In addition to their wide range of rods, Masterline distribute reels to suit every aspect of saltwater angling, from fly reels and multipliers to fixed spool reels such as these Project M Carp Runners, retailing between £45 and £60. (Ideal for use with lighter rods for light legering in estuaries etc.)
Besides the rods and reels that I saw, Dick was very enthusiastic over Masterline's latest fait accompli, allowing them to distribute Rapala clothing in the UK. He showed me one of their garments, a Pro Wear jacket, which was a superbly designed piece of kit.
In an innovative and shrewd business move, Rapala held a design competition for a range of angling clothing. The winning design was so inspirational that they immediately hired its designer and put him in charge of bringing their outdoor angling clothing up to the highest possible standard. By what I saw, he seemed to have succeeded.
Each garment is designed to maximise the angler's comfort while he or she is fishing, with a lot of thought gone into making sure that warmth and rainproofing are paramount features. Add in reinforced pockets, cleverly designed around the type of accessories that anglers would carry, including an enormous back pocket for larger items, and you can see how much thought has gone into the design.
The breathable fabric allows moisture to be wicked away from the body, so the garment does not get sticky and uncomfortable, while seals protect the rugged zips and even feature little stores for the sliders to fit inside. There is also an adjustable hood with a visor that keeps the rain from the angler's eyes.
Dick is certain that the Rapala range of clothing will do well in the UK and I am inclined to agree with him. I think, to be honest, that a lot of people have been brainwashed into automatically heading for floatation and thermal suits without thoroughly exploring the alternatives. In this respect, fly anglers are way ahead of the game, using clothing combinations that leave them comfortable, mobile and relaxed, unlike the soggy sea angler doing his best to impersonate the Michelin man (or Mr Blobby, take your pick) in a cumbersome suit that doesn't hold a candle to more comfortable alternatives.
And yes, I know that floatation suits are excellent for if you are out on a boat and it sinks but, to be honest, how many times do you go afloat compared to fishing from shore?
Taken as a whole, I was impressed with what I saw at Masterline. I think that they have taken some bold new steps in their product range and that we will, over the next few years, see a lot more new ideas. If they are anything like the quality I saw on the day, then I think that the company will do very well indeed, as will the purchasing anglers. Certainly I will be watching their development with a very interested eye since I anticipate some good things to come!
