It is one of those ironies that despite inventing modern day fly fishing many of the great innovations happening in our sport are now born outside the British Isles; even our brand names are acquiring foreign owners with 2013 a watershed year in that respect seeing House of Hardy bought by an American conglomerate and Farlow's a wealthy Russian.
Is any of that bad? I am not sure, but when I see the beautiful, tactile hemostats recently launched by Abel reels of west coast USA I don't really care who made them, I just want to own one and I now do. I was lucky enough to see a prototype about a year ago, got my foot in the door and commissioned a small production run just for Fishing Breaks. As it turns out mine were the first ever out of the factory, which was a saga in itself - you have to admire the guys at Abel who close on Fridays during the summer as it is surfing season ... well I guess if your factory was on the Californian Big Sur, you might do the same as well ....
As I write my hemostats are currently in a warehouse at Heathrow awaiting customs release now I have paid a Chancellor's ransom in import duty but I am sure they will be here in plenty of time as our Feedback draw prizes for 2014. If you can't wait that long, or don't fancy your chances in the draw, here is the link to Abel. I don't think the hemostats will be in UK stores until spring of next year.
On the subject of feedback prize draws I am delighted to congratulate Tim Rix from Surrey who won the Hardy Bougl� Reel for 2013. It is, like the haemostat, a thing of great beauty. Well done Tim, I hope it brings you many years of pleasure.
ARE THE WORLD CUP ORGANISERS CHALKSTREAM FISHERMEN?
You don't hear many good things about Sepp Blatter and the guys who run FIFA, but all credit to them for the World Cup draw - the first rounds fall bang in the June weed cutting period.
So great news. We can all enjoy a glorious Mayfly hatch from mid-May to mid-June and then settle back to enjoy the first round with England's three matches. Ahh, I can hear you saying, but what if England reach the final? Well, don't worry (!) Mr Blatter has thought of everything; by the time we have navigated our way to that stage of the competition it will be time for the rivers to close for the July cut. I bet that is a relief all round.
Here are the dates for the Rivers Test, Itchen and Avon including their respective tributaries. However, I would caution that there are plenty of variations within these broad date bands, with the sections higher up the respective river systems completing the cutting period as much as a week prior to the set dates.
Just so you know all the rivers with set cutting dates are where the weed is cut, then allowed to float downstream until it is either taken out at strategic weed booms or reaches the sea, hence the closure periods as the water becomes clouded and unfishable with floating detritus. On the other chalkstreams, like the Kennet, Lambourn or Frome for instance, who do not have designated cutting periods, the weed is cut and dragged out by each owner.
River Test June 8-24 July 13-26 August 17-30
River Itchen May 2-8 June 5-15 July 4-13 August 13-23
River Avon April 21-May 10 June 13-30 July 25-August 8
River Wylye April 7-16 May 10-25 June 30-July 17
As I say do use these dates advisedly; my policy is that we NEVER sell fishing on beats affected by the weed cut. However, as we get towards the end of each period plenty of fishing comes back on line early especially up near the headwaters. If you are ever in any doubt, just ask.
PS Those England matches in case you forgot are:
England vs. Italy 14 June
England vs. Uruguay 19 June
England vs. Coast Rica 24 June
World Cup Final 13 July
HOLIDAY SEASON OPENING HOURS
The office will be closed from December 24th and re-open January 2nd. On-line bookings go live on January 1st, including the prime Mayfly dates.
I will reply to emails and on-line queries most days, but maybe don't expect too much of me on Christmas Day!
Have a good weekend.