adh-world
Fishing lines Made in Germany - That's what the name 'Stroft' stands for since many years. And already since the first hour you can find leaders and leader materials from Stroft in our webshop. Reason enough to take a look behind the scenes at Stroft. 10 questions - 10 answers with André Giermann, one of the managing directors of WAKU GmbH.
adh-fishing: Hello André! I bought my first tapered Trout leader from Stroft for dry fly fishing in 2011. And to this day, the Stroft GTM is still in your (and our) product range. That speaks for the quality of your fishing lines. Is that the core of your philosophy?
André Giermann: Hello Alex! Constantly offering the best fishing lines with the latest technology, that is our philosophy and our goal. This is rounded off by the highest possible service for our customers. And of course this also applies to our accessories such as the tippets rings, the leader spool system or our NiTi Mono and Polywire leaders.
adh-fishing: Stroft - The name is familiar to the vast majority of fly fishers and anglers in Germany. But what does it stand for anyway?
André Giermann: The name STROFT is composed of the words "STRONG" and "SOFT" and is our registered brand name. The two characteristics describe very well what distinguishes our lines, for example the popular Stroft GTM.
Strong & Soft - Stroft GTM tapered leaders are wound by hand
adh-fishing: Stroft has a very long tradition. Can you give us a brief outline of your company history?
André Giermann: Walter Kummerow is the founder of Stroft. He was already intensively involved with fishing lines in his youth. As an enthusiastic sports fisherman and 24-time casting world champion (10 different disciplines in target and long casting), he was always convinced that successful fishing and success in casting sports always require the best line. This realization has shaped his further professional life! Already at the end of 1960 he discussed with the development manager of Plate GmbH from Bonn the further improvement of the then world's best fishing line (PLATIL STRONG). A little later he became head of research and development at the then largest fishing tackle manufacturer in Europe, DAM in Berlin. In 1983, Walter Kummerow then founded WAKU GmbH in Berlin. At the same time the name STROFT was born for fishing lines. Since then all fishing lines of WAKU GmbH bear the name STROFT. That was the beginning of our success story! First it was the STROFT Super, a little later the STROFT GTM took the lead among the monofilaments - which by the way was determined as the best monofilament fishing line by the TÜV Munich! In the following years numerous fishing lines were added, among others the monofilament fishing lines STROFT ABR (made of polyamide), as well as STROFT FC1 and STROFT FC2 (made of 100% fluorocarbon). And as braided lines for spin fishing the STROFT GTP in the types R and S (each made of 100% Peak UHMWPE fibers), which for example was determined by the magazine Blinker as "the clear test winner". After that, it was blow after blow:
2011 – after many years of development, the STROFT GTM fly leader system, consisting of 44 different knotless degressively tapered fly leaders, is introduced and launched.
2012 – the so far "best monofilament fishing line in the world", the STROFT GTM, is extended from 19 to a total of 40 diameters.
2015 – the STROFT LS with the lowest elongation among monofilaments is presented to the market.
2016 – the innovative STROFT leader spool system is presented.
2017 – the STROFT GTP Type E expands the portfolio of braided lines.
2019 – the STROFT NiTi predatory fish leaders as mono and polywire are presented.
2020 - the STROFT Color leader material for modern nymph fishing is launched.
2022 - the currently most popular mono running line, the STROFT Runningline enters the fly fishing scene.
This development of WAKU GmbH also required personnel reinforcements in the management and leadership of the company. Starting as an "apprentice" at WAKU in 2001, I was appointed authorized signatory in 2007 and have since been successfully responsible for almost all operational and business processes. Since autumn 2020, I have been the managing director of WAKU GmbH alongside Walter Kummerow.
adh-fishing: With many manufacturers of fishing lines, specifications such as load capacity etc. are to be treated with "caution". With you it is different. What values do you test and what does such a test look like?
André Giermann: That's right, especially with braided lines there are sometimes very unrealistic, not to say impossible, specifications, especially in the combination of diameter/load capacity. Here we have been doing educational work for years to sensitize anglers to this issue. The linear tensile strength is always stated for our fishing lines. We determine this by means of a testing machine in a measuring procedure according to DIN standard (DIN EN ISO 2062). To come back to our braided STROFT GTP: Here, the load capacities stated on the label are guaranteed and are even higher in reality, sometimes significantly! Maybe a look into our catalog is also interesting for your customers, there is a nice overview with further explanations about our test procedures and our specifications.
A look behind the scenes at Stroft - spools being filled
adh-fishing: You explained it in detail earlier, André. Your product range has expanded rapidly in recent years. Today, there is a wide range of lines from your production, which are suitable for very different disciplines of angling. For us fly fishers, the GTM, ABR, FC1 and FC2 materials are particularly relevant. What are the differences and main applications of these products?
André Giermann: You have already listed the favorite lines of fly fishers! In short, the following can be said: STROFT GTM - This monofilament line offers the highest tensile strength and knot strength values with optimal elastic suppleness. GTM is the most successful line worldwide for all types of fishing, not only for fly fishing. It can be used in many different ways. For fly fishermen, of course, as a leader and tippet material. Especially for dry fly fishing the suppleness brings some advantages. STROFT ABR, on the other hand, offers a somewhat harder surface. If stones, shells or other sharp-edged objects are present in the water, then ABR is the first choice (if fluorocarbon is not to be used). By the way, is also very popular for Salmon fishing! But also very popular for nymph fishing because it is a bit stiffer. FC1 and FC2 are our two fluorocarbon lines. For fly fishermen, FC 1 is certainly more interesting. In addition to the special properties of FC (e.g. abrasion resistance, stretching behavior/sensitivity, casting behavior, durability and visibility), the FC 1 has been trimmed for the highest possible knot strength. And is therefore 1st choice as leader and tippet material, especially for nymph fishing. The FC 2 is used more for spin fishing as a leader. So this is perfect for your new spin fishing section in your webshop!
Stroft FC1 - A perfect choice for small nymphs and Grayling fishing
adh-fishing: Dry fly fishing without a good leader is unthinkable. And your GTM leaders are among the best we know. But how is such a tapered leader actually made?
André Giermann: The STROFT GTM fly leaders are manufactured identically to the "normal" fishing line at the start. So with the polymer alloy composition, the extrusion and the refinement have the same working steps. Then follows the work step which is very difficult here and ultimately separates the wheat from the chaff...the stretching! Here the fly leader is literally stretched to achieve the dimensions for the 'belly', the taper and the tip. And this step is many times more difficult than with "normal" fishing lines. In the end, fly leaders also go through the annealing area to minimize internal stresses and thereby improve knot strength.
adh-fishing: Fishing for predatory fish is booming - both in fly and spin fishing. We were therefore particularly pleased when you also launched titanium material on the market a few years ago, with which one can fish for Pike and co. without hesitation. What can you tell us about these materials?
André Giermann: Wires made of nickel-titanium alloys (NiTi) are becoming increasingly popular - mainly because of their unique property of always springing back to their former state, even after severe bending. However, the material also has disadvantages: NiTi is basically more susceptible to notch effects, e.g. when using clamping sleeves. Our STROFT NiTi solves this problem...a simple clinch knot with 4 wraps can be made, which is very easy to tie. This way up to 100% of the linear tensile strength is achieved! This is of course a big advantage, compared to many other products. A leader material for predatory fish that can be processed quickly and easily.
Stroft NiTi for Pike and other predators in fresh- and saltwater
adh-fishing: In addition to the new Color leader material for nymph fishing, you recently introduced the new STROFT running line, which has been very well received by us. How did you come to develop a running line and what is special about this line?
André Giermann: Fly fishing with a shooting head and a running line is becoming more and more popular and we had to follow suit. The running lines known today are made of different materials and are produced as monofilament as well as polyfil. All of them have their advantages and disadvantages. The STROFT Runningline is a new development that combines all the advantages. A special polyamide alloy with ideal density and tensile strength is the basis for success. A rectangle-like cord cross-section with slightly convex side lines, each with a special aspect ratio, also ensures very low residual memory.
adh-fishing: Almost every year there is an innovation in the Stroft program. How do you develop new lines and products? What influences you? Where do you get suggestions and feedback from?
André Giermann: We always try to be very close to the market and the anglers to get feedback on innovations. For us it is very important to learn from the practice, which products are desired or needed or where products can be improved! In addition, we maintain constant contact with leading departments of research and development in plastic and monofilament technology and conduct a lot of our own tests and investigations. This enables us to develop a large amount of "technical know-how". On this basis, specifications for STROFT cords are developed and formulated in-house. AND the specifications are constantly controlled and corrected if necessary. In this way, all new findings and improvements can be immediately incorporated into STROFT products. The product name is not changed in the process. The monofilament STROFT GTM, for example, has already undergone 46 improvements in its "life"! The braided STROFT GTP has also seen 28 improvements so far. All this together forms the basis for the flexibility and the resulting technical superiority of STROFT products.
Stroft ABR - Very popular amongst Salmon anglers
adh-fishing: In addition to various fishing lines, you also have useful accessories in your assortment. For example, tippet rings or the leader spool system that many fly fishers use. Is there more in this direction in the future?
André Giermann: Here we always look which of our many ideas are feasible and implementable. Because all accessories should always stand out from the market and also be innovative. As, for example, with our leader system, which has many small innovations and advantages that were not known before. Let us surprise you for the future. There will certainly be something for our fly fishing community soon!
adh-fishing: The topic of 'sustainability' is also playing an increasingly important role in fly fishing. Environmentally friendly packaging of fly lines, recycled materials in the production of wading clothing or certain manufacturing mechanisms for the construction of fly rods - to name just a few examples. What is your opinion on this topic at Stroft?
André Giermann: Sustainability is a very important topic! And not just since it has been in the press more frequently. We also try to make our contribution here, primarily through short production and delivery routes, 100% green electricity and gas and sustainable materials. For example, we sometimes use packaging with a grass content. But also our new 3-packs of Stroft GTM leaders contribute to the environment: less packaging, more leader. For us as a manufacturer it is always a bit difficult to combine all wishes. But we also have to say self-critically that we can still improve some things here. And that is what we are working on!
adh-fishing: Thank you very much for the interesting interview, André!
