had an
Norwegian salmon river, Gaula, that
it is fully
experience on the
bears evidence to the fact that
possible to convert even the most stubborn unbeliever.
Images by Rasmus Ovesen // Tom Roger Bekkeli
IN JULY 2020, during a summer and a fishing season that was rather untypical due to the onslaught of the corona pandemic, I was presented with a unique opportunity to try and break a lifelong curse: to catch a Norwegian salmon on a fly rod.
With international airline traffic in a state of paralysis and travel restrictions in place, I’d reluctantly had to cancel several highly anticipated trips abroad with trout in mind, and instead had decided – in a rather defeatist mood, to turn my attention towards the fishing possibilities in my new home country, Norway. However, if the reverse of the dubious corona medal was that foreign fisheries were suddenly off-limits for my wanderlust soul, the obverse side was that Norway, correspondingly, was now off-limits for foreign salmon fishermen. The result, now that all-manner of overly hyped salmon rivers were no longer hoarded by upper-class fly fishermen with superior purchasing power, was that exciting new possibilities were up for grabs across Norway.
however, hasn’t changed my abject perspective on Norway –and it certainly hasn’t altered the fact that I’m a complete novice when it comes to fly fishing for salmon.
I’ve always felt especially inferior and small around Norwegian salmon fishermen; like a nervous and paranoid outsider who can’t seem to understand an internal joke – constantly on guard, suspicious and attentive to laughter behind my back. Nevertheless – in a moment of dazed apathy, I am persuaded to spend three days on the River Gaula’s NFC-beats in the beginning of July along with my colleague Tom Roger Bekkeli, who belongs to the Norwegian band of self-proclaimed “salmon” fishermen.
Salmon have always seemed to me a bit of a phantom fish: A non-existing fish species, invented and marketed by unscrupulous Norwegian profiteers who have long since been in the business of emptying the pockets of visiting Danish fishermen with sausage fingers and blank, naïve eyes under gaudy beer hats. I know because I was, once, one of them. Stupid as I was, it took me at least nine Norwegian salmon trips with the local fishing club before it finally dawned upon me that Norwegian salmon don’t really exist. The body of hardcore empirical data, by then, was simply too overwhelming and significant to be ignored anymore.
THE SALMON FISHING TRAUMAS of my childhood and upbringing – and the sense of shameful naivety, have remained with me ever since, even despite the fact that, as an adult, I’ve (somewhat shell-chocked by puzzlement) happened to debunk my own myths about the fabricated existence of salmon by landing solid amounts of shiny bright specimens in Iceland. Having done so,
Funnily enough, once I’ve made the decision to go, I’m actually starting to look forward to the trip. I welcome the Gonzo-journalistic opportunity to probe and investigate, and I envision two potential scenarios, of which the latter invariably strikes me as the most favourable and, not least, probable: Either we will catch fish, which – in spite of the involved undermining of my life-long conspiracy theories – I’m embarrassed to admit, kind of appeals to the scorned and under-stimulated salmon fisherman inside me. Or we will catch absolutely nothing, which in turn will bring me in a unique position to reveal the delusions of one of my fellow countrymen and, through him, blatantly expose the treacherous and dirty business of the Norwegian salmon fishing industry as a whole.
THE RIVER GAULA meanders majestically downstream; spellbound by its rocky course at the bottom of the lush green Gauldal Valley southeast of Trondheim in the County of Trøndelag. Its transient and iridescent water masses scintillate and sparkle underneath the sun, which sporadically oozes through a torn, lead-grey cloud cover. Bird song – lightly strained from trying to cut through the gushing drone of the river, is heard in
the dense tree crowns. The smell of fresh, rain-laden sediments under well-worn wading boots, clings in the air.
We’ve followed a densely vegetated path and are now situated on the banks of the Gaula River upstream from Støren in a spot where the fierce spring-flooding back in May has now tapered off, thereby exposing a big plateau of fist-sized abraded granite rocks. A long run with deep water and steady current stretches all the way to a big bend further downstream, where a shallow neck accelerates the water. Not even the most myopic disbeliever would find it difficult to figure out where all the phantom fish are likely to be lined up.
Tom, naturally, insists that I do the initial sweep of the beat. And even though, deep within, I know that he is busy and fully focused on setting up just the right equipment for this particular beat – with the right line, a carefully adapted tapered leader, and a weight-balanced fly in just the right colour nuance to make it pop discretely in the water – I can’t help but feel like his eyes are firmly fixated on me, patiently waiting for me to hook myself in the neck while casting, trip and fall on snot-slick rocks or, in some other way, show my true colours as the insecure and fraudulent amateur I am. But I have no intentions of granting him that pleasure.
“
No one is going to blame me for having spooked any phantom fish today!
My plan is to fish the whole run with my light single-handed fly rod; to send a series of impressively long casts towards the opposite bank and stretch my leader delicately across the water while resolutely wading downstream one careful step at a time, conscious about not disturbing the water with a disproportionate amount of casts thereby providing Tom with a legitimate excuse when his turn is finally up and he fishes the whole run without inducing any strikes. No one is going to blame me for having spooked any phantom fish today!
I TAKE A DEEP AND REVERENT BREATH – a bit like you do when turning the first page of a brick-like novel – and psychologically mobilise for the mechanical work task ahead of me. I’ve done this on numerous different occasions throughout the years on more or less obscure and
unknown salmon rivers in southern Norway, and I anticipate the workload with the same lukewarm and measured enthusiasm as an athlete attending a training camp.
The first cast lands at the very top of the run - below a steep, tree-clad bank - and the steady current quickly forms a big bend in the line that effectively propels and accelerates the fly cross-current until it eventually reaches the slack water immediately downstream from where I’ve waded in.
This is textbook salmon fishing, I think to myself, but then –suddenly self-aware and conscious of my thoughtlessnessquickly rid myself of the sentiment. If salmon fishermen actually have some kind of sacred scripture or holy book, I suspect that it was written by some self-absolving L. Ron Hubbard-like person more preoccupied with dividend and commercial mysticism than immersion and altruism. Someone who is more into fiction than facts.
I move a bit further downstream, recast the line at an angle, swing the fly across the fleeting water masses, and forcefully repeat - and soon I find myself in a familiar trance-like state in which my perception of time and consciousness of self gradually evaporates and I succumb to the subtle tactless pulse of the river. Everything flows and I give in to whatever it is that moves me.
THEN, SUDDENLY, THE IMPOSSIBLE HAPPENS. Amidst my apathetic reveries, like lightning from clear skies, a violent pull transmits through the line and something big and silvery thrashes around in the surface. It feels like an electrical chock, like an extremely tangible – almost paralyzingly physical sign from a higher power, and it branches through every neuro-fibre in my body so abruptly that I completely melt down. My reaction, predictably enough, is to lift the rod like an overly excited trout fisherman, a victim of the unconscious memory of his muscles. The result is just as predictable: I effectively yank the fly out of the fabled fish’ jaws and am consequently left stunned and disillusioned; like a child that has just burnt his hand on a candle.
Tom Roger Bekkeli is an impressive fly caster and a highly experienced salmon fisherman.
I turn around to see if anyone was watching. Unfortunately, “someone” was. “
I do what most other fly fishermen would have done if they’d just made a fool of themselves; I turn around to see if anyone was watching. Unfortunately, “someone” was. Tom, ostensibly, has been keeping a keen eye on me. He sits there on the bank with his arms spread widely to each side, a face full of surprise and a yawningly open mouth, which – at closer inspection – looks as if it’s protruding into his cheeks forming a poorly suppressed smirk.
I’M BURNING UP WITH INTENSE SHAME. I’ve done exactly what I wasn’t supposed to do: I’ve made a complete and utter fool out of myself. Furthermore, I’ve just discredited my own thesis – involuntarily and unsuspecting. The chocking episode is the realization of a monumental humiliation, which amply underlines my stubborn misconceptions and the, by now, painfully obvious shortcomings of my talents as a salmon fisherman. Worst of all, though: I have just wasted a golden chance to catch my first ever Norwegian salmon!
NFC’s beats are stunning - and big chromers are caught there every year.
I continue fishing with trembling nerves and a dawning determination – and a few casts later the unthinkable repeats itself. The line comes tight, I let the fish turn with the fly in its jaws and wait until I feel the full weight of the fish before I slowly lift the fly rod. Contact is established, and Tom comes rushing with the landing net while I use ever muscle fibre in my fly rod to apply maximum side pressure on the fish. From here on it’s all routine work!
Endless minutes pass, and I’ve now battled the fish close to shore where Tom awaits with the landing net. The miracle is within reach, and I’m about to burst at the seams with excitement. But then, without further notice, the fish mobilises all of its remaining power reserves in one last run, writhing its 10 – 11 chrome kilos off the hook and leaving me shattered on the bank of the river, like some poor sod at the gates of heaven – barred from entering.
When Tom’s turn is up and he immediately hooks into an unblemished salmon in the vicinity of 12 kilos, I am certain: The Norwegian salmon gods are out to get me - maliciously vengeful and sadistic as they are. They’ve conspired and planned for this very moment in order to emphatically punish this disbelieving screwup of a salmon heathen. They mean to inflict as much pain and suffering on me as they possibly can and they’re just waiting for me to collapse under the weight of my despair. They won’t be satisfied until I withdraw; disgraced and dishonoured.
I dutifully shoot a series of pictures of Tom and his beautiful catch before the release and feel a bit like a photojournalist at the frontline; painstakingly occupied with documenting some chocking truth. Even though it hurst a little bit, I’m mostly just happy for Tom. And despite the brutal character of the humiliating lesson I’ve just been given, a dawning understanding and newfound confidence and belief has perspired. Norwegian salmon actually do exist! They can be lured into striking, and now that I’ve seen them, I’m finally ready to believe in them.
I CONTRITELY SWEEP THROUGH THE BEAT ONE LAST TIME. The fly stops in the middle of the river, I feed the loop between my hand and the reel out through the rod guides, all slack is eliminated, and a deep pull propagates through the fly line and into the fly rod, which I lift triumphantly. Oh, that pull! The slow-motion suddenness of it. The blunt brutality of the awakening. The immediate release of dopamine and adrenaline. The spiritual overtures.
I’m connected once again. This time however, the connection is inseverable. The fish bursts free of the water, cartwheels manically downstream, and thrashes abruptly about – but to no avail. As if my fly rod were a magic wand, it exerts an invisible and unrelenting magnetism on the fish, and despite all the raw muscle power the fish has gained during a year of frenzied feeding out to sea, it slowly but surely succumbs to the overwhelming pull. Eventually, it surrenders and comes subserviently to the shore and the awaiting embrace of the landing net and its cobweb of knotless mesh. My year-long curse has been shattered!
Kneeling devoutly in the shallows, I admire the heartbreakingly beautiful salmon that I’ve just landed; the elusive and ethereal embodiment of a life-long dream. It’s a hen in the vicinity of 8 kilos, strikingly gorgeous and so laden with meaning and importance that I’m rendered speechless and on the verge of crying.
When I surrender the fish back into the river, I’m like a trembling newly converted in church – dizzy with religious euphoria. By exposing my own deceit, I’ve reached true enlightenment and joined the ranks of all the fanatically religious salmon fishermen out there. Finally!
Salmon fishing has long-standing traditions on the River Gaula. Historical documents testament to the fact that salmon were fished here as early as the 1400s. It wasn’t until 1825, however, when the British lords ascended on the river with greenheart fly rods, silk lines and neatly tied traditional salmon flies that recreational fishing for salmon became a stable activity throughout the summer months. The River Gaula has its origins in the Kjølifjellet-area on the border between Tydal and Holtålen. From here, after having joined forces with the Rugla tributary, it flows to the northwest via Gauldalen in Trøndelag towards the Trondheim Fjord. The river is some 153-kilometres long and salmon run the lower 120 kilometres in addition to a number of different tributaries. However, the area around Rognes and Støren and further down towards Lundamo are considered –by many – to be prime fly water.
The salmon runs start in mid - late May and intensify throughout June and July. The peak season is considered to be from the middle of June until the end of July – and especially the last few weeks of July can provide hectic fishing for big chromers.
Norwegian Fly Fisher’s Club (NFC) is the biggest lease holder on the River Gaula. They supply rods on a series of productive beats exclusively available to fly fishermen. Furthermore, NFC offers full board lodging at Rogstadmoen Lodge http://nfc-online.com
Oh that pull! The slow-motion suddenness of it “
At Scott we focus on designing fishing tools that have a clear purpose. Rods that have not only been thought out on the drawing board but have been vetted in the hands of top industry pros long before they make it into your own. But most of all, it’s about the people. The people who handcraft exceptional fly rods, the people who fish them, and the people who believe there’s a better way to do things.
Imagine a rod that casts tight high line speed loops effortlessly and turns over your leader straight into the wind; a rod that delivers the fly on target with just one false cast, and can pick it back up and redirect if the fish changes course; a rod that is intuitive so you can focus on the fish instead of your cast; a rod that feels light and alive in your hand and has the touch and feel needed to make short quick shots or float the fly in quietly. All that, plus a rod hand crafted with the very best components to ever grace a fly rod. Meet the Sector Series of high performance, hand crafted fly rods from Scott.
Sector rods are fitted with components that defy harsh saltwater environments, redefine reliability, and enhance angler experience.
They feature CeRecoil stripping guides with nickel titanium frames and super slick Zirconia inserts, along with Recoil nickel titanium snake guides for low friction and corrosion free performance. The guide sets are PVD coated in a low reflective coating for even greater durability and stealth.
The reel seats are milled from aircraft grade aluminum and feature self-indexing slide hoods, extra deep knurling to easily turn lock rings with wet hands, type 3 mil-spec hard coat in non-reflective flat black, and line weight engravings for quick rod identification.
Flor grade cork grips are turned to our modified wells shape, and the new fighting butts feature a thick soft rubber for greater comfort in tough fights or while bracing on long casts. No need to dream about your perfect fly rod- It’s here.
Sector fly rods advance our award winning ReAct technology with new tapers and Carbon Web. They also introduce the most cutting-edge fly rod components ever created.
Scott’s Carbon Web technology improves torsional stability and rod durability by encasing the unidirectional fibers in a web of ultra-light multi-directional carbon fiber. These fibers help counteract torsional forces giving you better tracking and power for long linepickups and redirecting casts. They also help to reduce the propagation of micro fractures from stress or impact that can run in unidirectional layups.
A feeling of near weightlessness in hand. Authoritatively powerful. Undoubtedly in control. Plain fun to fish. Wave rods bring together high line speed, exceptional loop control, and point-it-and-it goes-there accuracy. They feel light and lively in hand and respond intuitively to input from the angler. Wave rods easily handle a wide range of line densities and fly sizes, making them ideal tools for pursuing powerful fish in all fresh and saltwater environments. And when that pursuit turns into a hook up, Wave rods have lifting power to spare, helping keep fish out of structure or the depths.
Scott Wave Fly Rods are designed to tackle a range of waters and conditions with unmatched versatility, durability, and performance.
Wave rods are equipped with cutting-edge components, including SiC stripping guides with corrosion-resistant and ceramic inlays as well as snake guides for smooth, frictionless line movement and long-lasting reliability. These guides are finished with a low-glare coating for added stealth in bright conditions.
The rods feature a precision-machined, skeletonized aluminum reel seat with a graphite insert aluminum, featuring double uplocking rings with deep knurling for a secure grip, even with wet hands. Finished in a sleek, non-reflective anodized coating, these seats ensure durability and a clean, modern aesthetic.
Premium cork grips are crafted into Scott’s signature shape for comfort and control, while the fighting butts are fitted with dense rubberized caps to provide extra cushioning during long casts and hard-fought battles.
Equally at home slam fishing the flats, casting fast sinking lines for stripers, or chasing carp and bass at the local park, Wave rods deliver high performance across a wide variety of fishing situations.
Distance, control and accuracy are compromised by waves that vibrate in the rod, even after the cast has been made. Simply making the rod stiffer to stop these vibrations kills feel. ReAct counteracts energy sapping vibrations by speeding the recovery of the blank without the need to stiffen the rod with more material. This puts the feel in fast. And that’s a really good thing.
The cutting edge Centric series fly rods deliver new levels of stability, recovery speed, and range, while giving anglers tons of feedback through the easy flexing tip sections and highly transmissive blanks. High line speed, flat, stable loops are easily generated at any distance with minimal effort from the caster. Apparent to anglers of any skill level, these rods feel very light in the hand, are insanely accurate, and are simply a joy to fish at any distance. Ease of roll casts and mends is next level. The ability to control loop shape and line speed at any distance give anglers wide ranging versatility.
Scott Centric rods are fitted with flor grade cork, titanium stripping guides with super slick zirconia inserts, new low glare Snakebrand Universal snake guides.
Reel seats are expertly machined from high-grade aluminum and anodized for strength and corrosion resistance. The deep knurling on the lock rings ensures a secure grip and easy adjustment, even in wet conditions. The reel seats feature speed threads, self-indexing hoods, micarta inserts, a special Delrin lock washer, and type 3 flat black hard coat.
Centric rods come in natural finish, which provides a unique aesthetic in addition to further reducing blank- and rod weight.
The premium cork grips are shaped for optimal comfort and control, ensuring a natural feel in hand throughout long days on the water. Each rod is crafted with Scott’s proprietary resin and carbon fiber system, delivering an unrivaled combination of lightweight power and intuitive flex.
Centric rods combine tapers and multi-modulus lay ups with a self-developed resin system to increase fiber density and reduce weight.
The whole Centric range features Scott’s new generation ARC reinforcement for greater stability along multiple axes.
Custom rolling equipment allows us to control fiber placement and density with new levels of precision in blank that incorporates ReAct, X-Core and ARC2 technologies.
Our team designed and crafted a series of rods to help you get the most from your time on the water-the most success, and the most enjoyment. Session rods are high-performance hand-crafted fly rods that blend some of our most acclaimed design approaches with our latest materials and technologies. This combination creates rods that bring together high line speed and exceptional loop control with a light and lively feel in the hand. These traits have become known as Scott’s signature fast with feel action.
Featuring optimized tapers and multi-modulus carbon fiber construction, the Session series is crafted with Scott’s proprietary resin system, enhancing fiber density while minimizing weight for effortless casting. These rods are built using the latest ARC reinforcement technology, offering superior stability and durability across multiple axes.
Scott’s custom rolling equipment ensures unmatched precision in fiber placement and density, while the incorporation of ReAct, X-Core, and ARC2 technologies delivers exceptional recovery speed, power, and sensitivity.
Session rods are finished with a new grip design, and custom machined aluminum reel seats featuring dyed box elder wood inserts. They also feature Silicon Nitride stripping guides and low glare light wire snake guides for a premium component package that’s a perfect match to the high- performance blanks.
All of that gives Session rods a wide bandwidth of performance for fishing at a range of distances, and for using a variety of flies and techniques with the same rod.
With their almost nothing there feel in hand combined with their easy smooth casting, Session rods pack technology loaded materials with advanced design and premium craftsmanship.
Most of all, Session rods are about having fun on the water and enjoying the rod in your hand.
Introducing the rebirth of our legendary (G) Series, infused with lighter,sportier, and smoother (T)echnological advances. Check out the all new handcrafted high performance models at your Scott dealer.
No other rods match the legacy and longevity of the Scott G Series-rods that are filled with firsts, fished the world over, and passed down through generations. We’re proud to unveil the all-new iteration of this iconic rod series-the Scott GT. New GT rods are lighter and sportier than their predecessors yet still possess smooth progressive actions, tremendous feedback, and incredible tippet protection that have kept dedicated anglers fishing the previous three generations of these rods for almost 50 years.
Scott Fly Rod Company | Handcrafted in Montrose, Colorado
Our earliest rods grew from fiberglass roots. In fact, when Scott Fly Rods started in the early 70’s, graphite fly rods didn’t even exist. We put our name on the map in those early years creating high performance, multi piece glass fly rods for anglers venturing into the mountains to catch wild trout in cool crystalline waters. Anglers were blown away by the smooth performance of our industry-first 5 piece fly rod, and by our full range of multi piece light line glass rods. We’ve been making fiberglass fly rods ever since.
There’s a good reason we continue to design and handcraft glass fly rods - it’s because we think glass is the best material available for casting at very close range, for enjoying the feel of small fish, and having a good old time.
We brought together new slimmer tapers with E-glass and our redesigned hollow internal ferrule to set a new standard for smooth, deep flexing rods. And, even though you can cast them a lot farther, these rods are optimized to cast beautiful accurate loops under 20 feet.
By carefully controlling the distribution of mass and stiffness, we created very light fiberglass rods that are stable and form sweet loops with just a few feet of line out of the tip. That way you can accurately cast into the next plunge pool or along overgrown banks even on creeks you can step across. That’s not something your graphite rods can do easily.
We paired that performance with best in class components like Snake Brand Universal snake guides, Flor grade cork grips, titanium SiC strippers, and CNC milled reel seats, and then added our little touches like measuring wraps and alignment dots. We didn’t miss a detail. After all, there’s a lot of history and pride in F Series rods.
So, if you’re in to fishing small pristine waters, and jewel like wild fish, treat yourself to the ultimate fishing tools; F-Series rods from Scott are high performance, handcrafted, and pure fun.
models; single-, switch, and double-handers
Introducing the new Swing series of rods from Scott. Developed in cooperation with Flyfish Europe, and tested by an array of Scandinavia’s most hardcore anadromous fly fishermen.
Scott Fly Rod Company | Handcrafted in Montrose, Colorado
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Every morning, at first light, the countless fivestar hotels that line the beaches of Cancun and Playa del Carmen on Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula send out an incongruous armada of tractors onto their once golden beaches. The tractors are tasked with dragging huge rafts of rotting Sargassum weed off the beaches before the tourists wake up to enjoy their day. Increasingly, the tractors are fighting a losing battle. Sargassum is an innocuous-looking amber coloured seaweed, that has traditionally been confined to the circulating currents of the Sargasso Sea, way out in the mid-Atlantic Ocean.
By Matt Harris
The seatrout of the Rio Grande grow to more than 30lbs. They we’re introduced back in 1935 and are now self-reproducing.
In March, 2011, something strange happened. Sargassum was found off the coast of Brazil, far to the South of its native home. By September of the same year, it had spread from there all the way across the Atlantic to the coast of West Africa. This huge band of sargassum weed kept growing. Scientists were dumbfounded.
By June 2018, 20 million metric tons of the weed was recorded, a 1,000% increase compared with the 2011 bloom for the same month. The spread continued apace… more than 24 million tons of sargassum covered the Atlantic by June 2022, and the vast band was now visible from space. Scientists pointed to increasing water temperatures as a result of climate change, along with nitrogen-heavy fertilisers and sewage waste washing into the ocean.
Well, so what? What’s the problem with Sargassum? Well, Sargassum washes onto the golden beaches of the Atlantic seaboard, where it collects in huge quantities. It then starts to rot, giving off a foul stench that has impacted on local economies by driving down tourist revenue and causing genuine health issues. However, while this issue has caused huge headaches for many, it has also provided a sparkling silver lining for the avid fly fisherman.
Permit in the weeds
Sargassum is a natural home to crabs, shrimps and a whole eco-system of piscine goodies that bonefish, permit and tar-
pon like to feed upon. While the beachside hotels of the Yucatan peninsula are trying to drag the wretched weed off of their precious beaches every morning with their vast fleet of tractors, the fishing lodges of Ascension Bay, just a few miles south, are revelling in the bounty that the weed has afforded them.
Ascension Bay isn’t a ‘new’ fly fishery - it has been famous for its permit fishing for many a long year. In fact, it’s no exaggeration to say that the bay really is the Permit capital of the world. The problem is, permit are, well.. they are just so bloody difficult to catch. No matter how perfect your cast, and how accurate and delicate your presentation, most times, they just swim off disdainfully without even giving your fly a second glance.
For even the most seasoned fly angler, a week’s permit fishing can represent a painful study in ego-crushing rejection. However, the sargassum weed that blows into the wide ‘boca’ of the bay has brought with it an antidote to all the exasperation and headaches that the permit of Ascension Bay can provide.
Megalops Atlanticus
The food-rich seaweed has brought with it some new and spectacularly large visitors to the bay’s shores - big silver tourists that dwarf the elusive permit and eat with a voracity that would make them blush. Megalops Atlanticus. Tarpon.
For around five years, correlating almost exactly with the explosion of Sargassum weed on the beaches of the Yucatan, increasingly
When the sun sets comes a period when the big seatrout are on the moveand extra aggresive.
large schools of increasingly large tarpon have been frequenting the waters of the bay. It’s hard not to conclude that it is the sargassum that has brought them here. You might say they are suffering from weed addiction.
“The tarpon are voracious, and rarely refuse a well-presented fly. They offer the perfect antidote when the capricious ‘palometa’ are making you tear your hair out. While there is surely nowhere better to catch your first - or hundred-and-first - permit, it is a very special feeling to reel up after one too many rejections and say with a grin “Stuff‘em - lets go and catch something! - Something that not only eats a well-presented fly with refreshingly uninhibited abandon, but that is also ridiculously big, and that skyrockets into the air like a high-flying silver train.
Some days, BOTH the permit AND the tarpon play ball - and in those special occasions, the fishing really can be unforgettable.
There are a number of lodges situated around the edge of Ascension Bay. Maya Azul is my favourite - a beautiful home-from-home, situated well outside of the busy, scruffy little hub of Punta Allen, and set back from a secluded, sandy beach in a leafy glade between towering coconut
Maya Azul is run by the excellent Nervous Waters chain. Everything here is exactly as you would like it - the lodge takes a maximum of 8 anglers and if you stay here, you will see no-one else except for your fellow anglers and the excellent guides and the warm and friendly staff. Maya Azul is hard to fault. The Margaritas flow freely and the food is exceptional - from delicious breakfasts to five-star dinners featuring fresh, locally-caught seafood as well as some excellent, rib-sticking steaks. The rooms are beautifully appointed, with dark-stained hardwoods and crisp white linen, and the atmosphere is one of warm, convivial informality where shoes are optional. Best of all, the fishing is simply
Let me tell you about a day at this special place… As the sun comes winking over the eastern horizon, my friends and I polish off our delicious bacon and eggs, and collect on the beach, chattering excitedly and anticipating the special day ahead of us. We greet our guides and help them to lug the ice-filled coolers across the sand. Then, grinning like kids on Christmas morning, we jump into the big pangas to head south, past the old lighthouse and into the crystal waters of the bay. Sadly, one of our party of eight was forced to drop out at the last minute, and thus, every day of our trip, one angler gets to fish on their own rather than taking turns with a pal. Today that angler is me.
The permit responds instantly... “
My two guides, Rodo and his brilliant young assistant David are keen to head across the bay to a spot they know well, a wide permit flat studded with small islands that are covered in picture-book palm trees.
We fizz across the aquamarine waters, as the sun climbs higher into the wide Caribbean skies. Rodo expertly ne-
Matt Harris with an incredible 18lb permit. The first of two on a day that resulted in a double grand-slam.
gotiates the shoals and reefs that crowd the mouth of the bay, and soon we are gliding onto a wide white flat. Rodo puts a disconcertingly deep bend into the push-pole as he slowly works the big panga across the shallow waters, and David thrusts my 10-weight rod into my hands, armed with a special crab pattern that I have concocted. The fly is a variation of Dave Skok’s brilliant “Strong Arm Merkin”, but tied using a nifty vibrating rubber claw sent to me by my friend, fly-tying pioneer Rupert Harvey.
Acknowledging the influence of Dave Skok’s fly, the pattern has acquired the daft, drunken soubriquet “The Strong Arm of the Claw”, and it has proved deadly over the last few days. Crucially, the guides love it.
I have barely stripped the line off the reel when Rodo is swinging the boat around to the right, muttering intensely and urging David and me to jump quietly into the water. There, fifty yards away, two permit are poking their noses up through the dense mat of sargassum that has collected against a small island. Their owners are grubbing for crabs and shrimps, and they are so uncharacteristically preoccupied that they are blissfully unaware as we approach on foot with bated breath. The fish are hard up against the island, and as we draw near, the reflection of the dark green foliage allows us to see every last scale on their gleaming, pearlescent frames in the clear shallow water. David points to the nearer and larger of the two - a handsome permit of perhaps 18 pounds that is feeding hard on the weed-borne goodies - and urges me to cast just ahead of it.
Into the backing
I make a decent cast and the little crab fly drifts down through the water column. “Strip”, hisses my young guide, and I draw the fly away from the sargassum raft.
The permit responds instantly, changing course to follow the fly. I stop retrieving the fly, allowing it to sink as if escaping into the sand below, and in a heart-stopping instant, the permit’s big, sickle tail slices up through the water as the fish tips up to pounce on the little crab pattern before it can disappear.
I set the hook and the line fizzes up through the rings as the permit disappears like lightning off the flat. Twenty-five minutes later, after a protracted tussle with the fish, I am finally holding my prize aloft and smiling from ear to ear. Young David congratulates me with a hug and a high-five, and I ask Rodo to shoot a picture of the two of us, grinning like Cheshire cats. There really is nothing quite like catching one of these rare unicorns - every one is truly unforgettable. An hour later, I have an almost identical second.
As the tide starts to turn, Rodo twirls his push pole theatrically. He grins at me and says simply “Tarpon time?” Soon we are staked out at one of my favourite spots. We are perched on a wide ocean flat and the big tarpon that have lately started to frequent the fishery like to come cruising along the long sand bar that defines the spot, gulping crabs and shrimps from the mats of floating sargassum weed. Here comes a pod now - seven big, blue-black shapes swimming purposefully towards us.
“Tarpon Time”
I send the big black tarpon snake fly that I tied last night looping out across the azure water, and the moment it touches down, the lead fish lifts up through the water column and lazily inhales it. I set the big 4/0 hook hard, and the big silver tarpon clambers up into the crackling heat and jackknifes in the sapphire-blue sky. It’s not as big as the triple-digit monster we caught yesterday, but it’s a stunning, saucer-scaled beauty that opens the door on a Grand Slam.
A Grand slam - a permit, a tarpon and a bonefish in the same day - is a rare and coveted prize amongst saltwater anglers, but here, in this extraordinary fishery, it seems almost too easy to accomplish.
Tarpon are showing up in great numbers due the amassing sargassum in Ascension Bay.
Two Grand Slams in a day
Ascension Bay has the highest concentration of bonefish anywhere in the world. It’s a perfect destination for the novice fly angler. Rodo takes me to a flat that is swarming with them and despite the fact that they really are the smallest bonefish I have ever seen, we really don’t care - we catch one first cast, and then, while we are still celebrating our Grand Slam, another big school swims into view. I catch another and as we watch it saunter back to its pals, none the worse for wear, I grin at Rodo - “TWO Grand slams?” I laugh. “Why not?” he laughs back.
The sun is sinking low as we pull up adjacent to a large mat of sargassum that has built up against the beach, close to the lodge. Juvenile tarpon are bursting through the mat, gorging on small baitfish with reckless abandon. I toss a small white streamer to the edge of the mat, and without too much ceremony, a lithe little silver ’sabalito’ wallops it hard and catapults into the golden light of the late afternoon. I manage to wrestle it into the boat and we’ve done it. Two Grand slams in one day.
After a quick picture and a frosty “Modelo” from the cooler to celebrate, we head back to the lodge in time to hear a million other tall tales from our friends. Today has been just another special day in this extraordinary saltwater fishery.
Sargassum weed is causing some huge headaches all around the Atlantic coastline, but it’s creating new opportunities too.
Enterprising folk up and down the Caribbean seaboard are now harvesting the weed and using it to make house bricks, fuel, fertiliser and plastics. As long as it brings the big silver tarpon and those elusive palometas onto the golden sand flats of Ascension Bay, I’ve got to say - I rather like it.
Matt is a professional advertising photographer and journalist based in the UK. He is also a passionate conservationist and a proud ambassador for the Atlantic Salmon Trust.
Matt has fished in over 40 countries, and his widely acclaimed book “The Fish of a Lifetime” ships worldwide and is available via the website https://thefishofalifetime.com/
We have our roots in the Scandinavian fly-fishing tradition. Anglers and the waters they fish inspire us to create the best hooks possible. Ahrex Hooks are made without compromise – designed by Scandinavian fly-fishermen for fishing all over the world. We use innovative technology and the best materials available for each specific hook.
- Happy fly tying The Ahrex Team
Our latest range of fly tying hooks are created from a demand for old-looking hooks with today’s most advanced production technologies. We have looked in the old historical books and together with competent fly tyers and fly fishermen, we have prepared a series of state-of-the-art hooks based on old antique models.
Fishing dries is the holy grail of fly-fishing so it is not without some nervousness we bring the FW series to the market. We have had a close look at what is out there, talked and listened to many experienced fly fishermen around the world. Thirteen models, all of them available both barbed and barbless. This is only the beginning – you can expect many more models in the FW series in the years to come. So here, we are – take a look, we hope you like them.
XO has plenty of meanings in today’s world. Our younger readers will relate it to “hugs and kisses” in text messages while our slightly, how should I put it, more seasoned customers might tend to connect it with cognac, where it signifies that a cognac has been aged for at least six years in oak barrels. We – however – use the term differently, as an abbreviation for Cross Over.
At Lamson, we believe that every cast should feel natural, effortless—like the gear disappears into your hand and lets the water be your only focus. Whether you pursue small trout in mountain streams or truly big game species in saltwater. That’s why we combine sleek, fluid design and cutting-edge engineering to build reels and rods that balance lightness, strength, and simplicity.
Full reel range available at www.flyfisheurope.com/lamson
Centerfire is a double-edged sword perfectly suited for both single- and doublehanded fly fishing for Atlantic salmon and seatrout in torrential rivers as well as adrenaline-choked sight-fishing on shimmering flats and bluewater dropoffs. Centerfire is built to blend the strongest and most reliable structural and functional elements from over a quarter century of reel design—IPX8 waterproof rated Cobalt drag system, power arm frame, deep cross section radial spool spokes, large easy grip fluted drag knob and hard anodize to name a few. Centerfire has everything you need in a bomb proof saltwater reel and foregoes what you don’t all at a reasonable price. All drag components manufactured in the U.S.A and assembled in Boise, Idaho.
The silky smooth drag system lets you handle big chromers in heavy currents - and it has the stopping power to prevent explosive predatory flats fish from making it to the craggy reef edge.
Long stick equipment. The anchor of our two-handed specialty reel line up, Arx II carries on the legacy of its predecessor. Burly, overbuilt and ready for action… if Speedster and Litespeed were receivers and tailbacks, Arx II would be a left tackle. . Increased line capacity and–dare we say–a little extra heft are the perfect complement to those long rods and fat lines. Crack open that classy leather fly wallet, pick out the right head and settle into a rhythm. This could take a while… or maybe not.
Thin running lines have no chance escaping this full caged beast and when you finally get that tug from the silver torpedo the extra-large conical drag is ready to put the pressure on her.
Buckle up. As we’ve said - the performance benchmark for a fly reel is retrieve rate per ounce. There’s no downside to high retrieve rate other than the extra weight. Re-imagine what large arbor means, cast out any doubts about swing weight and try to keep up with the Hyperspeed M8 and M10 reels. The Hyperspeed M8 picks up 14” of line and the M10 retrieves a staggering 16” of line per rotation. Every inch of the frame and spool has been meticulously CNC machined with even material distribution along critical load paths. Ensuring unrivaled strength, stability, and lightness despite its impressive size. So light you might forget it’s there, but commanding enough to demand attention. All of that is backed up by our waterproof IPX8 rated Cobalt drag with plenty of stopping power to put you in the drivers seat. Find a new gear with this reel that’s primed to keep pace with even the fastest fish you can find. Manufactured in the U.S.A. and assembled in Boise, Idaho.
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Coming in only slightly heavier than their Litespeed counterparts, this radical design maximizes line pick up unlike any reel we have ever
The performance benchmark for a fly reel is retrieve rate per ounce. If you haven’t thought about it before, think about it now: there’s no downside to high retrieve rate other than extra weight. As an example, consider the 2021 Gen 6 Litespeed: CNC machined with material distributed artfully along critical load paths, stable and strong, so light you might forget it’s there, but beautiful enough to make you remember it is. The marine version of Litespeed (LSM) is equipped with a hybrid drag system, fixed spindle, large heat-wicking conical surfaces, click stop drag knob. The LSM incorporates close tolerance composite bearings, and comes equipped with a linear spring set optimized for each reel size. It holds an IPX8 waterproof rating to 100 ft.
A super arbor format, lightest-weight-in-class, space frame construction saltwater fly reel with the IPX8 certified waterproof Cobalt hybrid drag system.
Liquid Max features our Cobalt Drag System: a fully U.S.-made, stop-anything drag system with proprietary Teflon alloy drag cone, Carbon PEEK thrust washers, custom self-lubricating seals and a Certified IPX8 waterproof rating. We’ve housed this drag in a pressure cast and machined frame and spool, with features that include Ultra Large Arbor, integrated reel foot and pocket spar frame and spool design that maximizes strength-to-weight ratio. Top it off with a large, easy grip drag knob you have a reel that will change your mind about bullies.
Nobody Likes a Bully. Anyone who says this hasn’t experienced the new Liquid Max, a bully and a beast of a reel.
Litespeed F-Series is the freshwater version of the new Litespeed. The chassis is based on the conical system found in our other reels with the addition of a click stop drag knob and a unique spring set that creates a linear progression of torque with very fine resolution at the light end of its range. CNC machined with material distributed artfully along critical load paths, stable and strong, so light you might forget it’s there, but beautiful enough to make you remember it is. LSF spool and frame architecture is super-arbor in scale for high retrieve and the smoothest possible drag - for protecting the lightest of tippets, but spare and open to promote line drying and, of course, reduce weight.
The art of the fly reel derives from the science of the fly reel, but at the end of the day both art and science, when held in balance, serve to make us smile.
Buckle up. As we’ve said - the performance benchmark for a fly reel is retrieve rate per ounce. There’s no downside to high retrieve rate other than the extra weight. Re-imagine what large arbor means, cast out any doubts about swing weight and try to keep up with the Hyperspeed F5 and F7 reels. The Hyperspeed F5 picks up 11.5” of line and the F7 retrieves a staggering 12.5” of line per spool rotation. Ensuring unrivaled strength, stability, and lightness despite its impressive size. So light you might forget it’s there, but commanding enough to demand attention. All of that is backed up by our sealed conical drag with plenty of stopping power to put you in the driver’s seat. Find a new gear with this reel that’s primed to keep pace with even the fastest fish you can find. Manufactured in the U.S.A. and assembled in Boise, Idaho.
Every inch of the frame and spool has been meticulously CNC machined with even material distribution along critical load paths.“
The basic parameters - weight, retrieve rate, line storage, drag torque, ergonomics - each must be balanced against the other to build a high-performing reel, and collectively provide the basis for the design. By far the most important of these are weight and retrieve rate, because the ratio of the two define what is considered a large arbor reel. Expressed simply, think of these two parameters as retrieve rate per ounce, and hence the Holy Grail of fly reel design is an architecture which yields the lightest structure possible for a given diameter, without sacrificing reliability and durability. Enter the completely re-designed Speedster reels. They feature an enhanced spool machining technique, focusing material only where it’s needed - the reason why both are significantly lighter and higher performing than their predecessors.
We’ve always believed that form shouldn’t just follow function, but be inspired by it, and that good design emanates from a harmonious expression of both.
“
Use the force. Even lighter than the original, the Force SL Series II breaks its own record as the lightest machined reel on the market. This evolution in the Force Superlight reel lineage includes an even larger arbor to increase line retrieval and decrease weight. Plus it has an enhanced CNC machined structural development and more fluid, refined styling. Since coming onto the scene in 1997, the Force reels have pursued what we feel is the Holy Grail of fly reel performance: delivering the highest possible ratio of retrieve rate to reel weight. To this end, while other super arbor reels add weight in order to gain speed, Force reels maintain their featherweight specification by being pure muscle and bone.
For the lightest rods and the most finicky of trout on everything from dry flies to nymphs and streamers.
A “purist” insists on adherence to traditional rules and structures. The Purist Il is a modern exception with a rich heritage. Composed of only 15 individual parts, Purist II functions flawlessly with minimalist efficiency wrapped in reimagined form. Featuring a click pawl design, the power is literally in your hands and yes, the clicker sings. Drawing inspiration from its U.L.A. lineage, this reel flaunts a super large arbor with a 30% increase in average line retrieval, defying conventional limits while maintaining the minimal mass of its predecessor. Accompanied by a fortified frame and sleek, narrow profile this is truly a reel in its purest form.
The Purist Il is a modern exception with a rich heritage. Composed of only 15 individual parts, Purist II functions flawlessly with minimalist efficiency wrapped in reimagined form.
Steadfast and stylish, Guru has long set a standard for enlightened excellence as a rugged, fully USA-machined, and ultra-reliable reel at a great price. By increasing the arbor to a larger diameter and making the spool narrower—all the while decreasing its total weight and parts—Guru S takes it to another level. An enhanced spool machining technique—focusing material only where it’s needed—makes this version significantly lighter and higher performing than its predecessor. We’ve opened the porting to reduce weight and improve line drying, and integrated the counterbalance. We even introduced a curved cross-section for structural stability. Taking your game to fishing nirvana, this will be your Guru for life.
The Guru S series builds on the highly popular Guru reel encorporating placid and organic design features that, not only reduce weight, but also add in strength in the most important parts of the reel structure.
A Euro nymphing reel based on our Guru S platform, the E-Series emerges to strike the perfect balance between form and function. With a super-large arbor and narrow profile, everything on this reel is purposefully designed with Euro nymphing in mind including a new larger drag knob with precision clicks and a stealthy anodized finish. Straight mono or thin level lines are fully contained and encased in our HD full frame design. With lines protected and dimensions dialed, a streamlined weight system -- featuring 3 different weights (½ oz, 1 oz, 1-½ oz) -- enables you to precisely balance your reel with your rod.
Straight mono or thin level lines are fully contained and encased in our HD full frame design.
“ “
The ultimate hybrid. A fusion between the free-form structures of a cast spool and the mechanical integrity of a CNC-machined case, Remix S is the ultimate hybrid. Machined from bar-stock aluminum, the case delivers maximum structural rigidity and durability all wrapped in a harder, brighter finish. The spool (compatible with Liquid S), is pressure-cast with pocket spar design and increased strength-to-weight ratio. Remix S improves on the legacy of the first-generation Remix with larger diameters, larger arbors, greater strength, and a larger, easy to grip drag knob. Remix S brings an unmatched level of quality in its class. The result is high performance. Reliability. Quality assurance. Plus, undeniable looks.
All water performance with a sealed drag that lets you fight fish with confidence - all wrapped in a CNC- machined case.
More Liquid courage. When creating the first-generation Liquid, we focused purely on the virtues and advantages a pressure-cast process can offer. With the second-generation Liquid S we take these advantages to a higher level. Liquid S has larger diameters, larger arbors and increased strength-to-weight ratios that come from the unique pocket spar frame and spool design. The arbor shape has been redesigned for cleaner spooling, and the drag knob is now larger, and if we can say it, “gripier”. Liquid S carries the Liquid name to a higher level.
If you’re looking for a spare reel or just the right quality-to-price ratio for getting started fly fishing, there’s no other reel on the market like the Liquid.
Smith Creek’s FlyVue™ is a premium-quality chest pack system that is loaded with smart features. If you have ever struggled to tie fine gauge tippet line while out on the water, FlyVue can help (even if your eyes are fine and you don’t wear glasses).
FlyVue’s integrated 3X Fresnel magnifier gives you a generous field of view to tie even the smallest of tippet lines without fumbling, saving you time and trouble. FlyVue’s rear plate has rib slots along the side, allowing you to attach small accessories if you wish, while the small bottom clip attaches to your vest or jacket to prevent your FlyVue™ from swinging away from your body when leaning over.
With 5 different tray styles to choose from, FlyVue™ can literally hold hundreds of flies, storing what you need for a day out on the water without weighing you down. Flush mounted torque hinges hold the magnifying lens and fly trays at a fixed angle until you are ready to close it. Specialized inner tray hinges allow you to insert fly trays in 4 different positions, while an additional mini-patch on the lid holds up to 9 additional flies for ready use.
The design and styling of salmon flies have changed significantly over the years. Initially, these flies were made exclusively from feathers and silk, but today they often incorporate various hair materials. Over time, the choice of hair has also evolved. Early hair-wing salmon flies were tied primarily with deer hair, squirrel, and calf tail - all fairly stiff materials. In the 1980s and 1990s, however, Scandinavian fly tiers began favoring softer materials like fox tail and raccoon dog. It was during this period that tying salmon flies on tubes became the norm.
By Håkan Karsnäser
by Morten Valeur
Recently, there has been a partial return to using squirrel and deer tail for hair wings. Particularly popular are the so-called shrimp flies. Characterized by a long tail made of bucktail and crystal flash, a two-toned body, a short wing, and a collar hackle, these flies have become widely recognized. Originating and developed in the British Isles, they have also gained popularity in Sweden.
The History of Shrimp Flies
Few people know that shrimp and grub-style salmon flies were tied as early as the mid-20th century. These flies were designed to mimic shrimp, which explains the name “shrimp flies.” One of the most famous examples is the General Practitioner (GP), tied for the first time in 1953 by Colonel Esmond Drury.
The GP is tied with golden pheasant breast feathers, golden pheasant tippets, polar bear hair, rooster hackle, and a red seal fur body. Because shrimp swim backward, shrimp flies are tied with hair and hackles as tails to imitate shrimp antennae and claws. To replicate the shiny carapace of a shrimp, fly tiers often used two jungle cock feathers as a short wing, forming a roof-like structure over the body. The shiny surface, rather than the color of the feathers, was the primary reason for their use.
Classic Spey flies, with their soft, flowing rooster hackle and mallard wings, are also thought to imitate shrimp. The hackle on Spey flies is tied with the stem facing backward, creating a longer hackle near the bend of the hook and shorter fibers toward the head.
Alastair Gowan’s Contribution
Renowned fly tier and angler Alastair Gowan created several shrimp-style patterns, including the famous Ally’s Shrimp and Cascade. Cascade was inspired by a conversation with a fishing companion who favored synthetic materials. Using a generous amount of silver and pearl crystal flash gifted by his friend, Gowan crafted a fly with a long tail and short wing.
The tail combined orange and yellow bucktail with silver flash, while the body was divided into two sections: silver tinsel and black floss. The wing was made of black squirrel and pearl flash, initially tied on both the top and underside of the hook. Later ver-
When Alastair held the finished fly to the light, its glittering flash and vibrant colors created a cascade of brilliance - hence the name “
sions omitted the lower wing, leaving a single wing tied on top. The hackle consisted of yellow and orange rooster feathers, wrapped as a collar.
When Gowan held the completed fly up to the light, the combination of shimmering flash and vibrant hair created a cascade of color, inspiring the name “Cascade.” Unlike Ally’s Shrimp, which is most effective in murky water, Cascade has proven highly effective in clear water and bright sunlight.
Secure the thread to the hook and tie in a piece of fine oval silver tinsel at the barb. Wind the tinsel down into the hook bend for 5-6 turns. Bring the tinsel back between the hook points and over the wound section, securing it firmly.
Tie in a piece of flat silver tinsel and wind the thread to slightly beyond the halfway point of the shank. Wrap the flat tinsel to cover the rear half of the shank, secure, and trim.
Trim a small bundle of black squirrel hair and tie it in as the wing, equal in length to the hook shank.
Trim a few strands of orange and yellow bucktail and tie them in as the tail, 1-1.5 times the hook shank length. Secure the hair along the shank up to the hook eye.
Attach a piece of black floss and wind the thread to just behind the hook eye. Wrap the floss forward to create a smooth, even body for the front half. Secure and trim.
Wrap the oval tinsel ribbing in 4-5 even turns along the body. Secure and trim. 3 6 7 10 11 8 9 Cascade (by Alastair Gowan)
Attach a strand of Crystal Flash along one side of the tail. Fold it over to secure it on the opposite side, trimming it to match the tail length. Tie in a piece of oval silver tinsel at the rear and secure it along the shank.
Choose an orange rooster hackle with fibers of similar length to the yellow. Tie it in by the tip, in front of the yellow hackle. Wrap it 2-3 times, secure, and trim. 1 2 4 5
Select a yellow rooster hackle with fibers reaching the hook bend. Tie it in by the tip in front of the wing and wrap it 2-3 times. Secure and trim the excess.
Wind the thread to create a small head on the fly. Finish with a whip finish and trim the thread. Coat the head with 2-3 layers of varnish.
The finished fly is ready to fish!
Hook: Ahrex HR420, size 4-8
Thread: Black 8/0
Tag: Fine oval silver tinsel
Tail: Orange and yellow bucktail, Crystal Flash Mirage
Body: Half silver tinsel, half black floss
Ribbing: Oval silver tinsel
Wing: Black squirrel
Hackle: Yellow and orange rooster
FROM A SCIENTIFIC VIEWPOINT WE LOOK TO BUILD OUR PREMIUM FLY ROD MODELS WITH INDUSTRY LEADING TECHNOLOGY CAREFULLY INCORPORATED INTO THE ROD TO CREATE TRUE PERFORMANCE WHERE IT COUNTS. ON THE FLIP SIDE WE BELIEVE OUR VALUE RODS STAND OUT BY OFFERING TECHNOLOGY AND PERFORMANCE AHEAD OF THEIR PRICE POINT.
WE PURPOSEFULLY DON’T USE THE SAME TECHNOLOGY IN EACH MODEL. SOME RODS
WE WANT TO BE ULTRA LIGHT, OTHERS BRUTALLY STRONG, FOR LONGER RODS WE NEED TECHNOLOGY THAT CREATES STABILITY WHILST ON A SHORT STREAM ROD
ACCURACY BECOMES EVERYTHING. UNLIKE MOST INDUSTRY PLAYERS WE DON’T USE TURN-KEY FLY ROD FACTORIES. WE SOURCE, DESIGN AND COACH OUR BESPOKE MANUFACTURERS TO CREATE TRULY REMARKABLE FLY RODS.
WE MAKE FLY FISHING RODS THAT STAND OUT FROM THE PACK BY PERFORMING TO THE HIGHEST STANDARDS, NOT BECAUSE WE GOT WRAPPED UP IN SOMEONE ELSE’S PIXIE DUST THEORY, BUT BECAUSE WE CUT THROUGH THE MARKETING BS AND WE HAVE FORMULATED DESIGNS THAT WEAVE TECHNOLOGY THAT MATTERS INTO A DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF HOW A ROD CASTS, MENDS, PLAYS FISH AND FEELS ON THE WATER … AND THAT, OUR FRIENDS, IS THE ART SIDE OF THE EQUATION.
See the full range at www.flyfisheurope.com/primal/
AMPLIFIED NANO RESIN
ULTRALIGHT HELICAL CORE
The new Primal Zone CCC series represents the pinnacle of European-style nymphing rod design, incorporating advanced materials and engineering for superior on-water performance.
Primal RAW CCC is a freshwater fly rod that outperforms other overpriced rods at a price that means the only bank you will hit is the far one. CCC rods combine with Ultra-Light Helical Core, to create intelligent rods that support hoop strength and stabilise the blank in flex. The graphene nano in Primal rods is there for a purpose, not just for pixie dust.
- Primal CCC - Compressed Carbon Chain Technology
- Ultra high modulus 64MSI Toray Carbon blanks
- UHC - Ultra Light Helical Core
- ANR - Amplified Nano Resin
- ABS Moulded rod tube with carry strap
- Cloth rod bag
The new Primal MEGA is the ultimate saltwater weapon. Pick your target species and pick the rod to match. Snapper, Bream, Kingies, GT - whatever you choose to target the Primal MEGA CCC will have you covered. An Advanced high modulus, reinforced taper fly rod that is quick when it counts and patiently resistant when needed.
- Primal CCC - Compressed Carbon Chain Technology
- Corrosion resistant componentry
- UHC - Ultra Light Helical Core
- ANR - Amplified Nano Resin
- ABS Moulded rod tube with carry strap
- Cloth rod bag
- High modulus 55MSI blanks
- CS - Carbon Scrim
- Lightweight single foot guides
- LFA - Longitudinal Fibre Alignment
- Cordura rod tube with carry strap
- Cloth rod bag
The new Primal REVEL CS has been launched in Australia and New Zealand and it’s a rod that will turn a lot of heads, human and fish alike. CS stands for carbon scrim, and like the big daddy CCC versions, this technology brings about a whole new casting experience for the user.
- Low mass single foot guides
- UHC - Ultra Light Helical Core
- LNR - Longitudinal Fibre Alignment
- LMS - Low Mass Scrim
- Codura rod tube with carry strap
- Cloth rod bag
Fortune might favour the brave but fly fishing favours the BOLD. Fish with confidence using the best tools available to help you grow your skill set on the water. Made with the use of High modulus 55MSI blanks and perfected to target a myriad of freshwater fish in the most challenging conditions.
Available in 7,9’, 9’, 9,3’, 9,6’, 9,7’, and 10’ 4-piece travel models in sizes #3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8. A total of 10
- New 2026 -
Developed by Flyfish Europe in collaboration with Primal Rod Company for the Scandi style of fishing for anadromous fish like Atlantic salmon and seatrout. The rods work equally well for swinging flies for big browns for that matter. The blanks are medium fast with great recovery and are finished off with nice hardware and good quality cork.
- Optimised taper for Skagit or Scandi heads
- Low shine stealth black finish
- High modulus 55MSI blanks
- CS - Carbon Scrim
- LFA - Longitudinal Fibre Alignment
- Cordura rod tube with carry strap and cloth rod bag
Available in 12,6”, 13”, 14”, and 15” 4-piece travel models in sizes #7, 8, 9, and 10.
Achieve the Highest ZEN with the new mid range Primal Euro Nymphing rod. The ZEN takes all of the best elements of the ZONE and creates the perfect gateway to your Euro career.
- High Modulus 55 MSI Blanks
- Custom Downlocking reel seat
- Lightweight single foot guides
- LFA - Longitudinal Fibre Alignment
- LMS - Low Mass Scrim
- Codura rod tube with carry strap
- High modulus 55MSI blanks
- Low mass single foot guides
- UHC - Ultra Light Helical Core
- LFA - Longitudinal Fibre Alignment
- LMS - Low Mass Scrim
These rods have everything you need, and nothing you don’t, for your next fly fishing CONQUEST. If you’re in the market for a budget freshwater fly rod that does everything required a a rod with a considerably flashier price tag, the Conquest range has you covered.
- Cloth rod bag & codura rod tube with carry strap
Available in 8’, 9’, 9,6’ and 10’ 4-piece travel models in sizes #4, 5, 6, 7, and 8. A total of 9 models and 3 handle configurations.
- Progressive easy loading blank
The new Primal WILD combines all of the good stuff that goes into our Primal freshwater fly rods and squishes it down into a mini me 7’10” six weight version for the kids to have a go. We are the youth gone WILD.
- Low profile ergonomic grip for smaller hands
- Low shine stealth finish
- UHC - Ultra Light Helical Core
- LFA - Longitudinal Fibre Alignment
- LMS - Low Mass Scrim
- Cordura rod tube with carry strap
By Peter Lyngby
SFor many years, bucktail - deer tail hairwas a fairly inexpensive and easy-to-find material. Recently, however, it has become both costly and difficult to source. The reason is simple: demand has surged, especially among tiers who create flies for predator and saltwater fishing. As so often happens, much of the inspiration comes from the United States and the popular coastal fishing found there. In the pursuit of large, powerful predatory fish, fly tiers developed patterns that rely heavily on bucktail. Its properties and length have made it extremely popular, allowing tiers to create large flies that are still relatively light and move well in the water. Even very large flies - such as Bob Popovics’ famous “Beast Fleye,” which can be tied up to 20–30 cm long - remain castable with a fly rod.
The pattern should be seen as a template that can be adjusted in colour and size... “
On this side of the Atlantic, bucktail has become increasingly interesting for pike fly anglers. The challenge, however, is finding hair of high enough quality. Most of the very best bucktail remains in the U.S., which also serves as the main supplier.
The deer tail is essentially a by-product of hunting the American white-tailed deer, where the primary interest is the meat and hide. While the species does exist in some European countries - Finland, for instance - it isn’t hunted to the same extent, which means that we remain dependent on American supply.
When you do come across bucktail, it’s worth taking the time to examine the tails closely. The largest tails do not necessarily have the longest hair. It’s also important to have tails in several different lengths, since the hair must match the size of the fly you’re tying. You can’t simply use very long hair and cut it short — the structure and natural taper of the fibers won’t behave correctly in the water if trimmed too much.
The easiest way to do this is with a small tube or an empty pen barrel, which pushes the hair evenly around the shank. Once the fly is wet, the bucktail bends backward and envelops the hook, creating the illusion of a baitfish shape. This technique also allows the hair to move more naturally during the retrieve compared with tying the hair in as a rear-facing collar.
The process is repeated until the hook shank is filled and the fly reaches the desired size. Narrow saddle hackle feathers and a touch of flash are added to increase the fly’s realism and fishability.
The fly in this article, the Hollow Sik, was created by the skilled fly tier and pike angler Morten Valeur. It imitates whitefish and other silvery baitfish, but the pattern should be seen as a template that can be adjusted in colour and size to suit different prey and fishing conditions. Its name comes from the “Hollow” technique, in which bundles of bucktail are tied around the shank - or tube - with the tips pointing forward. The hair is then pushed backward, and a small thread dam is built in front of it, forming a flared collar around the hook.
The fly can be tied on many types of hooks, but a slightly heavier model is preferred to help it track properly in the water.
As with all fly tying, practice makes perfect. And if your finished fly looks wild and messy, don’t worry - just run it under the tap or soak it briefly. Once the hair is fully wet, let the fly dry with the head pointing up. The bucktail will settle and shape itself into a much more fish-like profile.
Pike are voracious fish that provide excellent action on a fly rod.
Start the thread on the hook and add a drop of super glue. Tie in a small bundle of bucktail in the usual way. Add two grizzly hackle feathers on top.
Use a tube or an empty pen to push all the bucktail backward.
Repeat steps 03–06 and add two grizzly hackles on top of each section. Make each section slightly shorter than the previous one.
Tie in another bundle of white bucktail, spreading the fibers evenly around the shank. Add two white saddle hackles reaching to the tip of the tail. Then tie in two additional grizzly hackles along the back.
Pinch the hair in place with your fingers and carefully wrap through it with the thread, ensuring no fibers get trapped.
For the following bundles, trim the butt ends so they don’t push the previous section downward. 1 2 4 5
Tie in a bundle of bucktail with the tips pointing forward. Spread the hair around the shank and secure it. You can trim the butts close or leave them if you want a bit more bulk.
This step is crucial to the fly’s final shape: build a thread dam in front of the bucktail. How much the hair flares depends on the size of this dam.
Finally, tie in a slimmer bundle of olive bucktail to form the fly’s back. Clean up, build a neat head with the thread, cure it with UV resin — and the fly is complete. 3 6 9 7 8
Hook: Ahrex TP612, size 4/0
Thread: White 140D or similar
Tail: White bucktail and grizzly saddle hackle
Section 2: White bucktail, white and grizzly saddle hackle
Section 3: White bucktail
Section 4: White bucktail and grizzly saddle hackle
Section 5: White bucktail and grizzly saddle hackle
Back: Olive bucktail
The bucktail will settle and shape itself into a fish-like profile “
It's not enough to make the world's clearest sunglasses. We're growing a community, and making the world a better place along the way. We're Bajío. Located in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. Named for the flats (bajíos) that we love. Join us. Fish more. See stuff
// bio-based nylon frame
FRAMES MADE FROM PLANTS
EASILY COMPOSTABLE
STRONGER AND LIGHTER THAN PLASTIC DOES NOT HARM THE ENVIRONMENT
// KEEPER HOLES
INTEGRATED HOLES FOR YOUR KEEPER CABLES
// flex hinges
HIGHEST QUALITY
LIGHTWEIGHT
FLEXES IN-AND-OUT TO FIT YOUR FACE
// barrel hinges
HIGHEST QUALITY
LIGHTWEIGHT STRONG
// vented rubber side shields
// ergo-textured rubber temple tips
ALL-DAY COMFORT
MAXIMIZES GRIP
BLOCKS PERIPHERAL SUNLIGHT
PROMOTES AIRFLOW
KEEPS YOU COOL
// integrated sun ledge
INTEGRATED FRAME ELEMENT ON THE SIDES AND TOP OF THE LENS AREA THAT ALLOW THE FRAME TO BLOCK MORE PERIPHERAL SUNLIGHT
// vented rubber nose pads
ALL-DAY COMFORT
PROMOTES AIRFLOW
KEEPS YOU COOL
// ergo-textured rubber nose pads
ALL-DAY COMFORT
MAXIMIZES GRIP
// 8-base wrap
FOLLOWS THE CONTOURS OF YOUR FACE TO BLOCK OUT THE MOST LIGHT
// 6-base wrap
CONTOURS SLIGHTLY LESS THAN AN 8-BASE BUT PROVIDES A MORE FASHION FORWARD LOOK
// FRAME size
WE SIZE OUR FRAMES FROM HINGE TO HINGE FOR ALL FACE TYPES
// temple size
DIFFERENT SIZED TEMPLES WILL BLOCK MORE OR LESS LIGHT
* NOT ALL FRAMES HAVE ALL FEATURES
Bajío's LAPIS technology and radically clear lenses get you one more fish a day. Add this key tool to your tackle box to spot more fish farther out, define the bottom, and find the perfect areas to cast.
Here's why Bajío is the superior choice among pros: We embedded our proprietary LAPIS technology in our sunglasses to eliminate 95% of harsh blue light—the same light that damages your eyes and creates haze. In addition to protecting your vision, you get a radically clear view of the world around you with increased contrast so you can see movement, color differentiation, and catch more fish in a day.
While we take pride in our story, our frames and our brand, there’s nothing more central to our success than our lenses. Not only did we redefine blue light management, but we designed a fleet of lenses suitable for special situations. Any lens will work - but one one will change the game. Find your game-changer below.
For those golden hours on the coastal shore - or for protection against the elements (and whirling flies cast in gale force winds) on cloudy days. These lenses are for the darkest of days, and while they also help spot fish in low--light conditions, they are there - most importantly - to protect your eyes while fly fishing.
Favorite Uses: Seatrout fishing, fall and winter trout and grayling fishing. Early morning trout, grayling and salmon.
Designed and developed for the European market, these low-light mirror lenses are made for the evening hatch - or the early riser. Also, for the seasoned fly angler who fishes all throughout the dark winter months - to protect the eyes from glare and from astray flies thrown in windy conditions.
Favorite Uses: Hucho fishing during fall/winter, seatrout on the coast, early morning -or late evening trout, grayling, and salmon.
We all know that no matter the fishery, first and last light always produce. Running a skiff at shooting light through the mangroves or tying on that hail mary streamer, these low light hours often contain the minutes we live for. We built a lens to maximize minimal rays. When the sun is low and the fish are up, look for our violet mirror.
Favorite Uses: Morning skiff runs, last light catches, driving in thunderstorms.
This lens is for the true sight fishermen. It’s brighter than your standard copper or green mirror, but not too bright to wear in full sun. When the fish match the bottom and their backs blend with the blue, reach for this sight caster special. Because seeing a beak 5 feet further is worth it, and feeding that flicking fin you’d otherwise miss, matters.
Favorite Uses: Sight fishing Mexican permit and catching that evening riser on the local river.
This is the OG lens. No mirror, no frills, just high-contrast polarization. It’s a favorite of dry fly fishermen and old heads everywhere, because it was the original fishing lens. If you stick to streamers, nymphs, or the simplest of Parachute Adams patterns… you’re a copper customer, trust us. Those that wear it, swear by it.
Favorite Uses: Late afternoon drake catches, trout, and grayling - and seatrout.
This lens is for the closeted angler. You’re in a backyard band and skate with the lads but sneak away unannounced to crank on neighborhood carp when you can. This lens looks cool, mellowed out with no flashy mirror. But it still rocks our industry-leading polarization and our proprietary blue light Lapis tech.
Favorite Use: HOA pond hopping, mid-day beach glizzys, shark fishing amidst surfing lulls.
The king of all lenses. You can get skinny enough, and in a pinch run further than you should. Green is your partner in crime for whatever you’re taking a whack at. With an amber base, you’ll have enough contrast to distinguish a back from a branch and with a green mirro you won’t murder your eyes scanning the deep blue.
Favorite Uses: All day snook chasing, flipping beds in high summer sun, tower boat triple tail spotting.
This lens has one job, spot fish in 50ft+ of water. Find rips, birds and life, and get that tournament fish to the leader. Blue is for the blue. Only letting in 10% of the sun’s harsh rays, blue will keep your eyes rested and relaxed for those 14-hour days, sunup to sundown. If you plan to scour the ocean, slip these on and don’t take them off.
Favorite Uses: Running weed lines, staring at ballyhoo for 100 hours, Jig and Pop Yellowfin trips.
This XL frame is the result of an XL fish. In South America, the term ‘Zancoch̦o’ refers to the phenomenon of reeling up nothing but a fish head. When your snapper goes missing, or your tuna gets sharked, the head left is a reminder of what lurks below. Flex hinges and fully removable side shields make this frame fit for big predators above and below the water line.
This frame was named after the Zapata swamp in Cuba. This swamp is infested with permit, bonefish, snook, tarpon, snapper, and barracuda. They are keen to eat anything in front of them, and we made a frame you can feed them in. With integrated side shields and an arched brow design, you’ll see your target species long before your line leaves the reel.
Named for a memorable flat we encountered on our odyssey expedition through the Yucatan near Campeche, Piedra elicits images of red and back mangroves, casting to the big rolling tarpon on the incoming and sneaking on snook with the outgoing. Designed with a full wrap 8-base wrap and lightweight yet durable bio-based nylon frame, Piedra can perform all day long without weighing you down.
Named after a deepwater strait with incredible history just 30 minutes outside of New Orleans, Rigolets means trench in French. Complete with vented, sun blocking side shields and ergo rubber details in all the right places, these full wrap shades also feature our polarized, blue light blocking lenses with LAPISTM technology for crisp, clear fish spotting vision.
Available as BIFOCAL
You never know what the day will bring. When the fish are hitting, stay focused; if you can’t spot any action, take a siesta. Named after the infamous flat in Islamorada that’s a magnet for monster tarpon and square groupers, Bales Beach is ready for whatever the day has in store— be it the rush of a dawn fishing mission or casual afternoon tending the grill.
Available as BIFOCAL
Sight-fishing requires laser focus on the slightest indication—that split-second opportunity when you’ll either set the hook or lament over the one that got away. With so much on the line, you need sunglasses that give you every available advantage. Something solid as a rock. Introducing Roca (rock in Spanish), named for the productive Roca Flat near Campeche, Mexico. These are a solid pair of performance shades indeed.
Named for the ruins of several prominent Prohibition-era social clubs built at sea in Biscayne Bay, Florida. Stiltsville is also a famous flat known for phenomenal bonefishing. When you don a pair of full-wrap Stiltsville shades, enjoy the best of both worlds - hardcore bonefish hunting and perpetual party going. Tie one on and tip one back in honor of Stiltsville.
Available as BIFOCAL
Sigs’ fun colors and casual style disguise a deep list of technical, fishy features—from wide, polarized lenses that provide an enhanced field of vision to patent pending blue light blocking LAPIS™ technology that keeps bad light out and reduces eye strain. These medium fit, full wrap shades with narrow temples also offer stealthy sun protection with our built in Sun Ledge™—not visible from the outside, it blocks rays from the inside.
Available as BIFOCAL
Named for Alejandro, Vega Cruz, AKA “Sandflea,” the Grandfather of fly fishing on the Yucatan’s Isla Holbox. The large frame Vega can help you spot giant 200-pound tarpon rolling in by the hundreds all day without weighing you down thanks to the strong yet lightweight bio-based frames.
For over 80 years, we have been at the forefront of innovation. Sharpened by experience. Pushing the boundaries of material science to make our lines stronger and more durable. Then testing in the most demanding environments with the world’s best anglers. Those who demand the best choose Scientific Anglers.
We proudly introduce Headway Integrated Bellies // They are purpose-built with Flyfish Europe to meet the demands of modern European salmon anglers. Featuring a rear-weighted, powerful integrated shooting head, they eliminate the need for a loop-to-loop connection between shooting line and head, delivering longer casts and superior line control.
Designed to pair seamlessly with Headway interchangeable tips, these lines turn over heavy flies and long leaders with ease. A slim, smooth tip connection prevents hinging, while a vibrant tracer and Shooting Texture make handling and casting effortless—even in low light.
Full range available at www.flyfisheurope.com
The Headway range is the most thoroughly tested and fine-tuned line range we’ve ever designed for Scientific Anglers. The lines and tips perform equally well for the beginner and the expert no matter what modern high-modulus double-hander you might chose to cast.
The development of the Headway Strategic Bellies was purpose-driven with the angler in mind. Our goal was to complete the Headway/Headway Strategic as a comprehensive fly line system with the best casting abilities while covering every fishing scenario an angler might encounter. Like Headway, the Headway Strategic perfectly matches with the existing Headway Tips. Headway Strategic Bellies come in four different weights/lengths and five different densities.
A full, integrated belly and shooting taper. Designed to pair seamlessly with Headway interchangeable tips, these lines turn over heavy flies and long leaders with ease. A slim, smooth tip connection prevents hinging, while a vibrant tracer and Shooting Texture make handling and casting effortless—even in low light.
HEADWAY // RECOMMENDED ROD WEIGHT / BELLY & TIP COMBINATIONS
HEADWAY STRATEGIC // RECOMMENDED ROD WEIGHT / BELLY & TIP COMBINATIONS
Designed for light double-handed duty and with a relatively long front taper for more delicate deliveries, the Scandi Lite is ideal for smaller streams and trout Spey applications. Available in grain weights from 180-420.
Customize your tips with ease. These tips come on a spool and are 30 feet of level T sinking line material. On both ends of the sinking line material they have welded streamlined loops for easy connection. When it actually comes to cutting tips the angler has the option of cutting 2 tips to make level 15 ft tips.
Designed for light double-handed duty and with a short, powerful head, the Skagit Lite is ideal for smaller streams and trout Spey applications. Available in grain weights from 150-360, this two-colored line features a textured, black marker at the end of the head that serves as a visible, and audible, notification on where to begin your cast.
The Ultimate in Long-Distance Casting. Large 8-inch loop for quick shooting head changes. Shooting Texture delivers longer casts without abrasion. Braided multifilament core with hard PVC coating.
The best coated shooting line on the market. A neat 8”/20cm welded loop at the front allows for easy shooting head changes. A highly visible front section makes it easy to see when to stop stripping and make the cast. The unique core will give you Minimal Tangling and unmatched shooting ability. It doesn’t get any better than this. 030/0,76mm Grass/ Orange, 038/0,97mm Grass/Orange.
Rectangular line profile reduces line twist and increases grip in fingers, Hardness is tailored per size for optimal shooting with low memory in any condition, Vibrant colours that are easily tracked at distance. Available in 25lb, 35lb, 42lb, and 50lb.
For exceptional casting distance. Advanced Shooting Technology freshwater line with a minimal-friction design that delivers high speeds and long distances. Easier handling with fewer tangles. Braided multifilament core.
This Super slick silicone/oil double coated mono shooting line has extremely low coefficient of friction for ultimate distance casting. This shooting line is totally round and solid with a density close to water. It makes this floats higher than other mono lines. It stretches easily even in cold conditions and has high a breaking strength for its diameter.
Sinking leaders for use with double-handed lines; perfect for Atlantic salmon, Pacific salmon and steelhead. Built on 45-lb. monofilament core. Welded loop on butt end.
“Being a hard-core two handed spey geek, my soul softened like butter in the heat of summer, testing these incredibly well-balanced, smooth and powerful heads for single-handed rods. I have simply never had the same feeling that these lines offered me. They are a pure joy to cast, giving effortless control and fishability, both spey and overhead. Headway Single Hand/Switch Belly makes you addicted to single handed rods for salmon fishing.
- Svein Røbergshage
“Easy-casting system where you can effortlessly customize the casting experience you desire in the setup, simply by switching to a shorter or longer tip. Very clever.
- Stein Skjerve Designed
“I have long struggled to find shooting heads that cater to my varying single-handed fishing needs. Headway works excellently in tight spaces, short casts, long casts, small flies, and large flies with precision and controlled presentation. With the beautifully tapered and interchangeable tips, I can introduce the fly where the fish are, regardless of water level and the speed of current. Headway is going to revolutionize single-handed fishing in the years to come.
- Tom Wangensten
Headway Single Hand/ Switch is a truly unique shooting head/ integrated shooting head system developed for seatrout & salmon anglers. The tapers are designed to perform equally well for spey/ underhand casts as overhead casts with distance and powerful turnovers in mind. Due to the adaptability of the bellies together with the Headway interchangeable tips we have created the most versatile belly/ tip system on the market. This system is fully customizable. Based on skillset, fishing/ river conditions or rod type there is a belly/ tip combination available, whether you’re into “Skagit style”, “Scandi Style” lines or a hybrid version of the two. The 14g, 16g, 18g & 20g bellies can all be combined with the Headway tips in 9’, 12’, 15’ & 18’. This means there are belly / tip combinations starting from 6wt single hand rods, through Switch rods and up to 7/8 wt and 8/9 wt double hand rods, making this system the first of its kind in the fly fishing industry.
- Rear weighted powerful shooting head developed for longer casts and line control
- Designed to be used with Headway tips (They do not work properly without)
- Paired with Headway interchangeable tips ensures turning over heavy flies and long leaders with ease
- Slim loop-to-loop connection between head and Headway interchangeable tips provides a smooth and seamless transition to eliminate hinging, and provide a straight-line connection to the fly
- Vibrantly colored tracer aids in identifying the back of the head at distance or in low light
- Shooting Texture allows the line to easily be lifted before the next cast
The Amplitude Series of fly lines features the revolutionary AST Plus slickness additive for the ultimate in slickness and durability. Each line is built with three textures for a reduction in friction, three colors to identify the separate parts of the line, and welded loops for quick and easy rigging. SA Amplitude lines are the culmination of decades of research, testing, and innovation; no finer fly line exists in the world. Amplitude is available in a number of different freshwater- and saltwater-specific tapers, so now you can reach every fish you’re after.
FRESHWATER FLYLINE
Full range available at www.flyfisheurope.com
A true-to-weight fly line that excels on your local river or lake. Floating Texture on the tip section for the ultimate in flotation; it simply keeps dry flies floating longer Shooting Texture running line delivers longer casts, thanks to a reduction in friction. Excels in medium-to-long distances with dry flies and smaller nymphs; wonderful on glass and bamboo.
A one quarter heavy fly line. Floating Texture on the tip section for the ultimate in flotation; it simply keeps dry flies floating longer. Shooting Texture running line delivers longer casts, thanks to a reduction in friction. Mid-length head for exceptional mending and accuracy at distance
Sometimes a Double Taper is just the best tool for the job - especially for delicate line for dry fly deliveries. Whether you’re fishing a classic splitcane rod, a modern glassfiber rod or a modern carbon fiber rod, the Amplitude Textured Double Taper will give you the feel you desire with the performance you need.
Built a half-size heavy, the MPX taper starts where the GPX left off. Redesigned with more mass toward the front of the head, the MPX provides the same benefits of the GPX, with an added emphasis on presentation. The power is still there, only with an added bit of finesse. Meet your new best friend.
Tarpon. Bonefish. Permit. All in one day. All on one fly line. That’s the idea behind the Amplitude Textured Grand Slam, a line designed specifically to help you achieve one of angling’s most elusive accomplishments. With a short, powerful head the Grand Slam cuts through wind and turns over crabs, shrimp, and tarpon toads with ease.
Built a half-size heavy, with a long head and substantial front taper, it’s perfect for everything from trout and panfish to pike and steelhead. There’s a reason we call it the Infinity: there is no end to what you’ll be able to do with it.
We’ve taken our Titan taper, placed in on our Tropi-Core tropical core, and created the perfect line for throwing large flies in the hottest environments. The Amplitude Textured Tropical/Jungle Titan features the revolutionary AST Plus slickness additive, meaning it is more durable, and slicker, than other lines built for the salt.
Built on a stiff core for tropical conditions, and featuring our AST Plus slickness additive, the Bonefish taper is designed with a long, compound head for casting accuracy and delicate deliveries to fish that you’ll swear have a sixth sense.
We took our revolutionary AST Plus slickness additive and put it into the our Amplitude Smooth Series. These lines are smooth like traditional lines, but have increased durability and slickness due to the AST Plus, which is mixed directly into our coatings. Each line is built with three colors to identify the separate parts of the line, and welded loops for quick and easy rigging. SA Amplitude Smooth lines are simply the finest smooth fly lines in the world and are available in a number of freshwater- and saltwater-specific tapers.
A true-to-weight fly line that excels on your local river or lake. Floating Texture on the tip section for the ultimate in flotation; it simply keeps dry flies floating longer Shooting Texture running line delivers longer casts, thanks to a reduction in friction. Excels in medium-to-long distances with dry flies and smaller nymphs; wonderful on glass and bamboo.
A one quarter heavy fly line. Floating Texture on the tip section for the ultimate in flotation; it simply keeps dry flies floating longer. Shooting Texture running line delivers longer casts, thanks to a reduction in friction. Mid-length head for exceptional mending and accuracy at distance
Built a half-size heavy, the Amplitude Smooth MPX taper starts where the GPX left off. Redesigned with more mass toward the front of the head, the MPX provides the same benefits of the GPX, with an added emphasis on presentation. The power is still there, only with an added bit of finesse. Meet your new best friend.
The Amplitude Smooth Creek Trout Taper is designed for casting in small creeks where your average weight forward lines doesn’t make the cut. The rear loaded short-bellied fly line with an extended handling section. That means more mass is distributed to the front of the line, which assists in turning over weighted flies and performing roll casts.
- 8.5, 10.5 AND 12.5
Trout Strategic is a series of dryfly trout lines in three different head lengths to accommodate for different conditions, such as small creeks/ rivers, or medium to large rivers, skill set or just personal preferences on how long the perfect trout line should be. All three head lengths have similar tapers that gives the angler the same control and feel.
Features the revolutionary AST Plus slickness additive for superior shooting ability and increased durability. Excels in medium-to-long distances with dry flies and smaller nymphs; wonderful on glass and bamboo.
An updated version of the Mastery VPT has been on the drawing board for a long time - but how do you update something as successful as the original VPT? Well, we figured it out. Updated front taper for stronger delivery of long leaders without sacrificing delicate presentation. 8` handling section for better line control on longer distances.
The Amplitude Smooth Infinity has the power to bomb out streamers, yet retains delicacy for dry flies. Built a half-size heavy, with a long head and substantial front taper. Extremely versatile general-purpose taper designed for most freshwater species; an excellent fly line for trout, grayling, panfish, bass, carp, steelhead, salmon, and pike.
Our Magnitude Series of clear floating saltwater fly lines have changed the stakes for saltwater anglers. Each fly line incorporates specialized dual polymer Duracoat, our proprietary EST+ slickness additive, and naturally buoyant CFT to produce the slickest and most durable clear floating fly line ever. Our team spent 3 years in development, with 16 iterations of materials packages, 8 different variations of slickness formulas and over 2500 hours field testing. All to get to this point. Magnitude is available in four saltwater taper profiles, full clear or clear tip, and smooth or textured options.
“Next level performance”
Full range available at www.flyfisheurope.com
A overweighted taper meticulously designed to perform both in close and while shooting accurately to distance. Compared to aggressive saltwater tapers, Balance is more refined, but still capable of delivering typical saltwater flies.
Overweighted 15’ clear floating tip option that allow the angler to track the fly. Meticulously designed to perform both in close and while shooting accurately to distance. Compared to aggressive saltwater tapers, Balance is more refined, but still capable of delivering typical saltwater flies.
Enhanced with EST+ slickness additive for unmatched durability, smoother shooting, and eco-friendly performance. Shooting Texture reduces friction to deliver longer casts. Based on our popular Grand Slam taper profile, Bonefish Plus boasts an extended head length and lighter, half-heavy weight, but maintains the short front taper to cast long leaders with ease
Using naturally buoyant polymers, we’ve created the next generation of clear floating lines. With the option of a 12‘ clear floating tip that allows the angler to track the fly and a full clear floating line for the ultimate stealthy presentation. Overweighted by a 1/2 size to load rods quickly; Extended head length for accuracy at distance.
Optimized for use above 50F/10C. This line can be fished below those temperatures, but will require stretching by hand to manage coils. The 10’ clear floating tip allows for the ultimate stealth when presenting flies to highly pressured fish
Enhanced with EST+ slickness additive for unmatched durability, smoother shooting, and eco-friendly performance. Shooting Texture reduces friction to deliver longer casts. Short head for quick rod loading. High-strength core to fight large fish.
Using naturally buoyant polymers, we’ve created the next generation of clear floating lines. With the option of a 10‘ clear floating tip that allows the angler to track the fly and a full clear floating line for the ultimate stealthy presentation. Overweighted by .75 sizes to load rods quickly; Short, powerful head turns over long leaders with heavy flies.
Extremely versatile general-purpose taper designed for most freshwater species. Made a half-size heavy to load fast-action rods, but works well with a variety of rod actions. Extended head length for long-distance casts and superior mending ability
Magnitude lines are ushering in a new era in fly line technology, headaches with clear lines are a thing of the past. Our new family is loaded with revolutionary new technologies making it most durable and slickest clear floating fly line on the market. Period. AVAILABLE TECHNOLOGIES:
“THE HEADACHES OF CLEAR LINES ARE A THING OF THE PAST” -
Dave Mangum
Full range available at www.flyfisheurope.com
A overweighted taper meticulously designed to perform both in close and while shooting accurately to distance. Compared to aggressive saltwater tapers, Balance is more refined, but still capable of delivering typical saltwater flies.
Overweighted 15’ clear floating tip option that allow the angler to track the fly. Meticulously designed to perform both in close and while shooting accurately to distance. Compared to aggressive saltwater tapers, Balance is more refined, but still capable of delivering typical saltwater flies.
Enhanced with EST+ slickness additive for unmatched durability, smoother shooting, and eco-friendly performance. Based on our popular Grand Slam taper profile, Bonefish Plus boasts an extended head length and lighter, half-heavy weight, but maintains the short front taper to cast long leaders with ease.
Using naturally buoyant polymers, we’ve created the next generation of clear floating lines. With the option of a 12‘ clear floating tip that allows the angler to track the fly and a full clear floating line for the ultimate stealthy presentation. Overweighted by a 1/2 size to load rods quickly; Extended head length for accuracy at distance.
Optimized for use above 50F/10C. This line can be fished below those temperatures, but will require stretching by hand to manage coils. The 10’ clear floating tip allows for the ultimate stealth when presenting flies to highly pressured fish
Using naturally buoyant polymers, we’ve created the next generation of clear floating lines. With the option of a 12‘ clear floating tip that allows the angler to track the fly and a full clear floating line for the ultimate stealthy presentation. Short head for quick rod loading. Highstrength core to fight large fish.
Using naturally buoyant polymers, we’ve created the next generation of clear floating lines. With the option of a 10‘ clear floating tip that allows the angler to track the fly and a full clear floating line for the ultimate stealthy presentation. Overweighted by .75 sizes to load rods quickly; Short, powerful head turns over long leaders with heavy flies.
Extremely versatile general-purpose taper designed for most freshwater species. Made a half-size heavy to load fast-action rods, but works well with a variety of rod actions. Extended head length for long-distance casts and superior mending ability
AVAILABLE TECHNOLOGIES:
Fish feed below the surface 90% of the time, Scientific Anglers Sonar Fly Lines allow you to target subsurface feeders in a full range of environments from just below the film to the depths. Whether you are pitching a weighted streamer for smallmouth, stripping a giant bunker pattern for stripers, or crawling a chironomid for stillwater trout, there is a Sonar line for you. Sonar Fly Lines are made in a full range of line weights and sink rates for exploring all depths of water. Top anglers world-wide have helped us to create the most comprehensive lineup of sinking lines available. Cores and coatings are adjusted for a complete range of water temperatures from ice-out lakes to steamy jungle rivers. Many of these are built on the award-winning Titan Taper to load rods quickly and turn over flies easily. They feature AST for improved slickness and durability and Welded Loops for quick attachment of leaders along with SA ID to find the line you want quickly. Line densities range from just-barely-sinking intermediate at 1.25 ips (inches per second) to over 9 ips.
range available at www.flyfisheurope.com
When it comes to fishing streamers in cold water, it’s difficult to beat the SONAR Sink 25. Designed with a short 25’ fast-sinking head, the Sink 25 sinking fly line gets flies deep extremely quickly and is paired with a large diameter handling section for excellent line control. When it’s time to get down and dirty, the Sink 25 has your back.
Slow-sinking clear-headed line for saltwater fisheries. Intermediate sink rate gets just below the surface. Engineered for use in salt water; the perfect stealthy line for coastal seatrout during the summer months - but also for bonefish, permit, tarpon, and redfish; also useful for snook, and warm-water stripers. Built a half-size heavy for quick loading.
Camouflage Line for Sub-Surface Fishing. This line has fall stripers, seabass, and seatrout written all over it. Built on our coldwater camouflage it will get you on the blitz with out the tangles.
With a variety of double-density sinking rates and a smooth, seamless transition between each, the SONAR Stillwater Seamless Density lines provide straightline connections to subsurface flies, meaning you’re in control of the fly every second it’s in the water.
Designed for tossing multiple flies and long leaders to wary fish cruising just beneath the surface, the Emerger Tip’s floating running line and short, clear intermediate tip allows anglers to fish with supreme line control and just enough stealth to get the job done.
For pike and musky in rivers and stillwater - or how about taimen or hucho? Designed with a powerful head to turn over extremely large flies. Reinforced loops. Oversized running line for increased line management and positive strip sets. Intermediate running line and Sink 5 head works well for lakes and rivers. For use in moderate climates.
Designed for the unique demands of stillwater angling, the Clear Camo simply disappears beneath the surface, and features a slow, intermediate sink rate to tempt fish sitting just below the chop.
Built with an extra-slow sink rate, the Hover is downright nasty when it comes to fishing streamers with a slow retrieve. It’s a legend, at least in our own minds.
For years, SA Mastery Series lines have been among our most-popular and best-performing lines. While some things have changed, one thing hasn’t: Mastery Series lines still deliver just as well as—if not better than—they ever have before. With our AST slickness additive, Dry-Tip technology, color change at the rear of the head, and SA•ID identification system, Mastery lines are still the best smooth lines at their price point on the market. From dry-fly purists to tarpon-chasing poon hounds, the Mastery Series from SA provides every angler the lines they need to catch the fish they crave.
The Mastery Infinity has the power to bomb out streamers, yet retains delicacy for dry flies. It mends like an absolute dream, and delivers flies at all distances. Built a half-size heavy, with a long head and substantial front taper
TROUT GP
One quarter heavy fly line.Utilizing the tapered belly from Infinity, Trout GP has a slightly longer front and rear taper and ¼ size heavy weight scheme.
An excellent dry-fly line, the Mastery Double Taper excels at presenting flies with a touch of grace, which is extra handy on spring creeks and smaller streams. Full range available at www.flyfisheurope.com
You’ve got articulated streamers hanging from the lampshade on your desk. You think in terms of black, white, or olive. The term conehead doesn’t refer to an old comedy sketch. We totally get it. And that’s why we designed the Mastery Titan.
The Mastery Trout line is ideally suited for chasing browns, rainbows, and any other trout you can imagine. Perfect for dry flies and ideal for smaller nymphs and streamers, the Mastery Trout is one of our mainstays.
DOUBLE TAPER (DT)
Mastery Trout Standard is a true to AFFTA line weight casters fly line. Built with a mid-length head for exceptional mending and accuracy at long distances. If you love casting this will quickly become one of your new favorites.
Built a half-size heavy, the MPX taper starts where the GPX left off. Redesigned with more mass toward the front of the head, the MPX provides the same benefits of the GPX, with an added emphasis on presentation. The power is still there, only with an added bit of finesse.
The All-Round Taper, or ART, is perfectly designed to handle nearly every freshwater fishing situation imaginable. From small dry flies to turning over nymph rigs, the ART has the power to turn over any fly without sacrificing delicacy.
The Mastery Short Belly Taper, or SBT, is just that: a short-bellied fly line with an extended handling section. That means more mass is distributed to the front of the line, which assists in turning over weighted flies and performing roll casts. Excellent for single-handed Spey casts as well.
The Mastery Versatile Presentation Taper, or VPT, looks like alphabet soup from afar, but this acronym truly means something. An ideal trout dry-fly line, the VPT features an extended front taper that presents flies delicately and also serves to help perform roll casts and single-handed Spey maneuvers.
VOLANTIS INTEGRATED - FLOAT
Your go-to fly line for seatrout and other coastal predator fish. This integrated line gives you the best of two worlds: The loading capabilities and casting distance of a shooting head, and the presentation and feel of a traditional WF line.
VOLANTIS INTEGRATED - INT/SINK 3
A long-casting, long-lasting integrated fly line that helps you target seatrout at a distance, covering water like a pro. This line will help you get below the chop and discover what’s below, as well as help you fish flies at high speed without skirting the surface.
VOLANTIS INTEGRATED- FULL INTERMEDIATE
Your go-to fly line for seatrout and other coastal predator fish just below the chop. This integrated line gives you the best of two worlds: The loading capabilities and casting distance of a shooting head, and the presentation and feel of a traditional WF line.
The Volantis Shooting Hears, designed by Flyfish Europe in collaboration with SA - and tested by hardcore seatrout fishermen across Scandinavia - has earned and deserved its reputation as THE Go-To coastal shooting head.
We are proud to offer the Frequency family of lines: the Trout and Double Tapers, built for precise presentations; the Boost, a half-size heavy taper for handling bigger dries, nymphs, and streamers; the Magnum, an even more powerful line for the largest streamers and poppers; the Saltwater, for fish along the coastlines; along with SinkTip, Full Sink, and Intermediate lines for all your sub-surface needs. Six floating tapers. Three sinking tapers. Limitless possibilities.
The Trout taper features a versatile, mid-length head ideal for delicate dries; however, it also provides great line control for nymph rigs. If you’re a trout angler, this is your Frequency.
The perfect budget sinking fly line for stillwater anglers; it handles streamers and wet flies with aplomb, cuts through the wind, and features a mid-length head for great line control. We built the Frequency Full Sink with two sink rates.
Full range available at www.flyfisheurope.com BOOST
The Frequency Cold 23 is a sink-tip line primarily designed for fishing Booby flies and similar floating patterns. Its key advantage is ease of casting and handling while wading. A fully sinking line can be cumbersome in shallow water, making it difficult to cast once fully retrieved.
This half-size heavy general purpose floating fly line loads quickly, turns over large dries, nymph rigs, and streamers with ease, and features a mid-length head perfect for nearly all freshwater applications.
One quarter-heavy fly line. Utilizing the tapered belly from Infinity, Trout GP has a slightly longer front and rear taper and ¼ size heavy weight scheme. Trout GP leans more finesse but is still a capable General Purpose trout line.
The MPX is a great all-round taper designed for overhead casting and different roll-cast applications on small- to medium sized trout rivers and lakes.
Air Cel fly lines have performed well and provided a great value for decades. Paying for quality has never been this easy or this affordable. These lines feature all the properties needed in a fly line: good flotation, durability, and tapers that work well for trout, panfish, and bass species, not to mention a welded loop on the front.
Full range available at www.flyfisheurope.com
AIRCEL
Can’t decide what to fish for? Our Air Cel general-purpose floating line is a simple, nofrills, weight-forward floating fly line perfect for throwing dry flies, nymphs, and streamers to trout or grayling in streams, rivers, or lakes. It may not cost a lot, but that certainly doesn’t mean the Air Cel won’t get the job done.
WETCEL INTERMEDIATE/SINK
Our WetCel general-purpose sinking line is a simple, no-frills, weight-forward sinking fly line perfect for throwing nymphs and streamers to trout in streams, rivers, or lakes. It may not cost a lot, but that certainly doesn’t mean the WetCel won’t get the job done.
Quick-Loading Floating Fly Line. Air Cel fly lines have performed well and provided a great value for decades. Paying for quality has never been this easy or this affordable. These lines feature all the properties needed in a fly line: good flotation, durability, and tapers that work well for trout and other game fish.
WETCEL SINK TIP - SINK4
General Purpose Sink Tip Fly Line. 12 ft long (3,7m), sink 4 sinking tip featuring a braided multifilament core for moderate to cold climates, a mid-length head for general fishing situations and sink rate 4.0 - 5.0 ips.
Fluorocarbon Tippet:
ABSOLUTE FLUOROCARBON TROUT
• Sizes: 7X – 0X, with 0.5x sizes!
• Length: 30m spools in all sizes
• 100% fluorocarbon for ultimate stealthy presentations
Supple for drag free drifts
Freshwater Tippet:
ABSOLUTE TROUT STEALTH
• Sizes: 6X - 3X
Length: 30m spools in all sizes
• Supple for drag free drifts
• Light olive tint reduces line flash for ultra wary fish
Tapered Fluorocarbon Leader:
ABSOLUTE FLUOROCARBON
• 100% Fluorocarbon for stealthy presentations
• Taper and butt diameters adapted per size to perfectly match common flies
• Abrasion resistant
Freshwater Tippet:
ABSOLUTE TROUT
• Sizes: 7X – 0X, with 0.5X sizes
• Length: 30m spools in all sizes
• Supple for drag free drifts
Freshwater Tapered Leader:
Freshwater Tapered Leader:
ABSOLUTE TROUT PRESENTATION
• Sizes: 6X - 3X, 11’ and 14’
Large butts to turn over longer length with ease
Progressive taper delicately delivers fly
Supple Material for drag free drifts
ABSOLUTE TROUT
• Sizes: 7X - 0X, 9’ Tapers specifically designed for Trout fishing
Heavy butt diameters for powerful accurate deliveries
Supple material for drag free drifts
Freshwater Tapered Leader:
Freshwater Tapered Leader:
ABSOLUTE TROUT STEALTH
• Sizes: 7X - 3X, 9’ Light olive tint reduces line flash for ultra wary fish
• For dry fly and nymph fishing in close quarters
•
ABSOLUTE STREAMER
• Nylon leader for freshwater streamer fishing 4’ short leader for use with sinking fly lines
• Heavy butt turns over the largest flies and protects fly line loop Lengths: 4´′ 8-20lb.
Freshwater Tapered Leader:
ABSOLUTE SALTWATER
• Sizes: 6X - 3X, 11’ and 14’
Large butts to turn over longer length with ease
Progressive taper delicately delivers fly
Supple Material for drag free drifts
Freshwater Leader:
ABSOLUTE INDICATOR STILLWATER
Hot orange butt section for strike detection
• Great for indicator fishing stillwater or river for trout
• Short Butt section with long tippet section
US-Handtied Freshwater Nymphing Leader:
ABSOLUTE RIGHT ANGLE LEADER
• Perpendicular dropper section ensures quick, efficient sinking of flies and accurate strike detection
Includes butt section, indicator, and dropper section. Angler attaches terminal tippet and flies to supplied tippet ring
Fluorocarbon Tippet:
ABSOLUTE FLUOROCARBON SALMON
• 30m spools
• Diameter range 0.28 - 0.48mm
• Supple for drag free drifts
Freshwater Leader:
ABSOLUTE EURO NYMPH
• Small diameter butt section to match with small diameter euro nymph lines
• Integrated Absolute Tri-color sighter Tippet ring allows easy attachment of tippet material
Indicator Tippet:
For European-Style Nymphing::
ABSOLUTE EURO NYMPH KIT
ABSOLUTE TRI-COLOR SIGHTER
• Sizes: 4X, 2X, and 0X
• Length: 10m spools in all sizes
• Green/White/Orange color
Low memory, high abrasion resistance, maximum knot strength
Saltwater Shock Tippet:
ABSOLUTE FLUOROCARBON SHOCK
• Length: 30m spools in all sizes.
• Sizes: 25lb – 80lb
Extreme abrasion resistance for Saltwater and Predatory fish
• 100% Fluorocarbon
Unique open-hub spool for easy dispensing
• Convert any single hand fly line to Euro Nymphing setup
• Kit includes 10’ floating Euro Nymph tip, Absolute Euro Nymph leader, and foam storage spool.
ABSOLUTE CLEAR SALMON Nylon Tippet:
30m spools
• Diameter range 0.28 - 0.48mm
• Supple for drag free drifts
Saltwater Leader Material:
ABSOLUTE LEADER MATERIAL
• Sizes: 25lb – 80lb
• Length: 50m spools in all sizes
General Purpose, medium stiff monofilament for leader building
• Unique open-hub spool for easy dispensing
Nylon Tippet:
MASTERY TROUT - 30M
• Sizes: 8X – 0X
• Freshwater tippet
• Length: 30m spools in all sizes
Freshwater Tippet:
MASTERY FLUOROCARBON TIPPET - 30M
• Sizes: 7X – 0X Length: 30m spools in all sizes
Nylon Tippet:
MASTERY TROUT - 100M
• Sizes: 7X – 0X
• Freshwater tippet Length: 100m spools in all sizes
Freshwater Tippet:
MASTERY FLUOROCARBON TIPPET - 100M
• Sizes: 7X – 0X Length: 100m spools in all sizes
Saltwater Tippet:
MASTERY MAGNUM TIPPET
• Sizes: 25lb – 60lb
• Length: 30m spools in all sizes
Saltwater Tippet:
MASTERY SALTWATER FLUOROCARBON
• Sizes: 8lb – 20lb Length: 30m spools in all sizes
Freshwater Tapered Leader:
MASTERY TROUT LEADER - 7,5’, 9’, AND 12’
• Tapers optimized for general purpose trout fishing
• Come with perfection loops - for loop-toloop attachment to fly line
• Butt diameters selected for use with modern fly lines
For marking monofilament to create sighters and strike indicators
Quick and easy to apply- fast drying and waterproof
• Stays put when dry- no color transfer
Line Maintenance:
• ReLOOP is a leader loop replacement technology that allows you to replace your fly line’s factory welded loop with ease.
Whether the loop is damaged, cut, or just needs to be tailored to your liking.
• Black/Chartreuse/Orange/Pink
Goes on ultra-thin, no weight or bulkdoesn’t create extra drag
Heat stable- stays fixed even in hot temperatures
Line Maintenance:
ReLOOP is a leader loop replacement technology that allows you to replace your fly line’s factory welded loop with ease.
Whether the loop is damaged, cut, or just needs to be tailored to your liking.
Accessories:
SLIPPI FINGER SLEEVE
• Protect your stripping finger from line cuts
Built in cleaning pad allows angler to easily clean fly line on the go
The grayling – sometimes called “The Queen of the Currents” – is a wonderful and highly appreciated fly-fishing species, and for good reason. It prefers flowing water and feeds mostly on insects, often at the surface, making it a perfect target for a fly angler. Even though it lacks spots and looks quite different from trout and salmon, it’s still part of the salmonid family. You can tell by the small adipose fin behind the large, tall dorsal fin.
By Håkan Karsnäser
Lightweight is the right weight. Fly fishing for grayling is about finesse and control, so choose your gear carefully.
In Europe, grayling are mainly found in the northern parts of Scandinavia, usually in running water. There are also healthy populations in lakes and ponds, but most of us connect grayling with rivers and streams.
However, it hasn’t always been viewed as a desirable fish for fly anglers. In the classic English chalk streams, grayling was considered a nuisance and people actually tried to remove them to avoid competition with trout.
The well-known riverkeeper Frank Sawyer, who managed stretches of the famous River Avon, was tasked with reducing grayling numbers. For that purpose, he created the classic Killer Bug. It’s a simple pattern tied with copper wire and a body of brown-pink yarn.
The fly was tied densely and heavy so it would sink quickly to the bottom where the grayling held, and it proved incredibly effective. It wasn’t only grayling that liked it, though. Trout found the Killer Bug very interesting too, and the pattern became a classic for both species. Frank Sawyer is also the creator of what may be an even more famous fly: the Pheasant Tail Nymph – but that’s another story.
One reason the Killer Bug became so effective is its ability to sink fast and fish close to the bottom. Although grayling happily rise to surface insects, they primarily feed on the bottom. Their mouth shape reveals this: the longer upper lip is built for picking up caddis larvae, case-building larvae, and snails from the riverbed stones. Stomach surveys of
There are grayling all over mainland Europe and with great variation. The biggest ones are typically found to the far north.
grayling show that their diet consists largely of larvae and snails living on the bottom.
This bottom-feeding behavior is a big reason grayling is such a popular species for Czech nymphing. Using a team of heavy nymphs, often with metal beads in different colors, you cast a short line – often just the leader – upstream and follow the drift closely by watching the leader-tip while guiding it with the rod.
The flies are simple and slim so they sink quickly, often with a “hot spot” to trigger a strike. Brown and olive work well, but shades of pink can be deadly too. Many grayling waters are surrounded by coniferous forest, which often gives the water a tea-colored tint. In these conditions, brown or copper-colored flies tend to be the best choice because they stand out better.
If you don’t want to fish multiple flies on a short line, traditional nymphing works perfectly well. A weighted nymph on a thin tippet, with the section nearest the fly line greased, is all you need. Cast upstream and let the nymph sink while making sure the line drifts freely without drag. The greased section will float and work as a strike indicator when the tippet pulls down or sideways. Caddis larvae or case-building imitations are very effective for this style of fishing, and the Pheasant Tail mentioned earlier is also a great choice.
Although grayling mostly feed close to the bottom, they’ll often take a dry fly even when there isn’t much surface activity. This is especially true early or very late in the season. During the warm summer months, when the fish are exposed to an abundance of hatching insects, it can be frustrating to find the right fly or hit the feeding window.
OCD anyone? A look inside one of Henrik Kure’s immaculate grayling fly boxes. He has a particular love for the queen of the stream.
A rod with a slightly deeper action is ideal since thin tippets are often used “
Your best chances are usually late in the evening or even at night. Early in the season, when the water is still cold and the fish are recovering from the long winter, the dry-fly fishing can be fantastic. It doesn’t take much to get the fish started – a bit of sunshine and a few insects moving around can be enough. It can even be productive to fish a dry when no fish are visibly rising.
Another prime moment for dry-fly anglers is the tail end of the season. The sun sits lower, days get shorter, and both air and water cool down. Insect activity decreases, and the species that still hatch tend to be smaller than the summer’s mayflies. These include midges and various small gnats, but also land-based insects like ants and wasps that fall onto the water and are eagerly taken by the fish.
For this late-season fishing, you’ll need smaller flies, often down to size 18–22, thin tippets, and a focus on the calmer parts of the river. Fishing can continue right up until snow and ice make it impossible – usually when freezing rod guides become the limiting factor.
For grayling, a 9- or 9.6-foot rod in a 4- or 5-weight is excellent. For smaller streams, an 8-foot rod or even shorter works well. A rod with a slightly deeper action is ideal since thin tippets are often used. Long casts are rarely needed, but accuracy and line control are extremely important.
A floating line is all you need for grayling, though you can add a sinking poly-leader if you need extra depth. Since most fishing is done in flowing water, a wading staff is recommended. It provides extra support, and even when you’re not wading deep, moving around slippery stones can be tricky.
Your fly boxes should include plenty of heavily weighted nymphs and a good selection of dry flies. There are several classics that should always be there: the Europea No. 12, Superpuppan, Red Tag, and Hare’s Ear nymphs with gold or copper beads. In addition, make sure you carry imitations of caddis larvae and case builders. Various caddis patterns, mayflies, and small black dry flies to imitate midges and ants are essential. Grayling are mainly insect feeders, but the big ones will happily take small fish, so it’s smart to bring a few larger wet flies or streamers in black and silver.
The two flies presented with tying instructions are excellent grayling patterns. The CdC Caddis is a must when caddis are hatching. It’s easy to tie, and once treated with floatant, it will ride the surface for a long time. The green caddis pupa works when you see caddis emerging but also doubles as a weighted caddis larva when nothing is hatching on top.
Grayling are mainly insect feeders, but the big ones will happily take a small fish. “
Start the thread and wind back to the bend. Select a hackle with fibers slightly longer than the hook gap. Tie it in at the bend.
Align the tips of 3–4 small CdC feathers. Tie them in on top of the hook so the wing extends a few millimeters beyond the body. Trim the excess.
Dub the thread and form the body, tapering it slightly toward the front. Leave room for the wing and thorax.
Dub the thread again and form the thorax in front of the wing.
Hook: Ahrex FW502 or 503, size 12–16
Thread: Brown 8/0
Hackle: Cree or brown-dyed grizzly
Body: Coarse brown/rust dubbing (natural dubbing also works)
Wing: 3–4 natural-colored CdC feathers
Thorax: Same dubbing as the body
Dub the thread again and form a slim thorax that just covers the
Select a partridge feather with fibers slightly longer than the hook shank. Tie it in by the tip just behind the bead.
Hook: Ahrex FW530 or 531, size 12
Thread: Brown 8/0
Bead: 3 mm gold bead
Ribbing: Oval silver tinsel
Rear body: Green-olive or peacock Woolly Sparkle Dub, or similar
Front body: Hare’s Ear dubbing
Hackle: Partridge Instructional video
Our community is made up of anglers who spend hours at their vise and long days on the water, as well as those who are lucky if they can get out to fish twice a year. It’s also made up of vendors, co-workers, customers and neighbors. We are all in this together regardless of experience or title. We work to make the process—whether it is fishing or business—more enjoyable for everyone. From products to educational resources to how we respond to questions and interact with our delivery drivers—we look for ways to improve your day.
From above, Cosmoledo looks almost polite. A ribbon of pale sand divides dark, gnawed volcanic formations from water so clear it barely seems real. The flats glow in pealescent shades that don’t exist anywhere else - mint, jade, turquoise - each colour revealing depth, danger, and opportunity to those who know how to read it. A single skiff floats nearby, small and exposed, as if someone forgot it there by accident. From the air, it feels calm. Ordered. Quiet. On the water, however, Cosmoledo is none of those things.
By Rasmus Ovesen
Images by Rasmus Ovesen and Martin Ejler Olsen
’ve fly fished my whole life, and along the way I’ve, somehow, gotten heavily infected with the saltwater bug. This is my fourth visit to Cosmoledo, the widely acknowledged GT Capital of the World, but by now I know better than to get too fixated - especially here. Cosmoledo Atoll is a somewhat deceptive place that strips everything down to essentials. Sun, wind, coral, current.
There is no softness to hide behind, no forgiving water, no gentle fish. Life survives here because it must, and anything that grows large has done so by being ruthless, resilient, cunning or all three.
Birds patrol the shoreline like scavengers. Sharks patrol the atoll perimeter with deadly intent. The flats stretch endlessly, broken only by coral bommies that rise from nowhere like submerged fortresses. Palm trees cling to the islands as if they’re unsure whether they’re welcome or not. Baitfish school up in their shade in the shallows clinging desperately on to dear life.
I’ve spent ten years fishing the Seychelles, hopping between atolls like chapters in the same hypnotic book. Alphonse with its polish and consistency. Farquhar with its raw scale and hectic days. Astove, compact and intense, where everything seems to happen fast. Each has its own rhythm, its own promise. But Cosmoledo - Cosmoledo has always been different. Harder. Less predictable. Less generous. Or maybe just generous in a different way. Regardless, it has always been THE place for me.
Maybe it’s because Cosmoledo has never made things easy for me. My first trip was cursed by the dreaded red crab hatch. The flats looked perfect but the big fish had abandoned them entirely, heading offshore to gorge themselves in deeper water while we stood ankle-deep in disappointment.
I left quietly obsessed and returned a year later only to have a tropical cyclone shut the entire operation down and send us packing, like an insult delivered by the weather itself. Still, I kept coming back, though. Because Cosmoledo is like a gem – multifacetted and somewhat unforgiving, relealing its
brilliance only to those willing to turn it over again and again…
Although I’d come specifically for the GT’s, my first trip to Cosmoledo gave me my biggest Indo-Pacific permit to date; a trophy fish that measured 75 centimeters and felt like an impossible achievement. Permit are the aristocrats of the flats: silver, aloof, and famously unwilling to cooperate. Indo-Pacific permit in particular are a special kind of cruel - rare, hypersensitive, and often encountered only once before vanishing like a rumour. Getting an eat from one is an achievement. Hooking and landing one is something else entirely. That fish alone would have justified my return – and so would the 102cm milkfish that I caught three years after the cyclone hit. I had searched for that particular fish for a long time and catching it felt like the closing of a long, unresolved chapter.
This time, however, Cosmoledo went even further.
The giant trevally appeared the way they always seem to - without warning, without ceremony. One moment the water was empty and dark under a heavy, clouded sky; the next, there it was, materializing on top of a coral bommie like something summoned. One hundred and twenty centimeters of muscle, intent, and bad ideas. The cast stretched across the azure blue water depositing the Jointed Beast Fly in close proximity to the fish. The eat was violent enough to feel personal - an instant explosion of water and foam that seemed to leave a crater of shock on the surface film. And what followed was pure Cosmoledo chaos!
The fish tried to coral me immediately and all I could do was to hang on tightly – as if to a rabidly mad dog on a leash. The guide, Brandon Poole, was already moving, running the boat, cutting angles, staying ahead of the fish in a choreography that only comes from years of experience on these flats. Pressure was absolute. There was no room for politeness. When the fish finally came boatside, it felt less like a victory and more like a negotiation concluded on mutually hostile terms.
The fish felt like the culmination of everything I’d been searching for in the Seychelles. After years of near-misses, broken plans, and moments that came agonisingly close to becoming something more, it finally all aligned. What washed over me first wasn’t elation, but relief - deep and physical - followed by a quiet sense of thankfulness for having been allowed this moment at all. With that weight
“
Brandon Poole was already on the move, running the boat, cuttings agles, staying ahread...
120cm of pure muscle power. After 10 years of searching for this monster, things finally came together...
lifted, something else settled in: a calm acceptance. For the first time on Cosmoledo, I stopped trying to make things happen. I simply let the atoll unfold on its own terms, open to whatever it chose to offer next, knowing that sometimes the greatest reward is not what you catch, but the patience it teaches you along the way. Something shifted after that. Things just began to click…
In the days that followed I landed my biggest yellow-margin triggerfish ever - brutal, stubborn, all teeth and attitude - followed by my largest bonefish, a thick 71-centimeter fish that burned line and reminded me just how powerful bonefish can be when they reach that size. And with that last fish, I came to realize that out of the big five in the Seychelles: GT, permit, bonefish, triggerfish, and milkfish, Cosmoledo had now conjoured up all my personal bests.
The rest of the week unfolded in a kind of flow - shots lining up, decisions happening without thought. And lots of fun on the boat! I caught my first Napoleon wrasse, a prehistoric, thick-lipped reef giant with eyes that seem far too intelligent for comfort. I added another small but flawless Indo-Pacific permit, the kind that feels like a quiet nod from the flats rather than a celebration. And also had my first-ever dog-tooth tuna on a fly rod.
At times, I felt my consciousness drift and I could see the flats skiff from above - floating alone in the vastness of the Indian Ocean, surrounded by space, beauty and possibility, but also by consequence. As if nothing is ever promised. As if everything that’s important in life must be earned.
Ten years in, the Seychelles has taught me patience. Cosmoledo, specifically, has taught me stamina and to not become too myopically obsessed with certain ideas (or, in this mundane case, fish). On this fourth visit - after cyclones, crabs, and long stretches of doubt - it finally offered something else: the feeling that persistence, occasionally, is rewarded.
Luck is luck. But this time, standing on that skiff in the middle of nowhere, I felt like I’d earned every fish that came my way. More specifically, if felt like that one particular fish – my arch-nemesis 1m+ giant trevally – had somehow always had my name written all over it. And that feeling is hard to beat!!!
The rest of the week unfolded in a kind of flow... “ Napoleon wrasse
If you’re into bird life, there is plenty to see on Cosmoledo Atoll. Here’s a grey heron looking for its next meal.
Is the biggest member of the jack family, which – among others - includes bluefin trevally, longfin trevally, golden trevally, amberjack and jack crevalle. It’s an immensely powerful fish, that has specialized in hunting and killing everything from crabs and other crustaceans to fish and even sea birds. (If you haven’t seen BBC’s documentary about the giant trevally at Farquhar Atoll that leap out of the water and snatch flying terns out of mid-air, check it out now). Giant trevally can grow up to 170 centimetres in length and weigh in excess of 80 kilos, but flats-caught 1 meter+ specimens are generally considered trophies.
Are dwarfed by their Caribbean cousins (Trachinotus Falcatus). They rarely exceed 75 centimetres in length, and their maximum length and weight are believed to be around 85 centimetres and 10 kilos respectively. However, in terms of appearance, Indo-pacific permit – with their fiery golden sheen - are far more eye-catching and pretty compared to Atlantic permit. And they’re known to be even more finicky and challenging to catch than their relatives elsewhere in the world. As a result, they’re considered one of the greatest saltwater trophies on the planet.
Is a collective term for 40 species in the family Balistidae, of which the vividly coloured yellow margin- and the big and aggressive moustache (or titan) triggerfish are the two most sought-after. These fish are highly territorial and they are known to chew and break corals apart in order to expose small crustaceans (and for crushing flies and bending hooks). While they rarely grow larger than 55 - 60 centimetres, they are incredibly fun and challenging to catch. It usually involves small shrimp and crab flies, long and precise casts, and hectic fights where the number one priority is to keep them away from craggy coral structure, holes, and depressions.
Is an exciting and archaic species of fish; a species of fish that - pound-for-pound – ranks among the most hard-fighting and spectacular fish in our oceans. Milkfish grow up to more than 25 kilos and are known to jump meter-high out of the water once hooked. Furthermore, because they have two a so-called “pseudobranch” which acts a bit like a second set of gills, they don’t build up considerable amounts of lactic acids during the fight, and this means that they just keep going, and going, and going… Milkfish can be found in smaller schools up on the flats where they filter the water for thread algae, but they’re “easier” to catch offshore, when they’re daisy-chaining on the surface in huge schools.
Bonefish (Albula glassodonta)
Are the Speedy Conzaleses of the flats; an explosive fish that is capable of accelerating and exposing backing at break-neck speeds. It can grow up to 85 centimetres in length and weigh in the vicinity of 10 kilos, but 5-kilo+ fish are generally considered trophies. Bonefish grow big in the Seychelles and they are found on shallow, sandy flats where they dig for crabs and other crustaceans. The biggest fish are typically singles, whereas the smaller fish appear in relatively big schools; schools that create what’s typically referred to as “nervous water” as they patrol and forage along the flats.
Cosmoledo Atoll, located in the Seychelles Archipelago in the Indian Ocean, is renowned as one of the top fly fishing destinations in the world. It’s famously called the “GT Capital of the World,” thanks to the abundant Giant Trevally that roam its waters. Anglers can also target other exciting species like Bonefish, Milkfish, Permit, Triggerfish, Bluefin Trevally, and Barracuda. To preserve its rich marine life, Cosmoledo operates on a strict catch-and-release policy, ensuring the sustainability of its fishing ecosystem. This commitment to conservation makes it a dream destination for fly anglers seeking adventure in one of the most remote and rewarding fishing spots on the planet. For more info, please refer to: www.alphonsefishingco.com
Milkfish just keep going, and going, and going... “
Milkfish are spectacular fighters. This 102cm specimen put a serious bend in the author’s Scott Sector 10-weight.
To celebrate 30 years of relentlessly pursuing perfection and finding practical solutions to the ongoing needs of discerning fly fishermen, C&F Design now releases the 30th Anniversary Fly Box Range.
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, a group of Spanish anglers discovered some local waters where carp reached significantly larger sizes than elsewhere, and where, on certain shallow banks, these large fish roamed freely, becoming a potential target for fly fishing.
Manolo Bernardino, J. A. Santos, Fernando Gil, and others were prominent anglers at that time - true forerunners in the constant search for new horizons, pushing the boundaries of fly fishing in Spain. But there is no real momentum without popularization, and some of these pioneers, who were also contributors to fishing magazines, took on the task of spreading that seed among the wider fly-fishing community.
The common folk were already fly fishing for carp; technically, we were prepared, and both strategies and tactics were fairly clear. However, our results were modest in terms of fish size. Our reference guide and a true must-read was Carp on the Fly – A Fly Fishing Guide (1997), but everything changed when Manolo Bernardino appeared in 2000 posing with 7–8 kg carp in an article published in Danica, a fly-fishing magazine. Carp of that size on the fly in Spain! It was an incredibly exciting time and a huge spur for all of us.
Yet it was not until 2003 that Manolo raised the bar again, revealing the true potential hidden within Spanish carp fisheries. In an article published in Federpesca, he posed with specimens exceeding 10 kg - fish we had previously believed were only attainable using traditional carp-fishing techniques.
Near-Perfect Conditions
There is a deep-rooted fondness for large cyprinids in Spain, represented by a legion of carp-fishing enthusiasts and a huge number of clubs dedicated to this discipline. Lately, however, we are increasingly seeing - mostly on social media - local fly rodders posting photos alongside trophy carp.
This is no coincidence. Spain offers excellent conditions for growing big carp. First and foremost, the variety and abundance of food available in our waters are fundamental drivers of such growth. A carp would never reach this size by feeding solely on chironomid larvae, seeds, and detritus.
The diet of a large carp includes insects and their larvae, tadpoles, shrimp, snails, seeds, fruits, bivalves - but also crabs, frogs, fingerlings, and other small vertebrates. A truly big carp is a ruthless omnivore that misses no opportunity to swallow anything it can fit into its mouth, often displaying a pronounced - albeit unconventional - predatory behavior.
Weather also plays a key role. Winters in Spain are shorter and less severe than in many other parts of Europe, allowing carp to remain active for longer periods. As the saying goes, “a carp that keeps feeding is a carp that keeps growing.”Genetics also matter: certain regions and river basins produce carp with a greater predisposition for faster and larger growth.
By late March, groups of carp begin to appear along the banks, wandering seemingly without direction. Still lethargic due to low water temperatures, they rarely show a strong willingness to chase flies. This period also coincides with the pre-spawning season, during
Prepare to put in some footwork when stalking the Spanish reservoirs for carp.
Several weeks later, after spawning, feeding carp once again begin to appear along the margins. Water temperatures rise, and the fish need to regain both strength and weight. Spring runoff raises reservoir levels, flooding meadows and creating shallow areas rich in vegetation, seeds, and insects. This marks the true beginning of the carp season, which lasts until the first cold fronts arrive in late September or early October.
However, it is important to distinguish between carp and big carp. Trophy fish prefer hot, sunny days, as they are more temperature-tolerant than smaller shoal fish. From mid-May onward, we begin to see truly large carp cruising the banks, with their presence increasing as temperatures rise. June, July, and August are the prime months for this CHALLENGE - capitalized deliberately due to the technical difficulty of targeting such large, elusive fish, compounded by the extreme conditions of fishing in temperatures approaching 40°C.
The presence of large carp alone does not guarantee a fly-fishable fishery. Specific orographic and environmental conditions are also required to enable a successful approach.
Big carp are extremely sensitive and wary animals, with an impressive ability to detect sounds above the water. The larger the fish, the greater its suspicion. You will rarely find them along shores frequented by people; they actively flee
Mirror carp are a domesticated variety or genetic mutation characterized by large, irregular scales and often fewer scales than common carp
noise and disturbance. Instead, we seek remote locationsplaces where paths narrow and eventually disappear, and where signs of other anglers have long vanished.
Shallow shores or flats with a gradual drop-off into deeper water, combined with abundant cover such as algae or scattered rocks, are ideal. The presence of a nearby tributary is an added bonus. Big carp venture into shallow water to hunt, as these areas serve as breeding grounds and refuges for their prey. Crawfish are at the top of the menu and are highly prized by large specimens, but odonate nymphs, small frogs and tadpoles, leeches, and fingerlings are also key food sources.
Flies that imitate the preferred prey of large carp are the most effective - chiefly crawfish and dragonfly nymphs. These patterns are the deadliest weapons when confronting a trophy fish.
Before discussing specific patterns, however, we must address some common denominators. Size comes first. The “big fish, big fly” rule applies here: flies ranging from 20 to 50 mm in length, tied on hooks sized #5 to #1, are essential. Carp hooks - short shank, straight, and 3x heavy wire - are ideal.
For longer profiles, nymph shanks can be used as abdomen extenders to create articulated patterns. Mop material is another highly attractive and durable option for extending the body. A carp’s hearing is so acute that if it detects the sound of a fly landing, it will often immediately turn and retreat to deeper wa-
ter. Therefore, both material selection and weight are critical. I favor rabbit strips in my most effective patterns: they provide excellent movement and volume in the water while softening the impact on the surface. Marabou, long-fiber synthetic or natural dubbings, and shaggy dubbing wrapped around the hook shank are equally effective and maintain a discreet presentation.
Leaders are far from a simple matter. I prefer leaders approximately 11 feet long, built from knotted sections of Maxima Ultragreen monofilament. The leader starts with a 0.60 mm butt section connected to the fly line via a loop-to-loop connection. The remaining sections follow a bonefish-style configuration, joined with blood knots or surgeon’s knots. The goal is a medium-fast taper capable of delivering large flies accurately over long distances while remaining subtle at presentation.
For tippets, I use fluorocarbon in two diameters: 0.30 mm and 0.40 mm. Most of the time, I choose 0.40 mm, switching to 0.30 mm in very clear water or when dealing with exceptionally spooky fish.
Is it possible to catch big carp on lighter tippets? Yes. On heavier ones? Absolutely. But in my opinion, the balance lies within this range. I often hear anglers boasting about landing carp on ultra-light tippets, and while I respect their skill, I personally prefer hooking four fish and landing four fish rather than hooking seven and landing only two. I also see no pleasure in exhausting fish unnecessarily through prolonged fights or leaving them swimming away with a fly stuck in their mouth after a break-off. For me, it is simply a matter of common sense.
An 8-9 weight rod remains light enough for long days on the water
Equipment
Most fly rodders opt for a 10-weight rod, often using the same outfit for pike and carp. In my opinion, an 8–9 weight rod is a better-balanced choice when paired with a 0.40 mm tippet. It offers enough power for big fish while remaining light enough for long days on the water, maintaining accuracy even in tough conditions. Heavier rods increase fatigue and offer little advantage unless fishing extremely heavy tippets.
A large carp can easily strip 50 meters of backing in a single, powerful surge. And many fish have surprising amounts of dogged determination and stamina. Reels should therefore be loaded with at least 100–150 meters of 30 lb backing and come equipped with a reliable, progressive drag system that will be able to put some braking power on the fish. Any reel meeting these requirements will suffice.
Fly lines are just as important as leaders. Simply put: Saltwater lines - more specifically, tropical lines (or jungle tapers) - are essential. This is predominantly a summer fishery, with daytime temperatures often exceeding 35°C and sometimes reaching 42°C. Most freshwater line coatings are not designed for such heat and become soft and sticky, leading to tangles when the shot matters the most.
Saltwater lines, with their stiffer coatings and braided monofilament cores, maintain proper stiffness and handling. Bonefish and redfish tapers, designed for smooth, precise, and quiet presentations are ideal - and are typically available in discreet color schemes that will prevent fish from spooking.
Stalking big carp involves covering long stretches of shoreline. I recall days when we logged hikes of up to 16 km. Comfort and preparation are therefore critical.
Wading is often necessary - to shorten casting distance, find the correct angle, or land a completely exhausted fish. A comfortable, waterproof backpack is essential for carrying lunch, sufficient water, a small accessories pouch, fly boxes, and camera equipment.
Light, long-sleeved clothing with UV protection and quick-drying properties is mandatory under relentless sun exposure. Boonie hats provide better protection than trucker caps, offering superior shade and enhancing the effectiveness of polarized sunglasses.
I personally favor camouflage patterns such as Camo Veil or Mossy Oak, as they help remain visually inconspicuous. Finally, footwear is critical: flat sneakers paired with gravel guards are, in my experience, the best option for these demanding conditions.
Organizing a fishing trip to Spain from anywhere in Europe is straightforward thanks to excellent transport connections, accessible fisheries, and relatively simple administrative procedures.
Carp can be found in nearly every Spanish reservoir, many of which hold truly large fish. However, only a few offer suitable conditions for fly fishing. The most effective approach is
to focus on central Spain - flying into Madrid and renting a car or SUV. From there, you can access nearby reservoirs or travel to Extremadura, home to some of the country’s finest carp fisheries.
Pedrezuela and Valmayor lie just a few kilometers from Madrid, while Alange, García de Sola, and Sierra Brava are renowned for holding some of Extremadura’s largest carp. Other notable regions include Andalusia, with the Jarrama Reservoir, and the Comunitat Valenciana, where Benagéber and El Regajo stand out.
Fishing inland waters requires a valid administrative fishing license, and each Spanish region traditionally issues its own. However, several regions now offer an inter-regional license that simplifies the process for traveling anglers. This license costs approximately €25 and allows fishing in Comunitat Valenciana, Aragón, Madrid, Extremadura, Castilla y León, Murcia, Asturias, and Galicia.
Licenses can be obtained online through regional government websites using a credit card. For example, the Comunidad de Madrid license portal can be accessed at: https://gestiona.madrid.org/lcpi_telematica/html/web/Inicio.icm
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Stalking carp involves covering long stretches of shoreline.
Carp in excess of 10 kilos aren’t uncommon. They fight hard and long making them the perfect fly rod quarry.
... is a large freshwater fish belonging to the Cyprinidae family and is one of the most widely distributed fish species in the world. Native to Eastern Europe and Western Asia, it has been introduced across much of Europe, Asia, the Americas, Africa, and Australia, thriving in slow-flowing rivers, lakes, and reservoirs.
Carp are highly adaptable, long-lived fish that can exceed 40 kg in weight, feeding opportunistically on insects, crustaceans, molluscs, plant matter, and, in the case of large specimens, small vertebrates. Their rapid growth in warm, nutrient-rich waters, combined with a long feeding season and favorable genetics, allows them to reach exceptional sizes. Intelligent, cautious, and extremely sensitive to disturbance, carp are both a challenging sport fish and, in some regions, an ecologically controversial species.
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Few rivers are as famed as Årøyelva in Sogndal, Norway.
Flowing into Barsnesfjorden, the river carries a long and fascinating history, and it was only in 2012 that fishing here was opened to the public — or at least the part of the public with considerable money in their accounts.
By Rasmus Ovesen
IHAVEN’T INHERITED TITLES OR MONEY. But at the age of eight, I inherited my grandfather’s well-worn ABU fiberglass fly rod. It was as heavy as a fence post, quickly sapping my frail arms of energy. The fly line, wound on an azure blue Record fly reel that frequently tangled, was cracked and poorly matched to the rod’s classification. To make matters worse, the line was double-tapered, which didn’t exactly help me achieve my lofty dreams of casting long and graceful loops.
Standing there on my parents’ roughly cut lawn — out in the countryside — trying to cast, I probably looked slightly eccentric, swinging wildly in some uncontrolled frenzy, wielding a makeshift whip. Passersby on the road in front of the house must have wondered what on earth was going on. But they probably didn’t think, as I did with all my innocent childlike hopes, that it was a future member of a noble club standing there with flailing arms and a tongue stuck between teeth in concentration.
I realized early on that what I inherited from my grandfather was something far more than just the cursed fly rod (Sorry grandpa!) that kept draining my strength, tying Gordian knots in the leader, and making me look — and at times feel — like a hopeless, clumsy farm boy. What Grandpa had given me was actually a kind of admission ticket — much like the golden ticket in Roald Dahl’s famous 1964 story that grants poor Charlie and four other ecstatic children access to Willy Wonka’s wondrous chocolate factory and opens up a life full of adventure and sensory richness.
The only question remaining was whether I — like little, sympathetic Charlie — would triumph in this new realm or, like the other spoiled kids in the story, be ‘weighed and found wanting’ and eventually spat out. Unlike stoic Charlie, who left everything to fate with altruistic calm, I felt I needed to take matters into my own hands and fighttooth and nail - for my potential membership. It’s a fight I’ve fought ever since.
Thirty years later, I lead an occasionally wandering life as a Gonzo fly fishing journalist and photographer. I’ve traveled the world with my fly rod in hand — not Grandpa’s, but one of those feather-light space-age carbon fiber ones (even though some people insist fiberglass isn’t dead). Much has changed since my childhood, but not my mentality. Even though I occasionally get unique offers (which I gratefully accept) for luxury fishing lodges in places like the Caribbean, the Indian Ocean, Iceland, and Canada, I still feel like I truly belong in the realm of public waters — up to my knees in mud on some mosquito-ridden riverbank or battling the wind and salt spray while deep-wading along a chilly coastal stretch.
For me, the problem with luxury fishing isn’t necessarily the often excessively wealthy clientele, who can range from Russian oligarchs to American crypto-millionaires or those with inherited titles and wealth. Nor is it the service or the accommodations (One can get used to those surprisingly quickly). The issue is that no matter how kind and polite the guests may be, I often feel out of place — like a beggar at a banquet, small and insignificant inside. Like a child.
Yet, I’ve carried with me something no multimillionaire can buy: Years of experience, a trained eye, and just enough talent for fly casting that not even my grandfather’s old fiberglass fly rod could stifle it. The combination of skill and confidence (not to be confused with self-esteem) has often made a noticeable difference on my trips — to the occasional despair of others — and I’ve always felt that my success was earned.
But then one day, I started salmon fishing with a two-handed rod…
The Ladders of Despairin all their glory. If you’d like to walk in the footsteps of royalty, this is the place to be...
Årøyelva
In the summer of 2021, another unique opportunity presented itself: three days on the legendary Årøyelva in Sogndal. In the world of salmon fly fishing, Årøyelva hardly needs an introduction, but for the sake of clarity, it’s worth summarizing some of the river’s history.
Årøyelva has been family-owned since 1746 (almost ten generations). It was first fished by Bergen merchants in the 1840s and later by British businessmen who came to the area to purchase timber for the British navy, which had developed an unfortunate habit of being perpetually at war with the French.
The river’s salmon — evolutionarily adapted to the short, relentlessly rushing waters by becoming larger, more compact, and stronger than salmon elsewhere — quickly became a topic of conversation in elite British fly-fishing circles. With epic catches like Wilfred Kennedy’s 63lbs salmon from 1894 and Denisoff’s 68lbs and 76lbs salmon from 1923 and 1921 respectively, it’s no wonder the demand to fish here was high. Still, only a few people ever got the chance.
With the exception of the years during World War II, the fishing rights have been leased to wealthy individuals. In the early decades, it was mainly English aristocrats, officers, and lords who fished the river. Lord Percy was one of them. He built “The English House,” a villa in English colonial style, on the riverbank. Even Norwegian King Haakon visited shortly after his coronation to fish, accompanied by the Prince of Wales — later King George V.
Among other notable figures who have rented the river for fishing are an Indian maharaja, French hotel magnate Charles Ritz, fashion icon Coco Chanel, and Russian engineer Nicolas Denisoff, who was one of the key engineers behind the Trans-Siberian Railway.
In 2012, Frenchman Jacques Bamberg’s exclusive lease ended, and King Harald V inaugurated a fishing operation and a scenic fishing lodge that, after more than 150 years, was now open to the public. (The part of the public that is more than averagely affluent, to be clear.)
The air quivers over Årøyelva’s foaming waters, which sparkle with an emerald-green depth beneath towering, lush hillsides. Further downstream, the current eases, and Barsnesfjorden — bathed in sleepy morning light — calmly and steadfastly embraces the river, like a mother welcoming a child.
As I move down to the water and onto the distinctive wooden bridges and platforms along the bank, which allow even those who prefer a tweed jacket (or sandals and shorts) over waders to fish, I feel the past and present merging.
The season has just begun. The summer nights are bright and mild, and the atmosphere is relaxed and cheerful. We have three days of fishing ahead of us, with plenty of unforgettable culinary experiences in store. I’ll be taking photos along the way (a grateful task by the beautiful river), but I’ll also get a chance to fish. And just
the thought of it makes me uneasy.
The prospect of fishing one of the most exclusive and legendary salmon rivers in the world, and experiencing accommodations and hospitality fit for a king, makes me feel slightly nauseous. And that feeling intensifies when I think about how - just the week before - I was in northern Norway, fishing for seatrout and living like a bum in a stinky rental car full of clutter, empty cinnamon roll wrappers, and lukewarm Pepsi bottles. Worst of all, I have neither the confidence nor the experience to rely on. What little experience I do have feeds a nagging notion that salmon are like phantom fish, ghosts that only sporadically materialize to mock me. The idea that they strike on a classic swing is a piece of hard evidence I’ve yet to become acquainted with.
Salmon are like phantom fish, ghosts that only sporadically materialize to mock me “
I am practically meritless as a salmon fly fisherman (at least with a two-handed rod), and I impress no one with my casting skills. Thus, I can’t help but feel that many other skilled salmon fly fishers out there deserve this opportunity much more than I do. That I am unworthy of the place.
There is lots of beautiful scenery, wildlife and cultural sights to delve into when visiting Sognedal.
I’m not here with British lords or American tech millionaires but with three colleagues who have become close friends — and the world’s friendliest fly shop owner, Bjørnar. With the exception of Stig (I’m allowed to say this without offending him), they are all experienced and skilled salmon fly fishers. Two of them, Roy and Jarle, have even fished the river before. My main task, therefore, will be to photograph the pros in their rightful element, absorb experiences and vibes, try not to ruin too much water for the others, and otherwise strive to minimize the amount of embarrassing and humiliating moments. The latter goes well — as long as I stick to my photography…
Contrary to what some might believe, paying a lot of money for fishing is not a guarantee of catching a lot of fish. And hooking a fish in Årøyelva, which can be challenging enough in itself, is far from the same as landing one — especially early in the season when the large, bright salmon are making their way up the rushing river. Roy learns this lesson soon after hooking a solid fish in Pump Pool; a fish that will result in either a green pinhead (for a landed fish) or a yellow pinhead (for a lost fish) on the large map displayed on the lodge’s living room wall. (Despite the young season, there are already several yellow pinheads in the lower part of the river, but only a few green ones).
Roy fights the fish, while it thrashes violently in the river, seeking irresistibly toward the swift main current. Moments later, the line goes slack, and Roy reels in, disheartened, to find that the double hook has bent out. The group’s first yellow pinhead is officially secured – but it won’t be the last.
While landing fish in Årøyelva requires a bit of luck, it doesn’t mean that luck is all that’s needed to hook one. It certainly doesn’t feel that way during our time at the river. Neither Stig nor I manage to hook a fish. However, Jarle does. He secures the group’s first green pinhead by landing a gleaming bright salmon around 9 kilograms in Teddy Pool. He is followed by his close friend and business partner of 30 years, Bjørnar, who hooks a fish at White Stone: a perfectly formed creature weighing around 10–11 kilograms, fresh from the sea and exhibiting overwhelming explosiveness and raw power. Befittingly, Jarle nets the fish for him.
The sight of Jarle and Bjørnar sitting in the small, covered shelter upstream from White Stone on the opposite bank — in the last glowing light of the night sky — while toasting with cognac and (as far as I can tell from a distance) wearing these large, self-satisfied smiles across their faces, is one of the trip’s many highlights. Perfectly orchestrated and meaningful. It’s a moment that emphasizes the historical weight that guests bring to Årøyelva.
The last day’s fishing is also perfectly orchestrated and dramatic. Roy earns his well-deserved revenge with a beautifully bright fish weighing 10.5 kilograms — again from Pump Pool, but not before Stig proves that belief can move mountains, and that persistence sometimes trumps lazy excellence.
At the very bottom of Teddy Pool, Stig’s fly suddenly stops midstream. A heavy tug transmits through the line, and for the next 10 minutes — as the fish rushes up and down the river trying to rid itself of the inexplicably applied pressure — he is a nervous wreck. He has never been connected to such a large salmon, and when the lodge’s guide, Scot de Bruyn, finally slips the net under the fish and secures the catch, Stig raises a resolute fist in the air, letting jubilation and euphoria run free.
The fish is flawless; from the large fan-shaped tail, over the chrome-like muscular flanks, to the steely gill covers. It sparkles in the water like the purest silver. Plump and round as it is, the fish is estimated to weigh around 12.5 kilograms, and with it, we have effectively shattered the previous groups’ statistics by landing four out of five fish. Or “we” might be an exaggeration. My modest contribution to the statistics remains at 0% lost fish (out of none hooked), which is hardly something to be proud of.
A lot of my time has indeed been spent on photography, but now I am strongly encouraged to put the camera equipment aside and fish intensely for the last couple of hours of the trip. Clearly, new fish have come up with the high tide in the fjord, and Roy hands me a rod and directs me to Pump Pool, where I briefly sit down and prepare to send a red Kursk fly down through the short, rushing current in front of me.
“Bjørnar hooks a perfectly formed creature
I’ve done it surprisingly often before: landed a big fish right at the last moment. And I already have an inkling of what will happen when I cast upstream, let the fly sink a bit, then tighten the line, and swing it toward the near bank: first, a light tap, then a steady pull, and then — as I lift the rod, an explosive tug. At that very moment, a fearsome large silver-bright fish breaks partially free from the water, shoots upstream, then sets course downstream at uncontrollable speed.
I instinctively realize where this is heading, and I sprint desperately downstream, past the Home Pool shelter, where the rest of the group is celebrating the day’s fishing — with suddenly stunned expressions.
The reel is already partially stripped of backing, and soon the fish rounds the corner down by White Stone with a new course toward the sea, and there’s nothing I can do. The fish is lightning-fast and
Bjørnar sweeping patiently through one of the upper pools.
The Årøy River salmon are pristine. They’re a mix of genetically pure hatchery fish and wild self-reproducing fish.
too strong. The tension on the line becomes too intense, and suddenly, the line slackens. I was helpless! The margins were absent...
For a moment, I’m unsure whether to laugh or cry. But I choose the former. I choose to think of it as a privilege to have been connected to one of Årøyelva’s legendary salmon — just like many lords, maharajas, cultural figures, and royalty before me. Now, I finally understand the full magic of this place: a magic that must feel the same regardless of background, upbringing, or economic status.
Whether the salmon weighed 15 kilograms, 20 kilograms, or even more, I’ll never know. (It certainly won’t get any smaller with time.) However, although it wasn’t an experienced, technically affluent, or elegant cast that lured the fish into striking, I know someone who would have been proud.
Thank you for the membership, Grandpa!
by
The food at the lodge is prepared and served by owner Knut Munthe Olsen. And it’s exquisite!!!
For more info about the Aaroy River, please refer to http://www.aaroyriver.no
It’s in the net. Experienced guide, Scot de Bruyn, is handson at all times in Årøyelva.
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