When I first got into fly fishing, naturally I was a bit on the green side, and didn't really know exactly what it was I wanted, or more to the point needed in terms of hand tackle. My casting style wasn't good either, and I was travelling around quite a lot fishing a wide variety of day ticket waters ranging from 1 acre pools to Rutland, Draycote and Chew. What's more, because my primary interest is boat fishing at sea, I was also tending only to go when the weather was too windy for putting out to sea, which in itself makes fly fishing potentially that much harder. The fact that the tackle I had was bought on a 'one size fits all' basis also didn't help. Then I got 'lucky' and developed a large calcified growth around the tendons in the shoulder of my casting arm. It took quite a while to finally sort out what the problem one, and because of it, in-between times, I sold all my fly fishing equipment thinking I would never be able to use it again. Then suddenly the medics had me in hospital and I was cured, which left me with a clean slate in terms of fly fishing tackle, and a far better understanding of what it was I actually needed second time around. So determined not to repeat my earlier mistakes, I started trying other peoples gear to see how it felt, and more to the point, how it suited my casting style. On top of this, when I did eventually decide to make my comeback, I joined a syndicate which meant I would not be buying gear in for a wide range of situations, which makes a huge difference in allowing you always to have the best tools for the job.

One thing I found that hadn't changed after my 'miraculous recovery' was that my casting style still favoured quite a stiff actioned rod. And for the reservoir I would be fishing, which has several areas of very deep water close in, I could cover a wide range of weather related feeding fluctuations with a 9 foot AFTMA 7 outfit. In addition to this, I am also intending to do some fly fishing at sea and abroad. Indeed, I have already started with encouraging levels of success. So I also wanted a robust braked reel that would give the right feel and balance on the everyday rod, with the add on capability of stepping up a notch for a bit more punishing action too, all of which led me to trying a Maxximus weight 7 outfit from Fladen. The rod, which is an easily transported three piecer, is made from the finest quality fittings dressed on to a precision made carbon fibre blank. I have to say I love the action of this rod, both as a casting tool and when hooked up to a fish. But it's the power it has when punching a line out in to a tricky wind which makes it for me, while at the same time it's action is still 'gentle' enough not to exacerbate your chances of pulling a light hook hold, or parting a fine leader. What's more, the feeling of matched balance you get from pairing it with the machine cut aircraft quality aluminium Maxximus S wide fly reel is quite superb. Well recommended in fact, and well capable I am sure of taming some of the other stuff away from the trout reservoirs.