11 minute read
Salad Bar
LATEST RELEASES SALAD BAR
XPLORER - T-50 TECH SERIES RODS
Not only is the nomenclature of Xplorer’s new, redesigned T50 tech series of rods reminiscent of the deadly cyborgs of the Terminator franchise, but in the right hands these rods will prove just as deadly as a grumpy alpha-male Austrian called Ahnie. Designed with serious anglers and the comp crowd in mind, T50 tech rods are available in a 10’3-weight and a 10’5-weight, that extra length perfect for nymphing and useful for all-round use. Built off the same brilliant Japanese high modulus carbon blank as the rest of the range, these rods are extremely light and have a mediumfast action. The sensitive tip results in fast recovery speeds for accurate casting, easier bite detection and solid hook ups. Visually, the blank sports a classic matte brown finish with gold thread wraps with premium snub-nose, slimline, 3A grade cork grips with mini fighting butts. Inverted Alps Stripper guides and Alps light wire single foot guides (with an additional snake eye under the tip guide on the 3-weight model) complete the package. T50s come with a no-fuss lifetime guarantee. xplorerflyfishing.co.za “DESIGNED WITH SERIOUS ANGLERS AND THE COMP CROWD IN MIND,
AVAILABLE IN A 10’3-WEIGHT AND A 10’5-WEIGHT”
SCIENTIFIC ANGLERS - TAILOUT SCISSOR CLAMP & NIPPER
You love lamp? We love clamp amigo, especially this versatile half smooth, half serrated item with built-in scissors. At 5.75” in length, with an ergonomic foam grip stainless steel construction and needle hook eye cleaner (cursed be the fly tyer who cleareth not the eyes of their flies), this clamp does everything you need. For ultraquick nips, turn to Scientific Anglers Tailout Nipper, which also features a needle for hook eyes, a wide coated grip for when it’s cold/slippery on the water and stainless steel cutting blades that get the job done one-time shoe-shine.
scientificanglers.com, frontierflyfishing.com PATAGONIA - YULEX WADING SOCKS
In South Africa, save for the depths of winter, for much of the year conditions are perfect for wet wading. Some people still like to wear layered hiking socks with their wading boots, which is perfectly fine, but if you like the idea of comfort, durability and just enough warmth to keep you going up rivers even when the water gets icy, Patagonia’s new Yulex™ Wading Socks with Gravel Guard deserve your attention. Made from the same stuff as Patagonia’s neoprene-free wetsuits with 85% natural rubber (harvested from hevea trees grown in Forest Stewardship Council® certified plantations) and 15% synthetic rubber by polymer content, they’re tough and super-comfy thanks to a dense footbed that minimizes compression. They feature fold-down gravel guards attach to wading boot laces with hooks. patagonia.com,
xplorerflyfishing.co.za
SCIENTIFIC FLIES - TIPPET AND LEADER MATERIAL
Arno Laubscher, the brains behind Scientific Flies and Grip Hooks put in the R&D hours for his new range of SF Presentation leaders and SF UltraPolymer and Fluorocarbon tippet material, and it shows. We’ve been testing them out mainly on our home trout streams of the Western Cape (with a side bae of smallmouth bass), where long leaders and delicate dry fly presentations are the name of the game. Thus far we have been suitably impressed. Available in 9 and 12-foot versions, the SF Presentation leaders in particular have been great for pinpoint accuracy of dry flies and nymphs and, when we went to the dark side and stripped a few wooly buggers through the bigger pools, they easily turned over heavier flies. When we needed to replace the tippet, modify our rig to a dry and dropper or extend the SF Presentation leader, we found the SF UltraPolymer and Fluorocarbon tippet material easily knottable, strong and effective. Added bonus – they won’t break the bank. Available in 0x-7x at tackle shops nationwide. scientificfly.com
ORVIS BUG - OUT BACKPACK
One bag to do it all? Orvis may just have pulled it off with the Bug-Out, a 25L flyfishing backpack made from recycled materials that also happens to be an extremely capable carry-on or overnight bag. One of its best features (and there are many) is the streamlined design which offers both top and side-entry access with internal zippered drop pocket and removable divider for gear storage options. It features a back panel with an integrated net holder for quick and easy storage of even larger guide nets. Then there’s an external water bottle or rod tube holder with – get this - a deployable extension so you can lower the rod tube to shoulder height. Shoulder straps feature accessory docking stations and fly patch (so you still look like a fly fishing nerd on the plane), plus there are buckle receivers for Orvis’s compatible Chest Pack and Chest/ Hip Pack. Padded front pocket accommodates a hydration bladder or laptop and tuck-away hip straps distribute load. There’s even a nifty tricot-lined sunglass/phone pocket on the top flap. orvis.com, flyfishing.co.za
PELAGIC GEAR - 20OZ TUMBLER
We’re temperature sensitive like fish, which means we like our morning drinks hot and our afternoon/evening drinks ice-cold. Enter Pelagic Gear’s Tumbler range with their stainless steel, double-walled, vacuum-sealed body and copper-plated inner core which ensures that your ice will stay frozen and your drink will stay strong. pelagicgear.com, safarioutdoor.co.za
LATEST RELEASES SALAD BAR
SAGE – SENSE FLY ROD
“I have are a very particular set of skills. Skills I have acquired over a very long career like Czech nymphing, Polish nymphing, Spanish nymphing and French nymphing. Skills that make me a nightmare for fish like you.“ We imagine if Liam Neeson was into Euro nymphing, he’d probably start each session riverside with some mild threats to scare the bejeesus out of the fish. He’d also probably be armed with Sage’s SENSE rod, which is specifically designed for the job of highly effective Euro nymphing. How so? Well, equipped with Sage’s Generation 5 Technology blank, the SENSE features a soft tip for increased effectiveness in working precise nymph rigs and protecting fine tippets. Not only does this mean greater control than you might get from normal fast action multi-purpose rods, but once you hook up the tip absorbs shock and prevents “bounce” that might otherwise break off those fine tippets. The Yin to a soft tip Yang on the SENSE is the stout butt section which has more than enough backbone to give anglers the upper hand when fighting and controlling even the heftiest fish into the net. The blanks feature a stealth grey color and black primary thread wraps. The lightweight Fuji stripper guide is optimally positioned for tight line nymphing while hard chromed snake guides, a snub-nosed half-wells cork handle and a matt black anodized aluminium down-locking reel seat complete the rig. Available in a 10’3-weight, a 10’6” 3-weight and a 10’4-weight. sageflyfish.com,
frontierflyfishing.com
SIMMS – WADING STAFF & RETRACTOR
The funny thing about wading is that you’re sure you are fine until – either through the difficulty of the conditions (snot-covered rocks, strong currents, deceptively deep pools) or advancing age – you’re not, which is why having a third leg in the shape of wading staff like this nifty number from Simms makes all the sense in the world. Made from lightweight yet highly durable 7075 aluminum tubing with a coated stainless steel cable and a ribbed closed-cell foam handle, it opens and closes in seconds like Daredevil’s blind man’s cane/nunchuks. The handle has multiple grab heights depending on what you are trying to achieve (e.g prodding the depths of a run vs short stabbing into a mountain side). Pair it with Simms’s wading staff retractor built with a 3-foot braided spectra cable and you will wade and fish with more confidence than ever. Bring on the rocks at Eendekuil. simmsfishing.com, frontierflyfishing.com
TRUE MERA - DRY BAG
Named after Nepal’s highest trekking peak (as opposed to climbing peaks like Everest), True Mera make a range of outdoor clobber from clothing to packs like this affordable dry bag now available at Safari Outdoor. Made from 500D PVC material with abrasion resistance, it is waterproof and boasts a 35L capacity. Quick release buckles, roll-top closure, reflectors, a low-profile sternum strap, a waist belt for added support, an ergonomic back panel for comfort and reinforced, contoured shoulder straps for added comfort round out the features. truemerapeak.com, safarioutdoor.co.za
LATEST RELEASES SALAD BAR
ORVIS - GUIDE HIP PACK
Perhaps you’re the kind of angler who feels that wearing any sling or backpack is like having a small silent monkey hanging off your shoulders and back. If that’s the case maybe a hip pack (a small butt-hugging sloth) is more your style then. The Orvis Guide Hip Pack offers 9 liters of capacity and a highly innovative design to please any organizational perfectionist. Sporting the same recessed Tippet Whippet docking station the sling pack has, this sling also has a large main compartment (featuring a large fly patch toupée) with a zip pocket, drop-in pockets, and stretch mesh sorting pockets. Up front there’s a smaller compartment with mesh pockets. This sling’s substantial side panels both have zip pockets and hidden net scabbards for easy instant access, while on the one side there’s a lo-pro zinger/nipper pass-through port and small zip pocket and a water bottle holder on the other. Included are two straps, one lightweight neck strap and one heavier shoulder strap with multiple docking stations, a zip pocket, and fly patch. orvis.com, flyfishing.co.za
ORVIS - GUIDE SLING PACK
It used to be that choosing a sling pack always came with a compromise on space. Not so with Orvis’s Guide Sling Pack, which has shitloads of space for a full day out. Made from recycled materials, it boasts an 18L capacity divided between a large main body storage pocket with an internal stretch mesh stash spot and zippered pocket with key fob, a smaller main body zippered pocket with internal zip pocket and organizational drop pockets for smaller items. There’s also a front strap zippered pocket with hidebehind forceps stash, zinger docking station, fly patch, and rear D-ring. But it’s not just a cart-horse for your fly boxes, rain jacket, water, tools and accessories. A lot of R&D has gone into this range and it shows. From the ‘Tippet Whippet,’ a recessed docking station with tippet bar included for instant, fixed, and fumble-free access to up to six spools, to integrated net storage between the pack and the body for instant access, Orvis have thought of everything you might need and done away with anything you don’t. Other features include an adjustable sternum strap, zinger/nipper pass-through, easy-swing handle, water bottle pocket with elastic retainer, and ridged back panel for increased structural integrity and air flow. orvis.com, flyfishing.co.za
PATAGONIA - STEALTH WADER WORK STATION
Designed to work with waders, but versatile enough to be attached to your hips via a wading belt or strapped to a backpack, Patagonia’s Stealth Wader Work Station hits that sweet spot between the minimalism and loadcapacity most of us crave. Low-bulk and water-resistant, it features a large zippered main pocket, two zippered accessory pockets, a rear security pocket, fly patch and tool docking stations. Integrated magnets on the pack front hold flies, nippers or hemos for quick, efficient fly changes. Made from 100% recycled nylon ripstop with a polyurethane coating on one side and a TPU coating on the reverse, it is Fair Trade Certified™ sewn. patagonia. com, xplorerflyfishing.co.za
GLACIER – STRIPPER/FIGHTER GLOVES
No, despite our art director’s incantations, Glacier Gloves’ stripper/fighter gloves were not designed for better grip in the Teasers All-In Mud Wrasslin’ Champs. Yes, they do provide vital protection in saving your hands from sun damage and your fingers from line cuts. The former is particularly important as anglers because while we cover up our limbs and wear hats to avoid the sun, we so often neglect to protect our hands. Or, if we do, we cover them in sun cream, which can then coat your flies. Island Styleflavoured streamers anyone? Glacier Gloves are available from Xplorer Fly Fishing in three ranges – the Fighting/ Stripping (fingerless, UPF 50,4 way stretch breathable nylon material, synthetic padded palms, quick dry), the Abaco and the Islamorada (both fingerless, UPF50, lightweight, breathable and quick dry). glacierglove.com,
xplorerflyfishing.co.za
PELAGIC GEAR - PRO FISH SUNSHIELD
If you’re the deep camo-type, a part-time stalker or perhaps just someone who likes proper sun protection, Pelagic’s Sunshield Pro 2.0 fishing face mask is made with you in mind John Rambo. Designed using a lightweight and breathable UPF 30+ fabric that can cover your head, neck and face. Features include an articulated nose and an enlarged mesh breathing zone along with strategically placed fine mesh panels so you can breathe easily without fogging up your sunnies. pelagicgear.com, safarioutdoor.co.za
SIMMS – CUTBANK SUN HAT
It’s hot as Hades out there and it’s only going to get hotter with countries all over the world lodging record temperatures year on year. Nobody wants to spend hours at the dermatologist’s getting bits fried or cut off and one way to avoid that happening to your face is to wear a proper wide-brimmed hat. With an easy fit elastic sweatband for added comfort, a stampede strap for convenient around the neck wear and a crushable brim and crown for easy travel, this classic Western style from Simms made with 100% palm leaf looks as good on the water as it does at the beach. simmsfishing.com, frontierflyfishing.com
