I do not like to miss a fishing opportunity, and that means fishing in all weather. I hate fishing under an umbrella, sometimes I would rather get wet. A conventional brolley has a central pole, which means half of the brolley is wasted. The biggest problem though is using one in a breeze. A large brolley develops an unbelievable wind load, even in a light breeze. Guide ropes help, but not much. You need them in front of you as well as behind, but thats where the water is. In a recent experience my central aluminium pole got bent in a mere breeze. I have a vision of a rectangular topped brolley, with an inverted 'V' to run water off, and corner screw in supports. This would allow better holding down, and reduced wind load, by shape, (small side area), and smaller overall size because it is all utilised due to the lack of a centre pole. I don't want a bivvy, just a good strong practical brolley. Does anyone know a of a good umbrella that addresses these problems?

The 50" Wavelock is a good choice Richard.
The central pole can be screwed out and then screwed back in at an angle so that it runs down the back of the brolly.

This is my brolly set up:

The pole running down the back as stated. Two storm poles at the front,which can be adjusted to any height. If you are staying put, or for added security in a VERY strong wind add a guy rope.

There is enough room for a bedchair with no central obstruction.

Like this one. You buy the two extra clips and storm poles seperately for the front of the brolly.

Just like you Richard I would rather sit and get wet than fish under a brolly

I have had quite a few over the years and they have all been crap.

Or - there's the Korum Day Session shelter.

I prefer Baz's suggestion though.

Richard, the 'brollies with sides', more commonly used in specimen fishing, are very stable and good ones are as light as a decent traditional style brolly.

They're not cheap and although they will fit into very tight areas there are occastions when an odd styly brolly would squeeze in and a new one wouldn't.

This is the one I use http://www.dvsg.co.uk/trakker-big-z-brolly.htm

Thanks very much for your responses chaps. Using the umbrella with storm poles at the very front may be the answer I am looking for. The Wavelock with a dual support pole position looks good. The Big Z looks like its more of a tool than I want, for shorter fishing sessions. It may require more space than I have at the venues I go to, even in the 50" variety. Perhaps I could say similar about the Korum day shelter, but this idea looks very interesting, and I want to look at one, if any of my local tackle shops has it in. The article mentions difficulty in taking it down. Anyone know how easy it is to put up?

Richard, one thing that I think is important to look out for with the brollies with sides is to make sure all the ribs come down to the floor. On some of the cheaper ones (and not so cheap ones) a couple of the ribs will stop about 6" short and much of the stability in a wind is lost.

There are Big Z copies out there for £50 to £70 and some of them look alright to me.

My 50" Wavelock umbrella is now no more after only 8 times out of the bag, it was not even very windy when it failed, the wire securing the spokes snapped. It was down hill from there.

Is there an umbrella that is reliable and sturdy?

I am also looking into day shelters, are these more trouble that they are worth in setting up?

My 50" wavelock is over ten years old.

I've been using a JRC Stealth 60" brolly with storm sides. It doesn't have a central pole and is great for all forms of fishing except the pole (that could be cured with a detachable vent in the back). It goes up seconds and with the recent weather is one of the best bits of kit i've ever bought. Apart from in the strongest winds, it can be used with two small storm poles at the sides rather than the two longer ones in the centre.

£49.99 at www.climaxtackle.com

John, a brolly with side will do what you need. I can put mine up less than a minute.

The downsides are the cost, the fact that you can't use them concrete and wooden platforms and that you can't attach them to a seatbox in such circumstances. Brilliant for most situations though.

Nick, JRC Stealth Brolley is definitely of interest. It looks like what I need, just might be a bit big, and the web site does'nt show available sizes well. I found it here on the Climax site;JRC. As luck would have it Climax Tackle is virtually my local store, I live in Chesterfield. Hopefully they have a Big Z, and a Korum too. I went on Sunday but too late to look at much, just pick up bait.

Richard

When you're using this brolly, are you tending to stay put all day or do you do a bit of roving around? If it's staying put, I would also reccomend you take a look at something like the fox evolution classic brolly - its actually a bit like a bivvy except it only weighs about 4kg (v similar to my normal brolly) and its up in about 5 mins. You get loads of usable roon, its got an interesting "dynamic" characteristic which means you can peg it high and narrow or wide and low (and all points in between).

The only drawback I've found with mine is that once its up, I'm staying put! It's slightly more faff than I need if I want to move around, and when I'm doing that, I use a nu-brolli style umbrella as described above by Baz. However, it's not a patch on the space and comfort you get with the evo....

Richard, if you really were looking more for a bivvy-type brolly then the JRC is the mutt's nuts!!! It even has a rain gutter to prevent spills of water coming off over the front.

I have one with the front bits as well, but that offer you have found is superb. I might try an persuade 'er-indoors if I can have to overwrap it's so cheap.


PS, don't forget to allow for the storm poles though, two x 2' and two x 4'. Fox ones are nice and light.

I'm hoping some of you gentlemen might be able to help.
I'm looking for some sort of shelter, probably a brolly with the zipped sides, or whatever else you can suggest.
We show our dog and sometimes have to be benched out in the elements. Last show we got drenched. I need something to fit the crate (36" x 24"), trolley (crate is on the trolley, and all our kit...2 chairs, camera bag, cooler, and grooming kit, under.
Preferably tall enough to stand under and have the dog on the top of the crate for grooming.

Any suggestions?
Thanks