L AT ES T R E L E A S ES
SALAD BAR SAGE - R8 CORE RODS When Sage drops a new flagship rod range, you sit up and pay attention, which is exactly what we did when the presser for their new R-8 Core range landed in our inboxes. The first thing we asked Alex Blouin, Sage’s marketing manager, was how to pronounce it. Specifically, we wanted to know is it, ‘“R” and then “Eight”? Or do you take the Avril Lavigne ‘Sk8er boi’ approach (off her seminal 2002 debut album Let Go) and say, “Rate”?’ We’re pleased to confirm (thereby saving you some Nickelbacklevel blushes when you ask for one in a fly shop) that the answer is “R-EIGHT.” Moving swiftly on to the new tech, Sage say that the advanced, leading-edge material behind the R8 CORE range enables them to “shape a rod with a stiffer, stronger
backbone but a more sensitive tip and more connected feel.” How they do that is twofold. First, they use a proprietary aerospace composite with a greater hoop strength which enables them to dimensionally grow taper diameter more quickly from the tip—while a nano-sintered resin application increases axial resilience and allows them to pack more fibre into the blank. The result? A true twoway connection from hand to fly and back for greater feel, flow and control. That idea of feel translates into all aspects of rod use, from delivering efficient mends to your line, to picking up on subtle takes (or responding to violent strikes) and, when the fight is on, giving you all the control and care you need to bring your fish in. We look forward to trying one out so we can R8 it. Yeah boi. Available in South Africa in 4-9-weights from Frontier Fly Fishing. farbank.com, frontierflyfishing.com
XPLORER - CFR 4/5/6-WEIGHT FLY REEL With stillwater troot season upon us, you might be in the market for a reel and spools in the versatile 4/5/6 weight category. Take a gander at Xplorer’s new CFR fly reel, a reliable mid-to-entry level fly reel made from die-cast aluminium with a Large Arbour Spool for maximum line retrieval. It sports a rear mounted drag adjustment with a smooth one-way bearing drag system and can easily be changed from left to right hand retrieve. xplorerflyfishing.co.za
FASNA - F415 You like to get jiggy with it? We do too. The Fasna F-415 Wide Gape Jig fly hook is designed especially for jig flies. High carbon steel, made in Japan of heavy wire, with a wide gape, an extra-long needle point in a black nickel colour, these barbless beauties will do the job very nicely. Available from X-Factor Angling in packs of 30 in sizes 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20. fasnaflyfishing.com, xfactorangling.co.za
“GET JIGGY WITH IT”
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