Pimpin'

Hey all,

I've done the first round of "face lifts" to the blog. I am still working out a way for our readers to get their hands on gear. As of late, I've been in contact with some really nice people and they happen to have pretty good gear that they wouldn't mind selling for cheap. I don't need all that gear so I thought I'd allow our readers a fair go. Upgrade or Update your kit. I'll work out the kinks and the new little "trading" zone should be up pretty soon. In Case you're wondering, I do not work at a tackle store or am I a member of any of the big tackle manufacturing companies. I don't get endorsement deals. I'm just a craze keen fly angler who writes the blog.

Now that the Update of the site is under way I thought that I would write something a little bit different.We all know fly fishing is an "accessory sport." whether we want to admit it or not, on some level or another, we( anglers) love accessories. a New reel here, some clipers there, a new knife... the list goes on. So in the spirit of new and wonderful gear, I present, Pimp My REEL!

Here are some of the reels that I've come across in magazines, tackleshops, websites. They are in no particular order and The article is just for entertainment's sake. So enjoy.

1.) Tibor Reels
Coming in with a hefty price tag, this set of "bling" raises debates as to whether one is going fishing or to a fly fishing "pimp off" The standard colors of gold or silver make these reels look like gaudy ornaments rather than fish fighting tool. Having said that, I fish with Tibors and the new colors that are being introduced have made it possible to fish without being tempted to do a DIY "re annodize" your reel in your garage with a can of Spray paint.


2.) Abel Reels
What can I say? Fully Custom made to your liking. That is looks wise and if you can afford to plump down a small fortune for one of these painted dmaes of the fly fishinf world. from simple colored reels to artists' rendering of your fravourite scene or even fish coloration, Abel does it all. Serious bling with sweet sweet performance.



3.)Exclusive reels
You know that kid who always needs to stand out? the one that has to have something so unique that everyone in the group counldn't help but wonder at it? Well, if you're that kid ore you know him/her, this is the reel they would probably fish with. One of a kind, and only attachable to your rod if you have it done by a licienced dealer,These reels bring a whole new meaning to the word custom. It's almost impossible to figure out how some of their models are meant to function. Just look below!



4.) VAAN STAAL
I'll leave loop out of this survey as the Swedish award for most "pimped" out reel would have to go to VAN Staal. Not happy with making spinning reels in gold and silver (not to mention designs that would, in my opinion,require some acquirement of taste)They have released a "new" set of fly dedicated reels that scream like that ugly shirt you have to wear out cause someone close spent a lot of money and bought it for you.

5.)Coming in 5th on the list would be the new Jack Charlton MAKO reels. Costing more than your average Tibor or Abel, these reels are billed as "probably the best reel for the salt at fishable prices".I think the marketing people have to check their demographic.How many anglers would not baulk at plumping down $700 for a reel? very few I suspect. But then, a person I spoke to (they work for the company) said that the 8 week delay from order to delivery (look at their website www.makoreels.com) was due to high demand. Am I the only person in the world feeling the effects of a slowing economy? apparently I am.

Anyway the site does not hint at any warranty for the piece of equipment and you are expected to place all faith in the handy work and materials used to construct these "bullet proof" reels.The reels are sweet to fish but come on,reels in the same price range like Tibor and Abel have a life time warranty and I like a company that's willing to put its money where its mouth is.so to me, you get a new form of annodizing, a lighter reel, and 4 color schemes to choose from(varying in price of course) very bling. Just pray that yours isn't one of those reels that was perfectly hand crafted and died due to operator failure.


Nothing says "i'm rolling in dough" like cracking a couple grand on a reel and pitting it against fish that could possibly destroy a bullet proof jacket under the right circumstances.



6.)Our last entry is one reel that you would never even see, not to mention fish. It is one of a hundred reels made by the boys from the isles of England. The Hardy Company has outdone itself in all things snotty and grossly over indulgent. They built a reel completely out of titanium. It will never rust corrode or bend. Hell, it'll out live you and all your decendants. This (it really is)"virtually indesructible" piece of piscatorial jewelary would set you back 10 thousand dollars. The Crown jewels of your reel collection I must say.

Site Upgrade

hi all,


I have to apologise for the lack of posts as of late. My once busy fishing schedule has been sadly interrupted by work commitments. Still, I've been able to sneak in fishing in the mornings before work and on weekends.

The weather has been uncomfortable as of late but I've still managed to break my beloved Loop on a nice jew fish. Yes the 9"6 met its match in a Jew that was more than your average schoolie. Yes angler error was to blame for the rod that is now on its way to Sweden to be repaired.

More importantly, I'll be "revamping" the site. I've been tinkering with some ideas and am sure that The "add-ons" will make your visits here more entertaining and informative.


Proposed Changes include:

A new gear and 2nd hand gear column.
more informative and interesting links(i look at some of our links and think they ought to go)
hopefully a better layout.(we'll see if blogspot offers more)

Till the upgrade!Tight lines

I love my green Rod

I recently came into possession of a BIIX by winston and I must admit that I am loving every minute of fishing this rod. Coupled with a Felty "predator"810 reel I've been seeing much of the saltwater grounds around sydney open up to me.

I'm happy to report that despite the winter conditions, I've been landing kingies and Tailor. I'll post more when the time permits but here are the pics!

Working N Fishin.

Hi all,

Just started work not too long ago and fishing time has been cut down quite a fair bit. However, I'm still trying my best to squeeze in two sessions or so a week. Coupled with a lack of Internet access for most of April, I have been unable to post till of late.





I hope that fishing sessions are as precious and enlivening for you, our fair readers, as they have been for me.

Having figured out a host of flies to use in my local estuary and locating a school of nice sized Trevally, It's easy to say that my weekends have been eventful at least.

With limited success over last week- a lot of flathead action on surface bugs- I was itching to have a crack at good old silver.

It was a Saturday evening and I geared up. 7wt intermediate winter line(intergrated shooting head),tapered leaders of 50lb down to 8lb and a sink tippet. While tackling up, I said a silent prayer. The sessions that I have today are almost revered moments in time where all else fades away.

Tying on what I now call my "estuary special". I proceeded to cast to my usual beat. My spirits lifted as I saw the flyline go taught mid way through my first retrieve. I struck and half lifted my rod. I was overjoyed to feel some weight at the end of my line. The fight was not what we would call "a thing to remember" but up came a nice little flathead. Still things looked promising, First cast First fish.

Flat heads of similar size followed over the next half an hour or so.It was a pleasant enough session but quantity though very welcomed, was no substitute for quality.

I waited for the "witching hour"; the golden moment that I knew would let me tangle with my beloved estuarine silver dynamos.As that magic moment neared, an inspection of my tippet revealed it to be tattered and mangled in many section thanks to the raspy dentures of the flat heads that I had been catching.I proceeded to tie on a new tippet and my worst nightmare came true. Having tied on my tipped, I proceeded to strip line of the tippet spool as I usually do and was horrified when only 20cm of line came out. I frantically padded every pocket in my attire in hopes of finding some tippet material and only came up with some 50lb material. I was upset but determined not to let this spoil my much awaited session with the silvers.

with only 20 cm of tippet at the end of my leader, I proceeded to cast into the gutter that was filling up with frantic jelly prawns. The first 5 casts were nipped and tugged but brought up nothing.Then my dreams of the past week came to fruition on my sixth cast. on the sink, I stripped the suspending fly and let it sink. Strip-Jelly prawns jumped on the surface as a wake followed the fly just below the surface- strip. the surface filled with silver shapes. Strip- Wham! the fly was hit and I struck as the school turned and a lone silver shaped started heading for the horizon taking my fly line with it. This is all its meant to be I thought as more line peeled from the reel.

There was a point in the first run where I thought that I had been under gunned on this occasion as the fish did not seem to want to stop. I put on the pressure and after about half a minute of reeling I managed to close the gap between myself and my quarry. The fight then got more interesting as the fish headed for the mangrove roots that were not too far to my right. I palmed the reel for all it could take and applied as much side pressure as I would dare but to no avail. The fish made it to the mangroves. Not one to give up easily, I started to point my rod tip directly at the fish and hand lining the fish out of the roots. "I'm still in this" I said to myself as the fish was towed out of the mangroves and started charging towards me (this time holding deep. Unable to reel quick enough to match my opponent, I resorted to stripping line just to maintain the pressure while trying to coax what was by now proving to be a nice sized trevally up from it's holding in the deep.

after a fight that was one of my best in the NSW estuary system, I hauled a thick shouldered silver onto the shore. Happy snaps ensued and the fish was happily released. three more trevallys of similar size were landed over the next half hour or so with the biggest being almost 2 and a half kilos on the scales.



I had a blast and wish the same for all our readers on your fishing trips.


Tight lines and good fishing!