IN THE NET • EQUIPMENT Cut and crimp MAGNUS ANGUS examines a Stillwater Jaws Pliers tenkara outfit; pliers; Aluminium levers with hardened steel jaws and Hardy Ultralite 5000 reel; and tungsten cutting blades. The jaw plates are bolted to the a Loop Cross SI double-hander levers and, in theory at least, Tackle bag can be replaced. These slightly predatory jaws are designed for Tenkara takeaway cutting and crimping. In fly Hemingway’s tenkara outfit to this outfit, maybe I imagined fishing that means working with This represents a pair of it, but the simplicity seemed to wire traces more than handling Hemingway’s outfits, more or bring a sense of calm; this gear monofilament or gripping and less complete with rod, line, gets rid of so many choices and extracting hooks. flies, net and sling/pack – all the variables I guess that is For setting up a pike leader Comes with a neat, light, essentials to get started with understandable. these are good, and for those nylon sheath and a coiled safety . The slightly more basic saltwater leaders which need lanyard. The list price for these Faced with the pieces I found version of this outfit retails for protection from serious teeth is £39.99, currently on offer at it very easy to join them into a £365 and includes: these are good. In my opinion, £29.99 – which seems like useable fishing outfit. The rod is tenkara rod, Padouk wood these would be ideal for fly leaders I like the cutters but I Slightly predatory jaws for cutting something of a bargain to me. telescopic with a knotted nylon landing net and magnetic net fishing if they came with a want flat or near flat jaw and crimping. Comes with a light, From: Glasgow cord at the tip. Simply loop the release, backpack and small second set of jaws with flatter surfaces when I’m tightening nylon sheath and a coiled safety Centre ‘tapered leader’ to the butt of chest pack, rod tube, tapered surfaces. For heavy saltwater knots in heavy mono. lanyard. Tel: 0871 7161670 the cord, attach a tippet at the line, half dozen tenkara flies fine end, tie on a fly, and that’s it. (“include Sekasa Kebari Nothing unusual or and variation for Europe unconventional, or, indeed, new. rivers”). The net looks nice User-friendly reel If you want to read a little of the and the rod seems well Hardy Ultralite 5000 bag of little plastic plugs, history of this type of made. With a spool of tippet Clearly, this is a large arbour which I can use to mark my in the UK, in fact in Scotland, I this outfit gives me all I need reel. Fractionally less cassettes. Nice idea, the suggest you search the internet to begin tenkara fishing. I’d add obviously, this takes cassette designer has clearly had that for the book, The Angler and the a spool to store my line spools. The smaller of two “What line is this?” moment. I Loop-Rod by David Webster, I and a nice swing-lid box – which CLS models has the capacity will, of course, lose the plugs! believe published in 1885 come in a slightly more for a WF7 with 70m of In the frame, behind that (Amazon lists an edition Practical and simple. expensive outfit. backing. At 7.2oz (204g) this brass nut, Hardy has put a published in 2008). From: Hemingway’s stockists is a weighty reel, however, on neat wee drag mechanism, This is a way of fishing www.fishingwithstyle.co.uk/ the butt of a 10ft rod this based around a couple of which appeals to me. Way spools and tackle bags the compulsive hauler my non-rod www.fly-fishing-tackle.co.uk feels fine and that large Rulon drag washers, the back when the fly-fishing size of Cumbria. hand really wants something to diameter arbour stores line in result is smooth and more bug had yet to bite me, one of The line fitted to the long do while my right hand is large coils, lets me pick up than adequate. the attractions of fly fishing was tenkara rod is not really a casting, so this certainly feels line fast and makes the drag This reel is well designed. a sense of elegant, mobile ‘tapered leader’. For sure it is different. My casting range is that bit smoother. The guys behind this see the simplicity. The fly fisher, tapered but it is much better limited to the length of my line Hardy has opted to link the issue they are addressing very walking and watching, described as the Casting Line – and rod - slightly over 7m with spool to the frame with a clearly and solve the problem, occasionally flicking the water not a new term, ask Webster. this outfit. I can use, actually captive nut, nothing wiggles and then make it easy for the with a fly, while the bait fisher Casting the tenkara outfit I am fish, in quite a lot of river at that or moves which shouldn't owner and user of the reel to sits and waits and the spin clearly casting conventionally. range. This rod is 3.3m long and wiggle or move. Remove the lock and your spool is locked. the bearing – no tools, or use – which is more unusual fisher works his lure through the The rod loads and unloads not as soft as I expected, spool to reveal the cassette. More complicated to make screws – easy! than it should be. Very well pool again and again. This was against the line (incidentally, we overhead casting is fine, I’d like This has the most user than the typical o-ring Look at the edge of the made and finished, a good back before we had any need can and do load, i.e. bend, a fly a slightly longer line if I’m to be friendly means of getting mechanism but so much nicer cassette, the designer has set looking, functional reel. for fly reels with a dozen spare rod against its own inertia). As a roll casting more. As I got used The complete package. spools in and out that I have to use! Switching drag wee holes around the spool, Price: £199.00 (comes with met to date – slide the lock direction is similarly simple, each labelled with a fly-line three cassette spools, extra catch to unlock and the spool unscrew that brass nut at the term for line size and density. spools are £9.99 each) comes out, slide the catch to centre of the spool and turn Look in the box and you find a From: Hardy stockists.

Set for a #7 intermediate line. Simple clear lock mechanism holds Unscrew to reveal clutch bearing. Tenkara flies. Telescopic sections ending in a flexible nylon cord. the cassette spool in place. Flip over to change drag direction.

86 | June 2013 | www.flyfishing-and-flytying.co.uk www.flyfishing-and-flytying.co.uk | June 2013 | 87 IN THE NET • EQUIPMENT Attention grabber Loop Cross S1 14ft #9 effort moving the rod was length is that the rod and reel First impressions count, a consumed moving the reel. In balance on the blank, if I want bit at least, and just pulling my opinion the more to fish the fly around with the the butt section from the traditional down-locker has rod balanced in one hand I am bag the Cross S1 had my functional advantages, less holding the blank. attention. That reel seat is chance of jamming the reel in The reel seat is attractive very striking indeed. As the seat, less chance of the reel and holds my reels securely. I the sections emerge and foot being damaged (i.e. bent) like that the cowel sliding onto are assembled, however, it – but none of those points say the foot of my reel can’t turn, seems more conventional. one word about the balance of far less chance of the cowel OK, it’s made using the outfit and casting. I remain sticking and less wear on my Powerlux, a state of the art to be convinced but the way reel. I like the broad well composite from 3M ... and this rod handles with a reel knurled locking rings. Top and ... yes, OK, these are nano- fitted certainly got me thinking. bottom of the fitting are linked sized silical particles in the Casting, I’d describe the by three solid metal rods which resin ... but the sections are rod's action as smooth and in exposes the blank below – still taped tubes and I still the middle of the blank. That in normally that section of the push them together in the itself is unusual. Using broad blank is hidden, often usual way. strokes, double handed fly protected by a wooden spacer. From the first swish this rods have tended to be either I have to wonder how long it is clearly a very light rod. Fit tippy or deeper and more will be before mud, grass and a reel in that striking up- through in the way they bend. general grot get in and around locking seat and the outfit Tippier rods were associated those rods – a minor point, but still feels light. That sounds with shooting heads and so- just one of those issues. obvious but as I started called Scandi casting styles, The designer has opted for playing around with the whereas deeper bending, more very restrained cosmetics, Cross S1 I began wondering if through-actioned rods were almost plain until you notice the reel position, pushed regarded by some as more the components which are farther from my lower hand traditional, more for full lines partly there for function, but than it would be in a down- than shooting heads. they are also indicative of a locking seat, meant less of my Casting the S1, the action high-end rod – I am speaking seems light, very controllable, I about a full set of Recoil guides, SPECIFICATIONS have a little of the feel of a full very high grade grips and LOOP CROSS S1 flex rod with the easy and that custom made reel seat. Sections: 4 accurate leverage of a tippy I like the lightness of the S1 Weight: 258g rod. I don't really want to dull action, I really like the sense, Rings: Large Recoil snakes, this down with a great long the feel in my hands, of the rod two Recoil butt rings heavy head, I want to match it working the line as I cast. Cork quality: High quality with a medium to short head, Thinking back to the double- cork shooting head if you like. handed rods I've handled over Reel seat: Custom aluminium I found the grip length fine, the past couple of years this Blank: Satin grey friends (and better double- rod feels quite different. I don't Thread: Black handed casters) found the think 'lightness and accuracy Build quality: High length of the grip on this rod of a tippy rod, feel of a through Rod bag: Canvas inhibiting. I think they were actioned rod' really captures Rod tube: Aluminium looking for more power and that difference but it’ll have to Price: £839.00 more ambitious distance. My do for now. Well worth a cast if Cool understated looks. From: Loop stockists only reservation about the grip you get a chance.

Recoil butt rings, these look simple Good looking seat, works very well. High grade cork, protected at the but are expensive. wear point with tough cork- composite trims.

88 | June 2013 | www.flyfishing-and-flytying.co.uk