Posted by keens on August 12, 2009 under New Releases | 
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Brand New to store are our waterproof fly boxes. At 6″ x 4″ these boxes are an ideal size for the anglers pocket yet hold 120+ flies. 2 watertight clear compartment mean you can view all flies from outside the box and split foam inner means the boxes are built to last.
Posted by keens on under Help and Tips, Sea Fishing | Be the First to Comment
Question sent in by Kevin Phillips from Port Talbot;
I have recently joined a stillwater on a years membership. I am new to fly fishing and have noticed that a lot of other members use Shooting Head lines. I was told by another member that this will allow me to hit more distance as I have been struggling with my normal line. Would you recommend one of these lines and do you sell them?
Keen’s say;
If you are a beginner avoid these lines at all cost! The member is right in saying that a shooting head is for distance. However, what he failed to tell you is that to be able to use a shooting head you need to have an accomplished cast and good timing which you develop over time.
A shooting head is basically the belly of a weight forward line and you usually go one size heavier on the line rating. For example, if your rod is an 8 you would buy a 9 weight line. They are purposely made for fishing large reservoirs from the bank and casting into strong winds. However, all your fly presentation will go out the window and with a lack of timing you may break your rod.
What I would suggest is that you purchase a reasonable quality line in weight forward, possibly a Cortland Rocket Taper. These lines have good punching power against the wind but still retain good presentation. Also, I notice that you live locally to the shop. It may be worth you giving us a ring and booking a casting lesson with one of the staff. These are free, but you will need to pop up when we have the time. You will develope far more as a caster if you learn with a weight forward and if you perfect it you will hit close on the same distance as with a shooting head.
Thank you for your question.
Posted by keens on August 11, 2009 under Game Fishing, Tackle Reviews | Be the First to Comment
Reviewed by Gary (Keen’s Tackle)
For all the 15 years I have worked at Keen’s Tackle and Guns, originally as a saturday boy, the Cortland 444 has remained a best seller. It offered a perfect balance between punching power, presentation and being supple. It is a compliment to the original 444 that in all that time it never changed. However, technology moves on and Cortland have produced a line that I believe performs better!
New to its range is the XP or Extra Precision line. Not too dissimilar to the original it still retains a silky texture and its infamous peach colour. But this time around it offers greater presentaion when turning lighter flies onto the surface.
I never used my original 444 as much as I had liked, but thats just it. I may go 4 -6 months at a time without a fishing session, yet when the line is cast it flies out as though it was used the day before. It has lasted more than ten years and is still going strong, which is probably why the core traits have remained in the XP.
The main difference is that American lines are heavy! I mean an American 8 weight is close to a British 9 weight AFTM. Obviously this is what gives the 444 its shooting power, so they had to balance weight and length to retain that and they have. By slightly extending the belly of the line and adding to the length of the front presentation taper Cortland produced a line that would shoot and turn a perfect line lay every time. The real beauty of this is that it does not rely at all on the weight of the fly meaning you get great presentation with the smallest of dry flies.
Sometimes the old ones are the best, but Cortland really have excelled here!
Shop Item ID 44XPWF0
Posted by admin on August 5, 2009 under Catch Reports, Sea Fishing | Be the First to Comment
Brett Williams and his father had 2 bags weighing a total of 28lb for 6 fish from Glyncorrwg Ponds
The best of which was Bretts 14.5lb PB Trout pictured above.
