Photography: Simon Chu

The
collaboration
issue
Photography: Simon Chu
from the editor
From
rene vaz
the editor
Artwork: Alex Link
S
o it’s been a while since we put out the last issue
of Fly Fishers Inc but good things take time and
from my end this was the easiest mag we’ve
ever put together.
Firstly to be honest I haven’t really done much
and the true work has been done by our new
marketing guy Chris Sharland and our exiting
marketing girl Susan Vaz (who also doubles as
my beloved wife).
Secondly what’s been great in this issue is all of
the cool content we’ve had provided by all of
our buddies who are out there fishing our gear,
testing new products and creating great fly
patterns. At Manic this is totally what it’s about
we do our thing so you guys can have all of the
cool gear to play with and more than anything
we love to see you guys out there having fun and
pushing us to do a better and better job.
So here’s to another great trout season and
summer downunder, we hope you enjoy the
issue we’d love to see any images or video’s
you shoot over the next few months that we can
share either on our blog or next issue of Fly
Fishers Inc.
We promise we won’t leave you waiting 18
months for the next one.
rene vaz
4
Features
contents
Photography: Darren Asquith
8
Tell us what you really think
102 Fishing in paradise
12
Fly fives
114 Scott rods 5wt radian review
14
I’d rather be fishing
118 Airflo super dri flyline review
16
Fishing with the grizzlies
122 One tip wonders
30
Mexican grand slam
124 Fly swat
40
Los peces grandes en argentina
126 Tackle junkie
60
The shape of things to come
132 Simms factory tour
72
Konichiwa from hokkaido
140 Win stuff
82
This is how chu do it
144 From facebook
94
Anything on fly
146 Guys who did stuff
6
tell us what you really think
How do you
grade your
tippet material?
1.
I use the X system to grade tippet diameter
2.
I take note of the diameter in mm
3.
I go by breaking strain in LB’s or KG’s
4.
I use a bulk spool of spinning line that works for me
8
LIMITED EDITION
STEALTH BLACK
SPEEDSTER
THE NEW LAMSON SPEEDSTER FEATURES A TRUE LARGE ARBOUR DESIGN
FOR RAPID LINE RETRIEVAL AS WELL AS AN ULTRA LIGHT SPOOL FOR
MINIMAL START UP INERTIA; ALL BUILT AROUND THE FINEST SEALED
DRAG SYSTEM IN THE BUSINESS. TO HELP CELEBRATE THE RELEASE OF THE
SPEEDSTER, WE’VE CUSTOMISED A LIMITED NUMBER OF REELS IN STEALTH
BLACK IN SIZES 1.5 AND 2.0.
fly fives
Fly fives
Dave Bradley
This issue Aussie saltwater guide and Scott
pro Dave Bradley takes five minutes out to
give us five answers to five questions.
5 fishing moments
1. Catching Tarpon with friends and
watching addictions start.
2. Very shallow and stealthy Permit fishing
and guiding friends onto them so many
good times.
3. Jumping my 1st few Tarpon in Cuba.
4. Catching Barramundi in really shallow
water...everyday.
5. Standing on a flat with a good friend
catching big Queenfish and laughing, it’s
just not all about fish when you fish 200+
days a year.
5 pieces of gear you can’t do without
1. Polarised Sunglasses.. I wear Tonics.
2. A technical poling skiff, seriously
people you need to get out more!
3. Pliers on a lanyard.
4. Sweet flyrods…..
5. My Tarpon DVD collection.
dave bradley
5 superstitions or habits
1. No bananas… whatsoever!
2. I have worn the same shorts after
a really crazy day on Permit or Tarpon
fishing, it must be the shorts.
3. I do think it is important to break in a
new cap, good hats catch more fish.
4. There’s no place for shoes on a skiff,
harden up.
5. If I never go Marlin fishing again it will
be too soon.
5 favourite fishing destinations
1. Somewhere in Florida.
2. Hinchinbrook, it’s home, it’s pretty and
2 of my favourite fish swim there.
3. Bahamas.. Shallow water and Rum, lots
of rum!
4. Western Cape York.
5. Anywhere else there is Tarpon or
shallow water fishing and a tech
poling skiff.
5 favourite flies
1.
2.
3.
4.
Tarpon flies, ones that have been eaten.
Barra Bunnies.
I hate Crab Flies but Permit eat them.
Neil Shepherds Crab flies because
Neil ties them well.
5. Marabou shrimps and anything else
that’s easy to tie.
12
i’d rather be fishing
ollie david tells us
I’d rather
be fishing
O
lliver (Ollie) David is the resident
fishing guru at Ballingers Hunting
& Fishing in Christchurch. Here he
gives us a bit of insight into his day
to day life when he’s not out chasing
the dream of big fish.
“It’s been about four years since I first started with Ballingers
Hunting & Fishing. Generally I’m here making sales,
answering clients questions and making sure the shop is tidy
and organised.
What I enjoy most about working here is helping people
succeed in fly fishing while at the same time being able to
have a passion for what I am talking about.
I first got into fly fishing after a friend took me when I was
nine years old, I caught my first rainbow trout on a black and
green Montana fly.
I now do most of my trout fishing in summer where I’m lucky
enough to get out most evenings and any days off. An ideal
day out would be not much wind, a sunny day and fish feeding
freely on the surface.
Outside of fly fishing I love to throw poppers for giant trevally
and yellow fin tuna. If I could be anywhere right now it would be
doing that in Cuba, de la Reina or the Seychelles. I’d describe
myself as a relaxed, fair-weather fisherman.
If I had any advice to pass on to anyone starting out in fly
fishing it would be to not give up in the early stages, keep
practising and it will all fit into place.
Keep New Zealand green!”
ollie david
14
somewhere else
rene vaz shows us
Fishing
with the
Grizzlies
Photography: Rene Vaz
E
arlier in the year Rene Vaz was lucky
enough to visit Alaska as part of a
film crew with Micah Adams to try
their luck at catching some of the
local species. They weren’t the only
ones hoping to land the big ones as the photo spread will show you,
the crew had to contend with some
pretty threatening competition.
If the photos don’t satisfy your
curiosity enough or if you just want
to see more of this beautiful region,
more grizzlies and more weird and
wonderful fish, we have also cut an
awesome clip from the footage the
crew were kind enough to give us.
Just hit the video icon, sit back and
enjoy.
rene vaz
16
THE CHOICE OF
PROFESSIONAL
GUIDES
WORLDWIDE.
somewhere else
brett wilson catches the
Mexican
grand slam
Photography: Brett Wilson
W
hat could be better than taking off to
Mexico in July to escape the southern
hemisphere winter, catch a couple
of fish and sink a few cerveza’s in
the sun?
Ask aussie, Brett Wilson. He went
one step further and secured himself
the elusive Mexican Grand Slam of
a Bonefish, Permit and Tarpon all in
the same day. Things really have to
come together to make this happen
and a few cold ones at the end of the
day would be well deserved.
“He secured himself the
elusive Mexican Grand
Slam of a Bonefish,
Permit and Tarpon all in
the same day.”
brett wilson
30
somewhere else
paul mcdonald shows us
Los peces
grandes en
Argentina
Photography & text: Paul McDonald
A
fter three amazing weeks fly fishing two of
the hottest fishing destinations in southern
Argentina, my cup is full. Before these action
packed recollections fade into lifelong
memories rich on emotion but scant on
detail, I am writing to reflect on what
we experienced, consolidate newfound
knowledge and perhaps help others
inclined to fish these far flung corners of
the world.
These are remote, spiritual places where
one slips easily into a hypnotic rhythm.
Realisation of how special they are is not
fully reached until after you emerge at the
other end with a photographic reel to die
for, a head bursting with memories and a
strong sense that this may be the best fly
fishing trip you’ll ever do.
“These are remote, spiritual
places where one slips easily
into a hypnotic rhythm.”
paul mcdonald
40
“The fish themselves came in all sizes.Yes,
there were some real clunkers amongst them. In
this regard, Jurassic certainly has lived up to its
expectations already, even in the first hour. We
landed several fish in excess of ten pounds, some
approaching mid teens.
”
“Doing it in style at Las Buitreras is a compelling
proposition. The original old farmstead
accommodation has undergone a thoroughly
modern transformation inside that leaves you
wanting for nothing. This is seriously comfortable
accommodation, except at times a faster Internet
connection would have been awesome (oh how
thoroughly modern and spoilt we’ve become!)
”
“As an angler, the Rio Gallegos can humble
you, exposing bad technique and demanding
improvement of you, with new techniques to be
learned fast. We certainly learned a lot.
”
“The wind and rain are pounding our basic tin roofed
dwelling and yet again I can’t sleep. The raw power of
Patagonia is on display and I feel simultaneously grateful
to be safe and warm under cover and worried about
what this may mean for the fishing. Jimmy puts it more
simply: Hope this rain fucks off.
”
“Long and sleek yet broad backed, muscle
bound and powerful - Rio Gallegos sea trout
have a tough yet refined look. Most carry
few spots, though some carry battle scars Seal encounters? Sea birds? Net marks? Line
marks sustained during dogged battles with
anglers?
”
“We took dinner late. Freshly made
empanadas, Argentinean pasties filled with
a delicious beef, followed by a chocolate
caramel dessert. This was washed down with
a fine Malbec and followed by cuban cigars
which were present all week.
”
“During the siesta break, you can fish at the Bridge
Pool only, which is productive holding water. You
cannot roam the rest of the river by yourself as you
may end up ‘poaching’ in other people’s zones. The
whole concept of siesta was foreign to us and we
were there to fish. So we fished, and caught sea trout,
in the Bridge Pool.
”
“The boys came back raving about the glacier
heaving and cracking under its own weight,
shimmering and shifting its shape and aura in the
late afternoon sunlight as large shards of ice broke
to the sound of rifles cracking, crashing their way
into the turquoise waters of the lake below.
”
Final reflections on fishing the Rio
Gallegos at Las Buitreras
It’s the real deal. Where else do you have a real shot at 20lb+
sea run trout on single handed or light double handed rods
with floating lines?
It’s a complete experience - great culture, fishing, scenery,
history, service, food, wine, people, wildlife all combine. This is
one of the best lodges in the world according to many anglers
in the know.
Maybe a once in a life time for many due to cost and distance.
But if you have the opportunity, go! Those that know about it
and can afford it go year after year.
Impossible to predict and get your timing perfect as so
many factors come into play. Be prepared to accept what the
environment, river and the sea trout throw at you.
Count on receiving expert and professional service and
instruction but being friendly, open to knowledge, instruction
and accepting of (your) failures etc will assist you in getting
the most out of your guides who are only human at the end of
the day.
You can go overboard and take all the gear in the world (we did)
but it boils down to a well matched double handed and single
handed rod (I always carried both), waders, intermediate and
sinking lines, a box of flies and leaders with tippet in 12-18lb
range
Think about another trip while you are there, given the effort it
takes to get there, you may as well. We did Jurassic which is a
great experience to tick off. Other options include Brook trout,
Santa Cruz steel head or dorado.
I will definitely be returning and hosting trips here in the future.
on the water
stu hastie inspires us
The shape
of things to come
Photography & text: Stu Hastie
T
he hut is a bustle of weary bodies jostling through the
clutter of packs and bins and drying socks and shirts, each
with differing intent; lines to clean, leaders to tie, forgotten
gear to find and return to its rightful cranny for tomorrows
action, memory cards to clear.
The April air is filled with laughter and the aroma of the
meal to come, and there is a pause as beer is shared and
data transfers between devices.
The bustle slows and seats are taken to witness the days
adventure fleetingly replayed frame by frame in an LCD
digital download.
Stories retold of epic takes and blistering runs, moments
frozen in time, friendships cemented, memories fresh of
what once just was.
We drink, we eat, we laugh, we sleep content, and as we
sleep, a slide show plays; snapshots of what tomorrow may
bring.
“Stories retold of epic takes
and blistering runs, moments
frozen in time, friendships
cemented, memories fresh of
what once just was. ”
stu hastie
60
somewhere else
yoshi nakagawa greets us
Konichiwa
from Hokkaido
Photography: Yoshi Nakagawa
W
e are lucky enough to be able to share with
you some of Yoshi’s holiday snaps from his
recent trip back to Japan, more specifically
Hokkaido.
While he was there it rained a whopping
200mm in 24 hours yet the mountain streams
were crystal clear five days later. The
Cherry Salmon were in spawning mode,
leaping up the 10-12ft high waterfalls when
they weren’t chowing down on Simons
Uglies Hare & Copper flies. And the Char,
locally called Iwana, were as pretty as ever
with their beautiful spots and colours.
“The Cherry Salmon were in
spawning mode leaping up
the 10-12ft high waterfalls.”
yoshi nakagawa
72
somewhere else
simon chu shows us
This is
how Chu
do it
Photography: Simon Chu
A
itutaki has established itself as one of the
worlds hottest bonefish locations.
In this great expanse of lagoons, channels
and flats there are a number of ways to
catch a bonefish but none compare to sight
fishing for large solitary cruisers on the
flats.
Bonefish are notoriusly difficult to catch
which is why they are getting very popular
on the trophy list.
Not to mention that a trip to Aitutaki makes
for an excellent escape from the New
Zealand winter.
Simon Chu was lucky enough to be over
that way recently and took a few pictures to
show us how it’s done.
simon chu
82
on the water
belinda thomas catches
Anything
on fly
Photography: Belinda Thomas
I
t would appear Belinda Thomas is
out and about harvesting all sorts
of fishy creatures on the fly for
the world’s most bizarre paella?
Belinda’s motto is “anything on fly”,
if you couldn’t already tell. I’m sure
there’s a joke in there somewhere
about catching crabs but we’ll let
that one slide for the time being.
The following images cover off
eight different species from three
different countries but this is only
the tip of the iceberg for Belinda.
Oh and be sure to ask her about Fat
Mike the Goldfish next time you see
her...
“I’m sure there’s a joke
in there somewhere
about catching crabs
but we’ll let that one
slide for the time
being.”
belinda thomas
94
on the water
kyle adams shows us
Fishing
in paradise
Photography: Kyle Adams
B
ack in November last year Kyle Adams from
Taranaki Hunting & Fishing, his brother Rhys and a
friend, Tony Preston, headed to the pristine waters
of Fiordland. The boys all met up in Hokitika and
after a quick meeting, they headed south for Te
Anau with a plan of how to make this the trip of
a lifetime. The first day the weather gods were
on their side and it continued throughout the trip
with only one day of drizzle. So far so good.
After a day out on the lake, looking up from the
valley at the sheer mountains of bedrock, glaciers
and high snow clad tops, the boys knew they were
in paradise. The magic of this stunning part of
the country continued to amaze as the different
rivers they encountered all had their unique
characteristics, and with plenty of sweet looking
fish, they had it made.
The only downside ... they were left with multitudes
of sand-fly bites and an apprenticeship in cleaning
boots and waders for Didymo. Well, you can’t win
them all.
“What is said about Fiordland
being somewhat untouched
I would still agree, but I do
recommend you take a buff for
the sand-flies!”
kyle adams
102
Where fast
meets
feel
Introducing the new Radian fly rod
The award winning Scott Radian fly rods feature breakthrough technology seamlessly integrated with the finest components
and workmanship, they are also backed by Scott’s unconditional warranty. This is the one that lives up to the hype.
I’ve been thinking
mike kirkpatrick reviews
Scott rods
5wt Radian
review
Photography & text: Mike Kirkpatrick
The Un-boxing
First impressions count for a lot, and on receiving the new 9’
5wt Scott ‘Radian’ fly rod (amidst all the hype) I was straight
away struck by the attention to detail with the elegant box and
overall packaging. This was to continue to the well made and
solid Aluminum rod tube and clean graphics. This gave me a
feeling of quality and eye for detail, something Scott have a
reputation for.
On removing the rod bag I slid out a very elegant and well
finished rod with the instant feel of hand craftsmanship. So far, so
good. I had expected this and was happy with all I’d seen. What
I wasn’t expecting, was on putting the four sections together
and easily aligning these via the alignment dots, was the instant
sense of lightness and subtlety.
Before heading the 100m up the road to the local park for a test
cast, I gave the rod a good look over. It’s beautifully finished.
It has a lovely stealthy dark grey blank with subtle Orange
accents. It has rod alignment dots. It has a lovely hard wood
reel seat. It has class.
‘Honey, I’m off up the park for a….’
Mike Kirkpatrick
114
Test Cast
On The River
At the park I have to admit to thinking that maybe I should have gone with the 6wt
option seeing how light and subtle the rod felt. Three false casts and an effortless
long distance drop later and I was jaw agape and smack in the middle of a ‘holy
cow!’ moment. For a rod that felt (before casting) like a nice fast action rod suitable
for streams and medium sized rivers, it now had the feel of a rod that could handle
anything from a small creek to a large river! It loads effortlessly for short casting with
barely the fly line out, and can knock out a full fly line cast with ease… Like the hype
that came with the rod suggests, It seems to recover so quickly that throwing a tight
loop when needed is a breeze, but is tip sensitive enough to protect the lightest of
tippets and short cast with absolute feel.
Mid September saw the first chance to test the rod on a local lowland river, with a few
spots I know of often holding some nice browns. I had been out with a client a few
days earlier in tough conditions where he’d landed a nice 6lb brown, and with several
others seen, felt confidant of bending the Radian into a few.
It wasn’t long before a spot where two current seams joined, revealed a feeding fish
that looked a good one. The rod and Lamson Speedster reel were set up in a flash.
This was my first shot at a fish myself in about four months (winter) so I was a little
like a kid before Christmas as I approached the target. My first cast hit the spot and
the rod was up in a flash on seeing the white of his mouth taking the sunken nymph. I
knew the Radian cast well, and now with a fish on, was able to enjoy one of the nicest
‘fishing’ rods I’ve ever used. It set the hook with authority, and was just plain fun to
play a sizable fish on. It has the power needed, but tip sensitive enough to protect a
light tippet on the strike and general playing.
My first Radian victim was a beautiful 5.75lb brown that had a lot of water to play with
and made several long runs to test my now favorite setup. I went on to land several
more fish up to over 7lb with some being on double tungsten rigs that the Radian had
no problem handling. Rating? 10 out of 10.
Wow.
“ It loads effortlessly for short casting with
barely the fly line out, and can knock out a
full fly line cast with ease… ”
I’ll be adding the 6wt to my collection. And soon.
i’ve been thinking
mike davis & rick dobson 118
Airflo
Super Dri
fly line review
New Zealand
vs
Australia
New Zealand - Mike Davis
I’ve always been an Airflo user, in my
mind they are the best casting and
most durable lines on the market. The
final quest for fly line manufacturers is
to improve buoyancy in floating lines
and this year Airflo have tackled the
issue head on with the new range of
Super Dri fly lines. Super Dri lines
improve buoyancy in two ways, firstly
by increasing the water repulsion
properties of the coating, meaning
it really pushes above the water’s
surface helping it ride on top of the
water versus in it. Secondly the overall
density of the lines have been reduced
which improves the recovery rate of
the line to 2 IPS, simply put, this means
if the line is knocked under the surface
it floats to the surface quicker. Super Dri come in three tapers
designed exclusively for New Zealand by Manic. The Elite is a
presentation taper than comes in weights 3 - 6, the Bandit is the
all purpose taper in weights 5 - 8 which has a unique camouflage
tip created with bands of brown and olive in the front 15 feet of
the line making it perfect for stalking wary back country trout.
And lastly, the Ballistic taper is more aggressive and will help
load a rod faster whilst also providing more power for heavy
nymphs and indicators. In summary the best lines just got better,
so check out the new Super Dri fly lines in store this summer.
‘Strayla - Rick Dobson
Firstly I must confess that I am a flylineaholic. Not in
any casual sense that I like to own a lot of fly lines.
It’s far more serious than that.
I actually lie awake at night (ok possibly when dreaming
too) and think about the essence of what a line does
to help my fishing; the science behind the design, the
application of the taper, texture and colour actually get
me excited!
So, some time ago Rene Vaz of Manic Tackle wandered
into Aussie Angler and caught me in the act of dyeing
up some lines. I was covered in colour and necessarily
went on to explain why and what I was doing to the fly
line.
Months later Rene mentioned the new Airflo Bandit
Taper with a coloured front end and ridge technology ;
of course this had me smiling and anticipating its uses!
So, let’s briefly look at why I like this.
Well, firstly the coloured taper. Its seems almost obvious
to me that camouflage breaks up the visibility of the line,
no matter if its sitting in the surface film, flying through
the air or slowly sinking underwater, the absence of a
solid colour can surely only help. The ridge technology
helps to provide less flash during the cast, a dull finish is
always a winner with me and its smooth, slick shooting
capability is a bonus.
The front taper length and belly, leads into a long rear
end allowing for smooth casting and makes for a real
sweet area. The long rear tapers make mending further
out easier. The fluent taper allows for nicely controlled
loops and accurate leader and fly presentation.
Probably all else to be said is that’s its quick to left off
the water, likely due to the ridge coating, and appears
to stay cleaner and thus have shoot for a greater time.
Airflo have made a line for anglers to use and feel good
doing so.
Good fishing and casting, Rick Dobson
“Firstly I must confess that I am a
flylineaholic. Not in any casual sense that I
like to own a lot of fly lines.
It’s far more serious than that. ”
one tip wonders
122
One tip
wonders
Here are some pre-season tips that we
have hand selected from our mates in the
industry.
Darren Asquith
Think tungsten! Higher flows require fast sinking
nymphs to be in the zone.
Grant Ashton
If the rivers are running high and coloured then
you will often find distinct lines of clear and dirty
water where the rivers are flowing into the lakes.
Target these areas for increased success on these
unsettled days.
Belinda Thomas
Don’t go fishing on opening day just because it’s
the first day of the season. Take your time and wait
for the right weather and the initial fishing rush to
back off. You may as well enjoy yourself right?
Chris Dore
Despite having a rest over winter, early season
trout are still not silly. Chances are, you haven’t
practised your casting over winter, so cram now
and make it happen.
Photo: Mike Davis
Garry Lyttle
If the weather is calm, with sun, then I’ll be off to my
favourite spring creek. These little creeks can give
some of the first dry fly fishing of the season with some
outstanding Mayfly hatches very early in the season.
Adam Royter
Make sure your hooks will do what they’re meant to!
Stick it into your thumb nail. If it slides and makes
a white line then its blunt. If it sticks straight in and
doesn’t move, you’re good to fish.
Matt Wilson
Get up early and hit the river first. It’ll probably be cold
and miserable but you want to be the first one through
to make the most of the relaxed fish. Don’t forget that
river levels are likely to be up due to spring rainfalls
and snow melt so maybe pack a wading staff just in
case.
Mike Davis
While there is still plenty of water in the smaller tributaries that
flow into the major backcountry rivers spend time exploring
up these small waterways. These smaller streams will hold
spawning fish and fish that have stayed in the streams until they
get too bony around Christmas time when they will once again
drop back into the parent river system.
Yoshi Nakagawa
I always look for nice quiet runs and the tail outs of pools. Fish
aren’t active yet and still recovering from spawning. I use a
lot of small nymphs and small dry flies and don’t worry about
targeting deep pools and fast runs. You’ll be amazed where the
fish can hide. Have good fishing!
Rene Vaz
I always go with some bright flies like a Batman nymph to make
sure it’s noticed by the fish. By trailing a natural, like a small
pheasant tail behind it, you’ll have a couple of bases covered.
Fly swat
Muz Wilsons
fly swat
muzz wilson
124
Bullen Merri Smelt
Muz Wilson talks us through the origins of the BMS fly
The BMS jumped into the boxes of Australian Fly Fisher’s Carlton store back in late 1992,
and from there it quickly found its way into the fly boxes of many of the stores customers.
AFF used to run a lot of float tubing trips to the lakes of western Victoria and it was on
one of these trips that the fly was first swum and on that day it caught a Chinook salmon
of over 5 pound and a rainbow of over 2 as well as many smaller stockies. Everywhere
we went tubing the fly caught fish and it became somewhat of a go to fly when fishing a
new lake especially if minnow or smelt were part of the fishes diet.
Artwork: Alex Link
Small baitfish blend in with their surroundings so to get a good imitation your fly must
do the same, the brushed out dubbing that forms the body of the BMS creates this
effect very well, you can see the fly but you can see through it. A few years latter the
BMS made its first trip over seas when I gave a couple to New Zealand fishing guides
Lindsay Lyons and Ron Bourgon who were visiting for the Melbourne fishing show. I got
a note back from Lindsay a few weeks latter saying how well the fly had performed for
him. Over the years the BMS has found its way to many countries around the planet and
it seems the fish share a hatred for it with most just wanting to kill it on sight.
My fishing had changed a little I was starting to fish the estuaries a lot more and the
BMS soon found its way onto the leader and it started to out fish all the flies we had been
using in the past. It then found its way into the ocean where it caught salmon, sweep
and parrot fish, all these other species sparked a bit of interest in keeping a record of
captures, I stopped counting species at over 50.
It is a fact of life in the watery world our fishy friends live in, little fish get eaten by big
fish and big fish get eaten by bigger fish and when the opportunity arises even the
biggest fish will eat one of the little ones.
If you are fishing the BMS as a baitfish imitation fish it with an erratic retrieve, think of it
a little like this, if the big fish can see the little fish then there is a good chance that the
little fish will be able to see the big fish and it will be panicked, its movements will be
fast and erratic.
Try fishing the fly with very short fast strips, with a pause in between, making the fly
jump, making it look alive and scared!
New stuff
tackle junkie
126
for the new
season
C&F Saltwater Bobbin Holder
Airflo Bandit Fly Line
Trouthunter Fluorocarbon
Simms Headwaters Day Pack
What could possibly make a saltwater
bobbin holder any different to a freshwater
bobbin holder we hear you ask? Lots
we say! Firstly, it’s got a bit more weight
behind it which is great for tying big salty
flies. Secondly, because of the shorter tube
and longer head, the tier can have better
visibility to see materials. And thirdly,
the side break knob can adjust tension
when needed, just like a wee drag system.
Convinced yet?
The new Bandit fly line is just one of
many Airflo products designed by
Manic Tackle Project specifically
for New Zealand conditions. Using
the new Super Dri technology the
line also has a camo tip which is
designed to break up the outline
of the fly line on the water to help
make it disappear when floating
drifts past wily backcountry trout.
Able to present flies delicately but
also punch out bulky dries and
indicators the Bandit is a true “doit-all” NZ fly line.
Here are three key things you need to
know about Trouthunter Fluorocarbon
tippet. Firstly, it comfortably won the
2012 Flyfisher.com tippet shootout
which tells us it’s really, really good
quality stuff. Secondly, it is stored on
shelf in unique UV resistant packaging
which minimises any damage the sun
does to the tippet quality. So now you
won’t be second guessing how long
it’s been sitting on the wall degrading.
And thirdly, the clip together spools
are designed to be super easy to use
and store by using colour coded UV
and water resistant bands and a larger
internal diameter so you can run the
spool over a thumb or finger which
will make tying tricky knots that much
easier. Even for the sausage fingers out
there.
These days it can be a complicated affair
when you decide to spend a full dawn to
dusk day on the river. Just as a start camera
kits, PLB’s, lunches, jackets, first aid kits
and water can all take up a lot of room very
quickly so this 30L CORDURA® fabric pack
is lightweight & indestructible and makes
a great packhorse. With an external access
water bladder system and breathable
back panel it makes for a comfortable fit
for those longer trips and it has a rain fly
tucked away for when you get caught out in
the rain. It is also Catch & Release modular
system compatible which uses a magnetic
system that integrates with Simms Chest/
Hip Pack & Chest Pack so you get the best
of both worlds.
tackle junkie
MFC Forceps & Mittens
These just look really cool.We could
wax lyrical about the superior
gripping ability, serrated scissors,
long lasting materials or that the
camo prints gives you an extra 10%
stealth factor when on the river or
behind the vice but really all that
matters is they look cool and work
exceptionally well. All the cool kids
have them.
Scott Radian Fly Rod
This is it, the one we’ve all been
waiting for. A fast rod that has
feel. Traditionally fast rods have
demanded a fair bit of skill to
use properly (and enjoyably)
however the Radian is much more
accessible for your average Joe
while still holding plenty in the
tank for the casting geeks out
there. There is so much awesome
stuff that goes into this rod it’s
impossible for us to cover in one
paragraph but hopefully when we
say it’s next level Scott handmade
pimpery you’ll know what we
mean.
Simms Rip Rap Shoe
When summer rolls around and
the waders and boots are put away
is when the Rip Raps will come
out to play. These are perfect
for those summers wandering
around low land streams, lurking
some tropical salty flats or spring
rock hopping around some
reefy coastline. Using Vibrams
Streamtread™ sole unit and fully
enclosed waterproof synthetic
leather your hooves get great all
round protection for when you
want to keep things minimal.
Lamson Speedster Fly Reels
Airflo Bandit Fly Rod Series
It’s a bit creepy when people refer to
fishing gear as being “sexy”. For instance
projecting that sort of phrasing on the
Lamson Speedster reel seems a little
inappropriate, given its refined heritage
and classical upper-class nature. But
when you lay eyes on the new limited
edition black Speedster there might be
certain stirrings within and “sexy” just
can’t be shaken from your vocabulary.
It still has the same narrow spool, super
high retrieve rate, buttery Lamson drag
system and uber lightweight features
of the silver Speedster, but in a limited
edition black. R rated.
The new Airflo Bandit rods are designed by
Manic Tackle exclusively for New Zealand
so you know it’s a series of rods that have
versatility in mind. The faster action helps
generate high line speeds to handle some
of the weight and bulk we are known to
have to throw around on occasion and all
rods come with a spare tip for those cardoor moments. Available in a classic deep
green 3 weight through to 8 weight, we also
have a beefed up blue salt water specific
10/11 weight that is perfect for chasing
Snapper and Kingies on the fly.
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PHOTO: BRIAN CHOU
HATCHOUTDOORS.COM
simms factory tour
Simms
Rene Vaz visits
factory tour
Photography: Rene Vaz
E
arlier this year Rene had a“Charlie & The Chocolate
Factory” experience when he had the opportunity
to visit the Simms HQ based in Bozeman, Montana.
Here’s a few images from the trip as well as some
interesting facts about the Simms HQ set up. For
the record, no wader wearing Oompa Loompas
were sighted.
1) On average 22 staff members are involved in the
production of one pair of waders
2) 20% of the facilities power is generated by rooftop
solar energy
3) The new site covers 60,000 square feet with 120 staff
hand-producing Simms waders
4) 25% of Simms sales are outside of the U.S
5) Simms is the only Gore-Tex wader producer in the U.S &
one of only two certified producers worldwide
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win stuff
140
Win
Simms Sun Protection
With summer just around the corner we want to do our bit to make sure you’re
covering those susceptible extremities from the direct sun and reflection from the
water. So we’re giving away Simms sun protection gear worth over $100!
We don’t talk much about the ozone these days as global warming is the cause de jour but little old New
Zealand is still sitting in a pretty decent hot spot so the least we could do is try and save one life by giving
away some Simms UPF50+ sun protection gear to a lucky subscriber. That, and we want everyone to look like
mean river ninjas. So all you need to do is subscribe to Flyfishers Inc and you’ll go in the draw to win a Simms
UPF50+ blue camo Sungaiter and a pair of Simms UPF50+ Sungloves.
And don’t worry if you’re already signed up, you’ll go in the draw automatically.
Photography: Neil Cunnington
AIRFLO NEW SUPER-DRI
ELITE SERIES
BANDIT SERIES
The elite is the ultimate presentation
fly line. The Elite generates high
line speeds due to its unique wind
cutting form whilst the long front
taper dissipates energy when needed
for delicate touch downs, and the
ultimate in loop control. The Elite
also features a unique haul zone
behind the head to improve the lines
shootability.
The
Bandit
balances
both
presentation and power with a
modest front taper and belly length,
whilst the long rear taper gives the
caster excellent loop control even at
long distances. The Bandit features a
unique camouflage tip design for the
ultimate stealth on clear back country
rivers; making it perfect for making
long and controlled presentations to
back country trout.
WF 3 - 6 & DT 3 - 6 - LICHEN GREEN
WF 5 - 8 - OLIVE WITH CAMO TIP
BANDIT
SUPER-DRI BUOYANCY
Super-Dri fly lines have a lower specific gravity than any fly
line on the market today; meaning when knocked under the
water’s surface, they recover to the water’s surface faster.
This results in a fly line that will ride through any currents.
SUPER-DRI WATER REPULSION
Super-Dri lines have a permanent coating of ultra water
replusive Nano PTFE. This advanced Nano technology
prevents water absorption and repels water molecules forcing
the fly line to sit on the water’s surface, rather than in it.
BALLISTIC SERIES
The Ballistic is the line you pull out
when all else fails. It features an
extremely short front taper coupled
with a thicker tip diameter that helps
bully the line through heavy winds
with wind resistant or heavy flies.
The Ballistic loads fast action rods
quickly and also features a haul zone
behind the head to improve the lines’
shootability.
WF 5 - 9 - MATTE OLIVE
BALLISTIC
from facebook
From
winner wayne harrison
Facebook
Photography: Wayne Harrison
D
uring August we ran a
photo competition on
our Facebook page to
win a Simms Dry Creek
camera pack. After much
deliberation around the
office we all decided that this shot
by Wayne Harrison offered up
something slightly different to the
usual hero shot and was something
we could all relate to.
Join us on facebook:
“Terry on a Central
North Island treasure
where fish fight each
other to take the dry.”
144
Guys
who
did stuff
Without our talented crew of like minded
Manic Tackle mates we wouldn’t have much
of a mag to share with you. Cheers guys!
guys who did stuff
Brett Wilson
Yip, he’s the man with the Colgate smile. One of Australia’s leading
tackle experts, Brett Wilson is at home on the coastal estuaries of
NSW.
Paul McDonald
Having guided throughout the US and New Zealand and fished
everywhere in between, Paul McDonald is a killer on any type of
water.
Mike Davis
Mike Davis is what you get when an uber talented sports person
focuses on the sport of fly fishing. A freak show on the river!
Rick Dobson
Dobbo is our buddy from Melbourne who has fished more of New
Zealand than anyone we know, and Argentina, Alaska, Christmas
Island and, and, and...
Belinda Thomas
Muzz Wilson
What can we say other than she fishes a lot, seriously we are talking
major river time here. Not sure how she does it.
Muzz is not the tallest bloke on the planet but a towering personality.
You just need to meet him to understand what we mean.
Dave Bradley
One of the top pole dancers in Queensland, Dave is at home poling
the flats of Hinchinbrook or the Florida keys. In short, in the salt, he’s
the man
Yoshi Nakagawa
Yoshi Nakagawa is as dangerous with a fly rod or a camera. Yoshi is
our buddy from Rod and Reel in Auckland.
Kyle Adams
Alex Link
Alex Link is Manics warehouse executive who draws stuff all over our
warehouse, so we figured we should share his art with you all.
Stu Hastie
Stu Hastie lies in the mud taking photo’s of his mates fishing on a
regular basis. To get results like his he has to make the sacrifice put
down the rod and get dirty.
Rene Vaz
Kyle is one of the hottest casters and fly tiers on the block. He’s got a
kid on the way though, so congrats mate but it may slow you down a
little.
Many people have misspent youths, Rene’s was with a fly rod......the
issues are now becoming apparent.
Simon Chu
Ollie David
If the whole of China starts fly fishing and turns out like Simon Chu
the rest of us don’t have a chance of catching a fish.
The original Ginger River Ninja, Ollie David cut his teeth on the english
chalk streams but now dominates the canterbury back country rivers.
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last page
148
Photography: Belinda Thomas