Salmon fly outfit Modest prices

Ok I know there has probably been many threads like this already but I couldn't find them.
I have been fortunate in being offered to join a party for a week in May on the N Esk.
I now need to buy a 15 ft fly rod, reel the full tackle.
As it will be a once a year event at the most I don't want to spend a fortune. All advice welcome

David,

Shakespeare Oracle IV are getting very good reviews at the moment. 15' 4 piece #10 rod that has a progressive action, just what you need when you're starting out.

You can pick them up on Ebay for a good price, or failing that, www.johnnorris.co.uk currently have them on offer.

Personally, I have a Greys GRX 15' rod matched to a Rio Windcutter and it really is the DB's at present. Again, you can pick them up at a good price as they are "so last year". Harris Sportsmail had them at ?100 (which is where I got mine) but don't know how many they have left.

If at all possible, get to try the rod before you buy it.

Whereabouts in the UK are you?

Adrian

I'm in Northwich Chshire. I have been looking at the GRX Harris have some 14' left at special price. I'm tempted to buy.

They are progressive rod with a medium action. My casting instructor advised me to only use mine with a floating line as it won't handle anything more than that.

I like mine a lot and can overhead and spey cast well with it, especially now that I've found a line that works well too.

If you can, as with all game rods, try before you buy.

I notice the Diawa Wilderness 15ft came second in a T&S review this month. Fulling mill travel first. Fm is ?200 the wilderness can be got for ?140. beat ?500 + rods. My own rod is a forefather of a wilderness and cost ?35 second hand. can chuck 40 yards with it. So don't think you have to pay a lot. Invest in a good line.

Tom

ps spend some time practising the old spey casting.

pps get a rod that can handle a sunk line. You've got the welsh dee near to you and it had a fantastic back end run.

Thanks Adrian and Tom. I think I'll go for the Wilderness as I will want to use a sinking line perhaps and one of the reviewers says'will surely cope with a full sinking line'.
Any suggestions on reel and lines?

Tom
as I belong to PAAS with stretches of the Welsh Dee I'll give it a go back end. Thanks
seems the chub and barbel on the Dane may get a rest this year!

Dave,

Line choice is a more personal thing. I recently 'graduated' to using a relatively long belly 75ft spey line. After using DTs and home made shooting heads. I've found it a delight.

I made the change because there were a few spots that I need to cover on certain Severn pools that involve deep wading and a long cast. That meant shooting a lot of line with a SH. The longer bellied line allows me to shoot a lot less line and therefore makes life a lot easier when in up to my elbows.

Draw back with long bellied lines is the floaters don't turn over a polyleader too well. Choice of line depends on the water you intend to fish. I need quite a variety because of the nature of my favourite stretches. For instance there are pools on the Severn where I have to wade among the rocks on the edge of a deep channel with trees behind me. In those circumstances I have to use a shooting head as there is no room for a big D loop.
Horses for courses really.

I'm a cheapo where reels are concerned. Thing I worry about is low start up inertia on the drag not the price tag.