Having whetted my appetite with the lures, which I am sure will account for some very big fish all around the country, Dick showed me some of the rods that are currently under development. One that took my eye was a model called the Tideline, which is basically a fighting butt with interchangeable tips, allowing the angler to swap between 12, 20 and 30 pound outfits. At an anticipated price around £80 it will offer anglers the versatility to switch their tackle, lures and setups to match the conditions on the day. It is a good idea, especially since the blank felt both light and responsive, and will be interesting to see how it performs.
There is also a Tideline beachcaster coming on line, with two tips for different conditions. One is a 1 - 3 ounce tip, which should suit the majority of estuary situations and beaches where there is little tide, and the other tip is rated 4 - 5 ounce, which will handle the majority of British beaches. Add in the moveable reel seat, which enables you to set the rod up to your personal preference, and you have a very versatile outfit.
In the showroom, which was just getting back to normal after a trade show, Cortland fly rods jostled with John Wilson and Powermaster rods in an impressive display that featured beachcasters, spinning rods, baitcasters (my favourites for inshore boat fishing), carp and pike rods and boat rods, to name but a few. There was a wide range to suit all tastes and pockets with bargain rods just inches away from premiere tackle costing hundreds of pounds.
One set of rods that caught my eye was the Cortland Endurance fly rods, all of which were four piece with 9', 9'6" and 10' models available. They felt beautiful to hold with the 9' model manufactured in 5, 6, 7 and 8 wt retailing around £125, while the 9'6" model will be available in 6 and 7 wt retailing at around £150. The 10' model, which was available in 3, 4, 5, 7 and 8 wt rods, was a lovely piece of kit, also retailing at £150, although for saltwater I would stick to either 7 or 8 wt rated rods. These have the length and the greater casting range that can, on occasion, be beneficial in the sea.
If you haven't yet tried saltwater fly fishing, or rodding, as it is known in some circles, then you could be in for a real treat when you do decide to give it a go. In the right place, at the right time, it can be a deadly method for which the Endurance rods would be ideal.
Masterline offer rods from very low prices, such as these John Wilson Prime boat rods at only £19.99, available in two piece 7 foot models or 6 foot single piece rods.
