Our round-up of newly released fly-fishing gear and adjacent gadgets, as featured in The Mission Issue 33. We have reels, rods, lines, hooks, lights, pants, gloves, boats, vests, mystery beast fly tying material, and more.
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
LEDLENSER – ML4 WARM LIGHT LANTERN
We know what you might be thinking – why would you need one of these if you have a headlamp? The thing is, having a headlamp is often overkill. It can also be quite anti-social when you turn yours on blinding your camp-mates Homelander-style. With this tiny lantern, we could pop it on a rock in a mountain cave and not only did it throw a huge amount of light, but the settings (from Low Power to Mid Power, Power, Boost and Blink) gave us options. When switched off, it held a luminous glow for when needed again. The nifty carabiner at the top allowed us to clip it onto handy objects too. We pre-charged it and after three nights of solid use it was still going strong (it does take batteries too as a back-up). Long story short, it may be small, but we’re big fans. awesometools.co.za
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 Nickelback-level 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 two-way 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
SIMMS – FREESTONE HALF-FINGER GLOVES
Give freezing conditions the half-finger with these low-bulk, high-warmth half-finger fleece gloves from Simms. Designed to keep the circulation flowing, while freeing up your digits for tying knots and picking through flies, they are made from a durable hard-face fleece and spandex blend with a brushed interior for high-dexterity comfort and feature TPU palm overlays for enhanced durability and grip. Webbing pull loops at the wrist make for easy on/off moves and pairing snaps help you avoid off-season laundry orphans. Eminem rap-battle vibes included. simmsfishing.com, frontierflyfishing.com
XPLORER – XPT III PONTOON BOAT
Avast ye landlubbers! If you like to cruise the vast expanse of a trophy stillwater yet don’t like sitting in a float tube with your nuts in said water, then perchance the latest iteration of Xplorer’s pontoon boat is the vessel for you. Featuring a lightweight aluminium painted frame, with two 8’6”ft PVC pontoons, it comes standard with oars, a rear cargo deck and sneaker motor mount. There are two removable cargo pockets that clip onto the pontoons. Best feature? The fold down padded seat is mounted to a swivel making it easy to position yourself in different directions as needed. Foot pump, carry bag and repair kits included. xplorerflyfishing.co.za
ORVIS – JACKSON STRETCH QUICK-DRY PANTS
There are very specific lunges that crop up when fishing – for example the forward leg lunge to extend the reach of your rod hand while keeping low, or the semi-backward lunge where your rod hand extends up and behind you while your net hand scoops for a fish. To perform either of these you have to have stretch in your pants. If you don’t…and there is tightness or lack of movement in the hip/waist/crotch trifecta, you’re going to feel restricted, like your butt cheeks are two shrink-wrapped puppies and your junk and thighs are momentarily frozen in liquid nitrogen. In short – you’ll be trapped by your own pants.
With their gusseted crotch, elasticized waist and their moisture-wicking, nylon/spandex stretch UPF 50 fabric, Orvis’s Jackson Stretch Quick-Dry Pants are designed for advanced fish lunging (among other things). Throw in two zippered mesh-lined back pockets and one lower leg pocket and you are ready for lunges, the splits or the streamside Spandex Ballet should you wish. orvis.com, flyfishing.co.za
VISION – HERO
I need a hero / I’m holding out for a hero ’til the end of the night / He’s gotta be strong, and he’s gotta be fast / And he’s gotta be fresh from the fight
Whether Bonnie Tyler was forecasting the invention of Vision’s Hero rods when she wrote Holding Out For A Hero for the 1984 Footloose soundtrack is debatable, but the lyrics definitely suggest she was part of the R&D team. Fortunately, there’s no holding out for this stunning range of affordable medium-fast action rods available at X-Factor Angling. Fine-tuned for specific types of fishing, there’s a rod for whatever freshwater application you are in to, from nymphing to stillwaters, 3-weight to 7-weight, 9’6, to 9’9, 10 and 10’6 foot. Visually, these rods stand out too with vivid yellow blanks with black markings. Nymph models have small single leg guides with tight spacing to prevent line sagging and the Nymph Hero 3-weight and 4-weight have a down-locking reel seat to balance the long rods. Expect a half wells handle in lighter models and a full wells handle with a fighting butt in the heavier weights. visionflyfishing.com, xfactorangling.co.za
SIMMS – FALL RUN VEST
When anglers talk about “shoulder season” we’re talking as much about the transition of fisheries from summer to winter and back again, as we are the invariable nip in the air. In autumn/fall and spring, parts of South Africa dish up baking hot days and blue skies (making packing a rain jacket seem ridiculous), but early mornings and afternoons that are surprisingly cold. That’s where something like the lightweight insulated Simms Fall Run Vest is perfect. As the temp drops in the valley you’re fishing, by layering up with one of these you take the chill off, retain core warmth and keep your arms unrestricted for fishing. Made from Primaloft® Black Eco insulation with 60% recycled materials, this puffy vest is treated for water repellency if things get damp. Stashed in your sling or pack, you’ll be pleased to have it when the mercury drops. simmsfishing.com, frontierflyfishing.com
FISHPOND – SAGEBRUSH PRO MESH VEST
We imagine the crew at Fishpond HQ have a line of crusty-looking guides popping into their R&D department every week with requests, suggestions and tweaks to products. That’s because it’s clear how much practical, on-the-water thought goes into so many of their products like the Sagebrush Pro Mesh Vest. The highly breathable, lightweight mesh design keeps your back and torso cool, while padded, weight-distributing shoulder straps offer all-day comfort. It features 17 interior and exterior pockets, a large, easy-access back pouch for extra layers or water, Hypalon® tool attachments for retractors, tippet and floatant holders, and forceps, Fishpond’s signature zip-down fly bench with replaceable fly mat and an integrated net slot on the back panel. Best of all, if you have a bigger day planned and need to lug more gear, it’s compatible with many of Fishpond’s other packs like the Thunderhead Submersible Backpack – Eco, Wind River Roll-Top Backpack – Eco, Ridgeline Backpack and Firehole Backpack. fishpondusa.com, frontierflyfishing.com
NAYAT – NA-WHAT?
We know what you’re thinking – what the hell is a Nayat? Well, we fell down an internet rabbit hole trying to find out. The description from Bigstreamers (now stocked in South Africa by X-Factor) is that nayat originates from a, “fairly uncommon breed of farm animal that is domestically bred.” So far so vague, so we kept digging. Some of the fly tying forums speculate that it’s a sheep or a goat of some sort. Again, Bigstreamers dispel that by saying, “The hair is slightly stiffer and more translucent than Icelandic Pony, or Arctic Runner, and does not mat in the water like Icelandic Sheep or Llama.”
Convinced we were dealing with the ballhairs off Bigfoot, we got in touch with former Proteas captain MC Coetzer, one of the country’s best fly tyers, who revealed that the Nayat mystery literally is the Yeti of fly tying materials.
“Absolutely nobody will share that info,” he said. “All I can tell you is that it’s an animal the size of a large sheep with long natural white hair. It’s definitely also not Icelandic Sheep – their hair is very fine with no guard hairs. In Canada Nayat is called Snow Runner. It is a very special material and everybody is looking for the source. As far as I can tell, there is only one supplier, but a few shops have tracked down the source in the last few months. You see more and more of it online. If I knew where to get it myself I’d have a skin in my tying room.”
There you have it, from MC “Jeffrey Dahmer” Coetzer himself. As for its application, Nayat’s stiff, translucent, non-matting properties make it brilliant for XL wing material in big predator flies. xfactorangling.co.za
GUIDELINE – ELEVATION SINGLE HAND RODS
We’ve been hearing good things (especially from the competitive crowd) about Swedish tackle brand Guideline’s Elevation Rod series, namely that the combo of quality (light feel and an action that suits anglers at all levels) and price of these top modern rods are of a ridiculously high level. What you can expect are matte, lightly buffed dark grey blanks with no added coloration. For the grip, you get a new, improved full wells grips of 3A cork without rubber cork reinforcements. Even the lighter rods have a small cork butt, and from 9´ 7-weight and up there are full size fighting butts on all Elevation rods. Rods are mounted with light wire single leg guides and KW style stripper guides. They sport a sensitive and protective tip that is very stable and crisp, with a smooth progressive curve further down the blank with a powerful butt section. The action is easy to cast, forgiving and produces accurate casts at high line speed.
Bonus – throughout the manufacturing of these rods, Guideline has looked for the most sustainable/least toxic approach. For example, the metal parts of reel seats are “clear anodized” which is the least toxic process possible when using aluminium reel seats; no chrome (lead) or paint is used in the anodizing bath; a bio-based low-toxic epoxy is used for the coatings on the blank and guides; the rod bag and rod tube cover are made of recycled REPREVE™ polyester and the tubes are made of recyclable Polypropylene (PP). Lastly, any possible, excessive carbon waste particles are collected in a separate tank before water is passed on to community cleaning facility. guidelineflyfish.com, xfactorangling.co.za
PATAGONIA – GREAT DIVIDER
In the market for an extremely durable, well-structured, water-resistant boat bag? The 26-litre volume Great Divider from Patagonia deserves your attention. Even if you’re fishing amid squalls, this Fair Trade Certified™ sewn bag’s watertight lid-closure zipper and magnetic automatic snap front closure will keep water out, while the sturdy 100% recycled nylon fabric and webbing will ensure years of service. The adjustable internal dividing system lets you organize the bag as you see fit, while the clear plastic internal lid pocket keeps licenses, tippets or other quick-access items visible and within easy reach. For quick fly changes when it’s ON, Velcro® patches on the lid provide easy access to go-to flies. patagonia.com, xplorerflyfishing.co.za
PERDIGONMANIA – STRIPS
If you have fallen down a Euro-nymphing rabbit hole and find yourself dreaming of fast-sinking Perdigon nymphs plummeting to lunker trout levels, perhaps instead of going cold turkey on your addiction you should embrace the habit. You know…go full Mother Superior. A good way to scratch that itch is with Perdigonmania’s Strips specifically designed for tying Perdigons. These fine strips change colour as the light hits them greatly increasing the effectiveness of any style Perdigon. Just apply your favourite UV Resin and you’re good to go. Available in packs of 15 strips, 1mm x 10cm. perdigonmania.pt, xfactorangling.co.za
ORVIS – FLOW HEMO
It’s weird to get attached to something like this, but we did (until the editor dropped his in a lake which is a reflection solely on him and not this fantastic product). From the lever-action carabiner on the handle, which requires just a single upward or downward motion to clip/unclip from any attachment point, to the oversized grippy finger holes, the leverage extension for extra oomph when advanced crimping, plus the mitten clamp and the scissor blades down the business end of the jaws for trimming tippet or tweaking flies on the water – this is the gold standard hemo. orvis.com, flyfishing.co.za
PATAGONIA – ’73 SKYLINE TRADITIONAL CAPS
Nothing to see here… just some sweet head coverage from Patagonia in the shape of two Fair Trade Certified™ sewn, low-crown, unstructured, five-panel hats featuring brims made of NetPlus® 100% recycled fishing nets, an adjustable fabric strap in back for a just-right fit and Patagonia original art made with PVC- and phthalate-free screen-print inks. Available in Tide Pool Blue or Oaks Brown from Xplorer Fly Fishing. patagonia.com, xplorerflyfishing.co.za
RIO – SLICKCAST SINKING LINES
The latest in Rio’s range of fly lines to get the durable, SlickCast coating, both the Premier Fathom and Premier Clean Sweep are now available from Xplorer Fly Fishing just in time for stillwater trout season. The Fathom series is designed specifically for lake anglers with a short, quick-loading head for minimizing the number of false casts, and for quick, easy distance, and a colour contrast between the head and the running line to easily show the line’s loading point. In addition, each line is built with a Hang Marker that shows anglers when to stop stripping, and when to fish the hang. The CleanSweep series of sinking lines also feature the Hang Marker and are built with a clear intermediate front end, seamlessly attached to a faster sinking body section and then to a slower sinking running line. This blend of sink rates results in a deadly fly path through the water, with the line sweeping the depths during a retrieve—from the surface, to deep, and back to the surface again—covering a multitude of depths with each cast. farbank.com, xplorerflyfishing.co.za
AQUATECH – AXISGO IPHONE 13 KIT
Who doesn’t love an underwater fish shot? Those perky fins, that agape mouth, your chunky calves in the background – nothing beats it. If you’re an iPhone-owning fly angler looking to get yourself some of that photo goodness, look no further than Aquatech who have just brought out the AxisGO Over Under Kit housing that fits the iPhone 13 Pro Max, iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13. Depth rated to 10m/33ft, the kit includes the AxisGO dome, Bluetooth pistol, Novus acrylic polish, dome cover and protective case. All you need to do is catch the fish. Now if only they would do Android phones too… aquatech.net
