Hardy & Greys Salmon Consultant Ian Gordon

has released the trailer for his forthcoming film on how to fish a small, medium and large Scottish river. The film will cover the basic and most important elements of six different flycasts and fault finding.

Ian commented:
"This is not a casting movie, its a fishing movie also, I cover simple fishing tactics using some graphics to highlight key points in reading and fishing a salmon pool."

Click here to watch the trailer for Blue Charm the movie

The movie will be available to buy in July.

The Greys 2012 Fly Fishing catalogue features the highlights of our 2012 range - both new products and best selling favourites - alongside tips and advice from some of the best names in the business. 

It has been sent to customers, included with leading fishing magazines and is now available as a download or online format from our website.

Don't forget to check the back page of the catalogue for an exclusive competition. 

Click here to find out more

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Earlier in April, the respected team at Yellowstone Angler published the results of the latest in their long-running series of 'shoot-outs' where leading rods are put through their paces, head-to-head.

This time the team compared 4-weight rods, they were looking for something quite particular, as Yellowstone's George Anderson explains:

"They must be versatile rods, capable of fishing a variety of techniques and flies. By no means am I a dry fly purist, so a good 4-weight rod is going to have to serve its duty doing a good amount of nymph fishing, and even chucking a leadeye or cone head streamer when conditions dictate such vile and desperate moves in order to catch nice trout.

"What I am looking for is that "Perfect 4" - a rod that can do it all, but above all, a rod that excels in accuracy and delicate presentations. The perfect 4 must be a great rod at distances from 15-20 feet right out to 60-70 feet, and be strong enough to handle windy conditions as well as have the backbone to chuck split shot or moderately large and heavy streamers when needed."

The Hardy Zenith 8'6 4wt came out on top, scoring an impressive 99 out of a possible 100 points. Here's  a short selection of comments from the review:

"This rod has a nice soft tip and this make it very easy to make short cast with just a flick of my wrist with little arm movement...I had complete confidence where the fly was going on every cast. The rod is so light that false casting all day would be a pleasant, effortless experience.

"At long range I could power up, using a double haul and throw extremely tight loops, even with the Trout taper line. The rod tracks so well that accuracy was superb. I also noticed that my cast timing with this rod was very quick. When you power this one up, it really zings them in there"

You can read full details of the Shoot Out methodology, along with detailed comments from the Yellowstone team on all the rods on test at the Yellowstone website. 

Tackle including a number of Hardy and Greys reels, was stolen recently in a break in at Angling Active in Stirling.

Tackle theives can often be caught at the point where they try to sell on the goods - if you have any information, or if you see reels at 'too good to be true' prices, especially in the Central Scotland area, please get in touch with Central Scotland Police

or call  Crimestoppers (0800 555 111) to give information anonymously. 

Trout & Salmon magazine recently ran an extensive rod test to try and identify the best 14 foot Salmon rods on the market. In a head to head test, the magazine took 14 new and market-leading salmon rods and put them through their paces.

This is the third year the magazine have asked experienced casting instructors Jim Curry and Gary Champion to test double-handed rods. During the test on the River Wharfe at Bolton Abbey, Jim and Gary cast with short and long strokes, and in the Spey and overhead styles.

They were looking for rods that were an all-round Salmon rod and offered a real alternative to a 15ft rod - including the ability to roll up a full sinking line.

The Hardy Zenith

, Hardy Marksman2 T-Series

and the Greys XF2 S-Series

were all given a "Recommended" stamp by the testers.

In concluding the test results, Champion commented that "the line ratings printed on Hardy and Greys blanks were a very welcome and useful addition" and recommended the Hardy Marksman 2 T-Series as a great all-round 14-footer that is a joy to cast with and would be a pleasure to own."

Curry added that "the boys from Hardy & Greys have really hit the mark" and the Marksman 2 T-Series "felt like a trout rod in my hand, but threw long casts when required with pin-point accuracy - it's the most user friendly rod on test".

But it was the Hardy Zenith that really impressed Curry: "Casting it was like turning up with a gun to a knife fight! It has left a big impression on me: It's seriously powerful and capable - in the right hands - of staggering line speed."

To read the full test results including detailed comments on all the rods, download the PDF.

Respected casting instructor Gary Scott is offering a two-day residential course covering all aspects of Spey Casting and Salmon Fly fishing. This is also your chance to try out some Hardy tackle on one of Scotlands best Salmon rivers.

Hosted at the Hilton Dunkeld House Hotel in Dunkeld, Perthshire the course is structured to suit all levels of Speycasters from the absolute beginner to more advanced anglers.
Delegates will also get to fish, casting for late spring Salmon, on the exclusive 2 mile beat of the River Tay.

Anglers can either use their own equipment or Gary can supply Hardy tackle at no extra cost.

Total cost for the course including Tuition, Fishing and 2 Nights Dinner B&B in the Hilton Dunkeld House Hotel is £499 per person. Extra nights and rates for non-angling partners are available. Please ask for details.

For more information or to book, please contact:
Tel: 07736379104 email: sjpfurniss@btinternet.com

As principle Salmon Consultant here at Hardy and Greys, Ian has been responsible for the design of our new range of double handed products, all of which are available to trial with help and advice from Ian during his hosted weeks on some of the best and most sought after salmon fishing on both the Rivers Spey and Dee.

As well as working closely with our product development team, Ian runs a salmon fishing agency, using his extensive knowledge of the Spey, Dee, Deveron and Findhorn to acquire and arrange top quality salmon fishing on some of the best and most famous waters, with a focus on managing both the time and expectations of anglers.

With over 30 years Experience, Ian specialises in:

• The provision of bespoke fishing packages focusing on the requirements and expectations of his customers
• Providing detailed information on when, where and how to fish Scottish Rivers
• Unsurpassed Fly-Casting and Salmon Fishing Instruction
• Your corporate events

Ian has availability for single and multiple rods during the following weeks:

River Dee

3 Days Fishing & Casting with Ian - Lower Invercauld March 26th - 28th.
4 Days prime spring fishing - Lower Blackhall River Dee 28th - 31st March.
3 days Hosted fishing with Ian - Lower Invercauld 12th 14th July
3 or 6 days Hosted fishing with Ian - Lower Invercauld W/C 23rd July
3 or 6 days Hosted fishing with Ian 10th - 15th September - Monaltrie and Lower Invercauld

River Spey

2 days fishing - Beat 2 Brae Water 20th - 21st April
3 days fishing on the Brae Water - 14th - 16th May
3 or 6 days hosted fishing with Ian - Brae and Gordon Castle 30th July - 4th August
3 days fishing Gordon Castle Water 13th - 15th August
3 days fishing Brae Water 13th - 15th August.
5 or 2 days fishing with Ian - Gordon Castle 27th - 31st August
3 days fishing Brae Water 20th - 22nd September

Find out more an book now - visit www.speyonline.com

Auction Catalogue now available at  Wild Trout Trust website

------------- 17 Jan 2012 ---------------

Exclusive fishing, art and tackle is available in the WILD TROUT TRUST

CHARITY eBay AUCTION 2012, including a limited edition Jubilee reel.

The Wild Trout Trust's annual eBay and postal auction will take place between March 5th and March 15th 2012.

The money raised in the auction supports the Wild Trout Trust?s excellent work in delivering practical advice and habitat improvement projects with clubs and owners, as well as programmes such as Trout in the Town and sea trout projects in East Anglia and on the South Coast.

The auction is packed with around 200 exciting lots to suit all pockets and interests, including shooting, artworks, books and tackle as well as fishing. Guide prices start from £15.

The star lot is a Hardy Jubilee reel

. One of a Limited Edition of 250 reels commemorating the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, the 140th anniversary of Hardy Bros., and marking 100 years since the introduction of the ?1912 pattern check'. The funds raised from the sale of this reel will be used to support the restoration of the River Dibney in Northern Ireland via the River Dibney Conservation Trust

, a community-led group committed to involving young people in caring for and restoring their local river.

Fishing lots range from the very best of the Wessex chalk streams to wonderful wild trout fishing in rivers and lakes throughout the UK. Much of the fishing is exclusive and donated by private clubs and syndicates and amny lots include guiding by professional guides, river keepers and fishing writers or by enthusiastic and knowledgeable club members.

Lots donated by Hardy & Greys Academy

members include:
Jeremy Lucas, River Eden
Howard Taylor, Hampshire chalk streams
Ian Hockley, casting lesson and fishing at private lakes in Oxfordshire
Stevie Kennedy, fishing on Strangford Lough.

The fishing extends beyond the UK to sea trout fishing in Patagonia and bone fishing in the Caribbean.This is a superb way of booking your perfect fishing break and donating to an excellent cause.

Unique collectable lots include a prototype hexagraph salmon rod, developed and owned by Hugh Falkus, an an exquisite image of trout head in pewter, gold leaf and brass by artist Sam McDonald and flies tied by Oliver Edwards and John Goddar.

For the auction catalogue, postal bid form and link to the eBay auction, visit www.wildtrout.org

For a paper catalogue call 023 9257 0985 or email the Wild Trout Trust office

PICTURED:

Hardy Limited Edition Jubilee Perfect (Face)

Secret Stream: John Pearson

Trout head in pewter, gold leaf and brass by artist Sam McDonald

Upper Itchen in May

Hardy Limited Edition Jubilee Perfect (back)

Wild Trout Trust Logo

A Passsion for Tarpon has been described as 'the book the fly-fishing world has long been waiting for' and guides the reader through the entire strategy of catching Tarpon on a fly rod. The book is priced at £125 and now available from our Compleat Angler store in Alnwick, in person or by mail order - call 01667 602 771 to order your copy now.

The book covers strategies for reading the fish, choosing effective flies for each situation, selecting the right tackle, honing your casting and presentation techniques, tricks for feeding the fish, critical advice on how to set the hook, the secrets to fighting tarpon efficiently and quickly.

The book also features plenty of stunning photography and in depth interviews with renowned professional tarpon guides and rabid anglers-a veritable "who's who" from the world of tarpon fishing.

This epic volume would grace the coffee table of any angling enthusiast and has already caused great excitement among those who've read it, with comments including:
"This book is the most technical and up-to-date book about how to catch giant tarpon with a fly rod. It is a master class with no short cuts. Andy's knowledge, enthusiasm and passion for the sport shine brilliantly." -Lefty Kreh

Andy Mill first became world-famous as an Olympic downhill skier known for his speed and daring. For eight years, Mill created and produced the Sportsmen's Journal television series for the Outdoor Life Network. A lifelong angler raised in the Colorado Rockies, the author has spent the last two decades in furious pursuit of tarpon on the fly. He has applied his stamina and grace as an athlete, his intense ability to focus, and his exceptional instincts as a hunter to reach the pinnacle of this exciting sport. Mill has won a record 11 tarpon tournaments-and is the only fly fisher to ever win a tarpon, a bonefish and a permit tournament. He divides his year between Aspen, Colorado and Boca Raton, Florida. This is his first book. Andy is also a consultant for Hardy & Greys helping with product development and testing, and was a key influence in the development of the Hardy SINTRIX Proaxis

high performance saltwater fly rod.