Budget Spey Lines

[tweedsider]

Have any of the expert casters on this forum tried any of the budget spey lines on the market. A few weeks ago I purchased a John Norris spey line for my 13ft Airflo Delta Plus and am delighted with the results. This outfit is used mainly in the Whiteadder where a fifteen yard cast can cover most lies. Doubtless as expert could cast it off the reel but at £20 a time it serves the purpose on a small overgrown river.

[salmonking]

What's this budget line made of al,,,HEMP ;D

[turrifftackle]

The trick here is to try and find out who made the line.

I have had 65' head Spey lines made in the past and sold them for GBP 20.

Some people want the brand name others are happy to take it if they know it was made by X who makes lines for A,B OR C..

Lines are not expensive- it is the advertising and the box or tin and the company overheads that have to be paid for that adds
up to you paying big money.

If you all want a line made - get together sort out a spec and if we can get a few orders I can have them made .

Frank

[jock]

I'll leave Springer et al to design the Spey line I'm sure everyone will agree to the profile:

Still not a bad idea if we could get something of the quality of the best lines at a reduced price.

What about us making our own hooks ? Has the slow boatfull of hooks left China yet? Seriously, I've yet to find a hook I'm totally satisfied with. Is there any make of hook out there with a really sharp point and micro barb, set close to the point, in a good range of sizes and weights?

[acw]

jock said:

I'll leave Springer et al to design the Spey line I'm sure everyone will agree to the profile:

Still not a bad idea if we could get something of the quality of the best lines at a reduced price.

What about us making our own hooks ? Has the slow boatfull of hooks left China yet? Seriously, I've yet to find a hook I'm totally satisfied with. Is there any make of hook out there with a really sharp point and micro barb, set close to the point, in a good range of sizes and weights?

Jock , there is a possibility ,Sprite still make hooks in Reddeich he will make specials but the quantity he needs to do is large .
Did have a breif conversation with him when I was stupid enough to be a fishing tackle shop worker (ghillies wages without the tips )
Would need a fair bit of cash up front !!!though his range of salmon hooks are limited you can get them thru Sparton and for the dealers amongst us Veniard wholesales them !
His trout hooks are superb and dam good value

[rpsalmon]

I buy nearly all my lines at a very reasonable price, between Xmas and mid-january when all the sales are on and you get most of "last seasons products" at half price.

While I have not taken the step of using them myself, because I bought large stocks before Partridge/Mustad sacked all the staff who knew how to make hooks, I have heard good reports of the VMC doubles and trebles. I know they are available through McHardy's. The person who first told me about them has claimed to land fish to 20 Ib on them. Does anyone have experience of them? Are they brittle, soft etc?

[acw]

rpsalmon said:

I buy nearly all my lines at a very reasonable price, between Xmas and mid-january when all the sales are on and you get most of "last seasons products" at half price.

While I have not taken the step of using them myself, because I bought large stocks before Partridge/Mustad sacked all the staff who knew how to make hooks, I have heard good reports of the VMC doubles and trebles. I know they are available through McHardy's. The person who first told me about them has claimed to land fish to 20 Ib on them. Does anyone have experience of them? Are they brittle, soft etc?

The VMC trebles E Drury type are superb ,
I think nicer than the X2b Partridge ,no experience of the doubles as yet .If you want some quality doubles the Sprite ones I have mentioned earlier today are superb .
Vince who makes them sadky has no apprentices and when he retires thats the end of the british hookmaking industry !Get some in whist you can .

[rpsalmon]

On personal recommendations I have twice bought Sprite salmon doubles through Spartan tackle, the last time around two years go, and found them to be of very poor quality. The hooks were too far apart and created an unstable fly with the fine wire, I found the bends to be weak. I didn't bother sending them back to Steve Parton, they just went in the bin. I couldn't understand why a no BS person like Steve would sell them. I once bought some of their trout hooks and they were ok.

[tweedsider]

turrifftackle said:

The trick here is to try and find out who made the line.

I have had 65' head Spey lines made in the past and sold them for GBP 20.

Some people want the brand name others are happy to take it if they know it was made by X who makes lines for A,B OR C..

Lines are not expensive- it is the advertising and the box or tin and the company overheads that have to be paid for that adds
up to you paying big money.

If you all want a line made - get together sort out a spec and if we can get a few orders I can have them made .

Frank

[tweedsider]

Hello Frank perhaps that was the point I was trying to make, the line came unboxed and unbranded not bearing the name of a famous speycaster. It suits me fine, does the turn and at the price suits my pocket and inclinations.

[tweedsider]

acw said:

rpsalmon said:

I buy nearly all my lines at a very reasonable price, between Xmas and mid-january when all the sales are on and you get most of "last seasons products" at half price.

While I have not taken the step of using them myself, because I bought large stocks before Partridge/Mustad sacked all the staff who knew how to make hooks, I have heard good reports of the VMC doubles and trebles. I know they are available through McHardy's. The person who first told me about them has claimed to land fish to 20 Ib on them. Does anyone have experience of them? Are they brittle, soft etc?

The VMC trebles E Drury type are superb ,
I think nicer than the X2b Partridge ,no experience of the doubles as yet .If you want some quality doubles the Sprite ones I have mentioned earlier today are superb .
Vince who makes them sadky has no apprentices and when he retires thats the end of the british hookmaking industry !Get some in whist you can .

[tweedsider]

Hello acw It is indeed sad that Britain no longer has a hook making industry, until recently I tied on nothing but Partridge hooks. I found that their Capt Hamilton short shank wet fly hook was a first class both river and loch trouting and the occasional seatrout. Now I have switched alliance to Ken Sawada hooks, they look to good to cover with a dressing and have used them since May 06 with no breakages or bent hooks. The only snag is that low water double are I think restricted to 10s and 12s.

[tweedsider]

salmonking said:

What's this budget line made of al,,,HEMP ;D

Hello salmonking if mine is hemp what you' re using just now must be tarry rope

[salmonking]

tweedsider said:

salmonking said:

What's this budget line made of al,,,HEMP ;D

Hello salmonking if mine is hemp what you' re using just now must be tarry rope

Did you catch that Mr Montieth