adh-world
Season for trout and salmon is over. In this article, Marina Gibson reflects on her days on the water and presents her top 10 products from 2023. But not just for fishing for salmonids on her home turf in England, but also for her trips to tropical saltwater destinations. Have fun reading and checking out Marina's personal Top10!
Do you share my opinion that this season has passed by extremely quickly? It feels like the fastest season I've ever experienced. Fortunately, I've had the opportunity to explore some fantastic ADH-Fishing products during this season, and I'm excited to share a few of my favourites with you before the year ends. These products have been put through their paces on my home waters, during my fishing school sessions, while guiding in Iceland, and an intense fishing trip to Spain. In this selection, you'll find rods, reels, essential gear, and even a couple of fishing gadgets. Let's go, here are my Top10 from season 2023!
Golden Morning on the water with the new Patagonia Swiftcurrent Waders
1: Patagonia Swiftcurrent Waders
Starting with the Patagonia Swiftcurrent waders, which is available with a new color now. 3 words: durable, comfortable, and sustainable. Crafted from a tough yet lightweight 4-layer fabric, they offer protection against abrasions and tears while remaining breathable throughout extended fishing sessions, especially in the summer. The Swiftcurrent waders are also designed with angler-friendly features, including an adjustable waist belt, knee pads and an array of pockets for convenient storage. I really enjoy wearing my Swiftcurrent Expeditions with a zip, although I must say that I prefer the fit of the original Swiftcurrents without the zip. Make sure you check the size chart and measure up before purchasing, it’s pretty accurate and will save you some pennies sending them back in exchange for a new pair.
2: Monomaster
I may repeat myself, but why isn't the Monomaster tool mandatory for all anglers, be it fly, coarse, sea, or carp? While guiding in Iceland, I was astounded by the amount of discarded fishing line littering nature's beauty. The Monomaster, an innovative device, lets anglers store and recycle their fishing line responsibly, preventing harm to wildlife. Discarded fishing line endangers marine life, leading to entanglements and harm, especially to birds and small mammals. With the Monomaster, anglers not only maintain clean fishing areas but also help reduce plastic pollution in our waters, fostering healthier aquatic ecosystems and showcasing responsible angling practices. Must-have item. AMEN!
A must-have for any angler: The Monomaster.
3: Mako Fly Reels
MAKO reels are highly regarded in the fishing world for several reasons. First and foremost, they are renowned for their craftsmanship and engineering, using top-quality materials that ensure durability and longevity even in demanding fishing conditions. If you are investing in a big trip then you need to invest in your equipment too. Over the years, I have had reels break on me whilst fighting fish – it’s not worth risking a fish of a lifetime for gear that won’t stand up to the job.
MAKO have different models to cover any fishing scenario: 9500, 9550, 9600 and 9700 in various colours from black on black/ red/ blue/ platinum and camo in blue or grey. If you were to describe a sexy reel, it’s a MAKO and they’re one of the few that you can truly rely on in any freshwater and saltwater destination across the world. A sustainable investment!
An investment for life: Fly Reels by Mako
4: C&F Design Master Tubefly Case
For over a year now, I've owned a C&F Design Master Tubefly Case, and I must confess, I've never felt such pride in a fly box! As someone who's self-diagnosed with OCD, this box has proven to be the ultimate solution. It's quite spacious, so when I'm actually on the water, I opt for the smaller C&F Design Cases. Surprisingly, the Master Box always remains impeccably organised, unlike my other boxes, which can't hold up for even a single session. They say you should never trust a fisherman with a tidy fly box, just as you should never trust a skinny chef!
In case you happen to misplace any of the tubes that fit inside, you can easily order replacement packs. I recently placed my first order for those, and now I'm all set to restock. Fly tying season is about to start!
5: NAM Fly Rods
From the moment I first held a NAM rod, I knew it was a long-term commitment! What stands out in each model is its finesse and the lightweight feel while casting. Surprisingly, every client, many of whom are intermediate anglers, looking for a DH rod, consistently opts for NAM over any other brand. I've specifically chosen the 6-piece 13'3" model here because of convenience when travelling, but if you ever get the opportunity to explore their entire range, including their exceptional single-handed rods – like the REN, which I had the pleasure of casting in Spain using dry fly.
When it comes to pairing, I personally like to match the DH models with a classic fly reel and either a Rio Versitip or a Next Cast line with tips.
6: CND Fly Rods
I was introduced to CND during my inaugural Casting World Championship in the UK. Many world record holders favour CND rods, and the results speak for themselves. However, it was only when we received some demo rods to test that I truly grasped their exceptional casting capabilities. Among them, my favourite has been the 12'2" model, especially when paired with the Next Cast lines and tips. It casts effortlessly and offers surprising power for a shorter double-handed rod. Strangely enough, I feel more confident casting precise, longer lines with this setup than some of my longer rods. With a dedicated following among experienced Spey and switch rod enthusiasts, CND rods continue to be sought after for their performance and versatility in the pursuit of anadromous species in both European and North American waters.
A Tidy fly box: Marina's selection of Salmon flies stores in a boxes by C&F Design
7: Guideline Hooks
I've relied on Guideline hooks for as far back as my memory serves, seldom straying to other brands. As the saying goes, "find a fly you can fish with confidence," and I believe the same applies to selecting the tube hooks you place your trust in. Guideline's salmon hooks offer a broad spectrum of styles and sizes, ensuring their adaptability to a multitude of fishing conditions and techniques. My personal No1 in season 2023 - once again.
8: C&F Design 3-IN-1 Thermometer
Despite ordering this recently, I find this product to be worth every penny over a standard thermometer. It offers more than just water temperature measurement; it includes a handy waste tippet wrapper and a magnetic 'lost fly' retriever, which efficiently recovers flies from various surfaces. Additionally, it features a split ring for easy attachment to a zinger. A great addition to my lanyard!
9: adh-fishing Flies
I had the opportunity to fish some samples before the release of the new adh-fishing fly collection. In Spain I could convince myself of the quality of the nymphs and see for myself how good they are. I am also especially happy that the pike flies are now available, with which we had such great catches in recent years on Rügen. There are some pike streamers here that you can't find from any other manufacturer.
Now I am looking forward to the coming weeks on my home pike waters and the winter grayling fishing.
Here are my personal favorites from the new collection:
- Pike Fly - Glitter Goby
- Pike Fly - Pike Flash Golden Olive
- Nymph - Hotspot Hares Ear Jig
- Nymph - Natural PT Jig
- Nymph - Mayfly Special Jig
- Nymph - Peeping Caddis Jig
- Nymph - Orange Tag Jig
10: Adams Euro Nymph Mono
Nymph rods by Adams are with me non-stop. Both for trout and grayling. That's why I was so interested in the new Euro Nymph Mono from Adams, which I was able to test in Spain. This special nymph leader allows you to take full advantage of the sensitivity of Adams' lightweight rods, giving you even better control over the drift and easier strike detection. For my 3-weight nymph rod, I prefer to use a versatile diameter of .20mm or .23mm so I can fish the full range of sizes and weights. I can even present a small jig streamer in fast current with this line easily and without any risk. However, when I want it to be really delicate, I reach for my 2-weight XTZ by Adams and combine the rod with the ultra-thin .16mm or .18mm Euro Nymp Mono. With this setup I have caught my biggest grayling and will continue to use it in the coming weeks.
I hope you have fun fishing for pike, grayling, huchen and enjoy your next fishing trip. And most of all: Many refreshing hours in the outdoors. Tight Lines!
