Fishing The UK, Fly Fishing in Devon, Exeter, South West

Do you suffer from sore hands? Tired of wincing as a barbed hook shoots into your finger? Fed up with losing that ‘big one’? Look no further, welcome to the wonderful world of the ‘knot puller’.

Every so often you come across things in life which makes you wonder how you ever managed to live without them! Examples include electric can openers, Reebok pumps, and the film ‘Karate Kid’ to name but a few. The new kid on the block is the majestic ‘Knot puller’. Metal and plastic collide going head to head with scissors for the coveted title ‘most useful piece of tackle’.

Never before have I experienced knot strength of this magnitu…ok. Joking aside this is without a doubt one of the most useful items in my tackle box. I use it for tying heavy sea fishing traces to testing knot strength when fly fishing. This weekend I was on a rig tying mission. It was a doddle getting 100lb mono to bed down on size 8/0 hooks, something horribly difficult to do without using one. Next time you are in a fishing tackle shop buy one, £3.95. Or if you are felling particularly sassy, buy two!

Korda knot puller

Korda knot puller

September passed in a flash. 4 days fishing in the English Channel, numerous pike fishing trips and getting stuck into a busy month at work has left little time for blogging. Missed me? I doubt it but I am sure you will find my new purchase interesting.

The last trip aboard the Anne Clare could (should) have been sponsored by Daiwa. An arsenal of Saltist reels and Kenzaki rods ripping pouting from the wreck 200ft below. It appeared I had brought a 4.2:1 reel to a 6.1:1 fight. Not wanting to feel left out a Daiwa Saltist 30HA LW magically appeared in my tackle box the next day.

Daiwa saltist 30 HA LW

Saltist™ Levelwind Reels Features:

• Rugged, all metal construction with rigid, one-piece aluminum frame
• Four CRBB shielded, corrosion-resistant ball bearings and a roller bearing
• Powerful, high-strength alloy gears
• Up to 30% greater winding power
• Super Drag with up to 22 pounds of drag max
• Dual Anti-Reverse systems
• Dual-position power handle
• Aluminum rod clamp

The Saltist range of reels is aimed at the ‘higher’ end of the ‘performance scale’. This is reflected in the quality of components, construction and feel. Looking at the features listed above you can see there is no messing around, Saltist – serious business. Loaded up with yellow power pro braid I unleashed the Saltist on the Anne Clare. The high retrieve rate became my wrists new best friend, especially after a day of hauling 3 billion pouting from the depths.

Using the reel for a another 3 days fishing for a variety of species over rough ground, wrecks and sand bars I couldn’t fault it in anyway. Everything you do with the reel is smooth, controlled and so comfortable. I have a freezer full of black bream and pollack, each fish gracefully and effortlessly extracted from the sea with the Saltist.

Modern reel technology, build quality and performance has reached a point where you can pick up a great reel for as little as £50. You can purchase an excellent reel for around £100, or you can buy a phenomenal Daiwa Saltist for £180.

I don’t really know what else to say about the Daiwa Saltist. You need one in your life, I promise you won’t be disappointed. (unless you are being awkward on purpose, or you are a super human fisherman that catches 100lb congers 356 days of the year and never bothers to rinse or maintain their reels).

Once again, if you would like to purchase one of these reels, please please do speak to either Mark or Jim at Exeter Angling (internetsales@exeterangling.co.uk – 01392 436404). Combine it with some nice yellow power pro braid and a Daiwa Kenzaki rod and join the pouting bashing revolution.

Daiwa saltist 30 HA LW

Daiwa saltist 30 HA LW

Daiwa saltist 30 HA LW

I am a sucker for anything that is a little different in the fishing tackle world, the wilder the claims the more interested I am. Having fished a number of times in the US for Large Mouth Bass you always end up paying one of the many Bass Pro shops for advice and to stock up lures. If you have never been to a Bass Pro shop it is pretty hard to express how many different types of lures they have in stock. During my last visit a number of fishermen were raving about the Megabass Xlayer soft lures. So while in Vegas I picked up a packet and gave them a try.

These lures hand poured in Japan are a little different to your average soft bait. The tail contains a small plastic insert containing two very small ball bearings that vibrate and emit an audible rattle. Towards the head of the lure there are a number of ridges to create some disturbance when worked through the water. The lures are also impregnated with an odd scent that smells of fennel. The lures can be texas rigged, used with a jig head and used unweighted depending on where you are fishing.

I have tried these texas rigged and they certainly fished well in Florida for large mouth bass but I wasn’t really confident they were giving me a revolutionary edge. I managed to find some here in the UK and again hearing they are doing well for Sea Bass I couldn’t resist, especially as I have several trips on the Anne Clare at the end of this month.

You can purchase these lures from http://www.mrfishjersey.net/magento/, they are not cheap at £14 for 4 of the larger lures, but if the Bass really do love them then it’s worth it, right? The guys at Mr Fish are extremely helpful and are fast to deliver.

I have just got to keep them under wraps, if they do out fish my fellow angers there is nothing like a good old gloat.

Megabass Xlayer Lure

Megabass Xlayer Lure - Ridge body creating water disturbance and vibrations

Megabass Xlayer Lure - Unique rattle in the lure tail

Megabass Xlayer Lure - larger 6inch shad