Spending time on the ground (and /or in the water, sand, wind, rain, salt, sun as the case maybe) will over years reveal the strengths and weaknesses of fishing tackle. Time spent in a saltwater environment is no doubt a place where many items not up to the mark will find themselves in serious trouble.
After ten seasons of saltwater guiding and fishing on the Irish coast 
I have seen many rods and reels that claim to be suited to the Irish saltwater fishing environment – I will over the next few weeks take a look at some of these items and their performances over time. Looking first at saltwater fly reels then at some saltwater fly rods , I will now take a look at some fly lines that I have found to be excellent when fishing. These are categorised under four headings tactical, functional, practical and optional!
The testing mix consisted of – the environment where we fish, the type of fish, the type of fly to cast, price, functionality, longevity, personal experience over time, style and suitable application in a world where practicality is very important!
Tactical consider as a good recommendation, not necessarily the most expensive or indeed complete solution but offering something truly special
Functional consider as an item that works very well, lasts and is not too expensive, and whilst it may not be to every ones taste gets the job done well and better than most
Practical is a category that an item will fall under when it simply works, is very reasonably priced, will last but may not be the best looking or performing item on the beach!
Optional looking for something different that works and lasts and is immediately recognisable through design and function then this is it – a perfect alternative at times to tactical!
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Saltwater Fly Lines
- Tactical Guideline coastal series
- The Guideline Coastal series provides the bass and sea trout angler with an ‘integrated shooting head type’ solution that is something special. Some real benefits that can be realised are the longish front taper that turns over very smoothly for super presentations, availability in a range of densities –
- Functional Rio outbound
- The Rio Outbounds both long and short – if you are looking to cast large flies with ease and simplicity then the outbound is for you – short heads, aggressive tapers and outside the AFTMA specs these lines load and shoot big fish meals all day – not for the faint hearted
- Practical
- Airflo Sniper – A dual purpose line that will help beginners and advanced casters both in their saltwater excursions. Similar to the outbound short this can turn over large flies at distance with ease and also help build confidence when fishing in a tough environment.
- Optional Bruce Chard bonefish line from Jim Teeny
- Captain Bruce Chard, a full time Florida Keys flats guide designed this series of fly lines to deal with circumstances needed to cast, present, and fish a large fly hard into the wind. If you need a long cast and a delicate, accurate presentation when you have calm conditions OR when you need shorter casts with a powerful tight loop that will carry a longer leader with a bass fly hard into the wind – This is the floating line to do it. May no longer be easily available
- If Only – Rio Striped bass intermediate
- I’m sneaking in this line here as its nearly always loaded on at least one of my reels (#8’s) and it probably has caught me more bass than any other fly line. The #8 has a 41 foot head so it takes a bit to get it going – 4’-0” longer and 30 grains lighter than the equivalent #8 outbound.
Spending time on the ground (and /or in the water, sand, wind, rain, salt, sun as the case maybe) will over years reveal the strengths and weaknesses of fishing tackle. Time spent in a saltwater environment is no doubt a place where many items not up to the mark will find themselves in serious trouble.
After ten seasons of saltwater guiding and fishing on the Irish coast I have seen many rods and reels that claim to be suited to the Irish saltwater fishing environment – I will over the next few weeks take a look at some of these items and their performances over time. Looking first at saltwater fly reels here the following four fly rods I have found to be excellent and are categorised under four headings tactical, functional, practical and optional!
The testing mix consisted of – the environment where we fish, the type of fish, price, functionality, longevity, personal experience over time, style and suitable application in a world where practicality is very important! We might all love to have an Xi3 but……
I have included an if only category on this section because of one range of rods that I really like!
Tactical consider as a good recommendation, not necessarily the most expensive or indeed perfect solution but offering something truly special
Functional consider as an item that works very well, lasts and is not too expensive, and whilst it may not last forever it looks and feels a little different and gets the job done well and better than most
Practical is a category that an item will fall under when it simply works, is very reasonably priced, will last but may not be the best looking or performing item on the beach!
Optional looking for something different that works and lasts and is immediately recognisable through design and function then this is it – a perfect alternative at times to tactical!
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Saltwater Fly Rods
- Tactical G-Loomis Crosscurrent GLX #8 –
- The crosscurrent GLX is not something I would have been able to afford normally, the two that I own were given to me as presents a #7 and a #8. Loops, speed, reserve power when needed – it doesn’t get much better than this (unless its an NRX!)
- Functional ECHO Rajeff Sports – ECHO3
- The ECHO3 range of saltwater rods from # 6 –# 12, fast, tight, with a crisp action and feeling incredibly light in the hand, these to me are the rods that can ‘fit’ a range of Irish SW fly anglers. Looking for something that wont break the bank and yet perform brilliantly time and again, these are they!
- Practical TFO TiCRX
- The TiCRX – slightly slower than the TiCR this rod is a good solution for many SW fly casters – whether you like to carry long lines in the air or to shoot quickly at close range – there are simply many many features here, I love this rod for the price and presentations it can cast !
- Optional Sage Xi3
- The Sage Xi3 – My favourite fishing rod, I currently use a #7 loaded with the Guideline coastal intermediate. Exclusive technology make this a sublime casting and fishing experience beyond anything else I have ever used.
- IF Only – Redington CPS #8 and #7
- No longer available I’m afraid but you might find them on the web from time to time – too many associations with this rod to mention and a great fishing tool too – featured many times in fishing reports throughout this site. The Cpx was the newer version, this is to change this year to another newer series called Link – I’m hoping this might feel like a return to the CPS!
Just received the first shipment of ECHO3, ECHO Edge, and the ECHO3 Switch rods, I’ve also taken some of Airflo’s new Sniper lines as these lines are also distributed by Rajeff sports. The Sniper line is based on a shorter version of the Airflo40+ line with its easy casting condensed head and thick tip diameter.
From Rajeff sports – The Sniper has a Dual Head Design which allows the line to perform as well for lesser casters as it does for advanced caster. Lesser casters can cast the line with only the front 15 feet of the line out the rod tip while the expert will aerialise the entire head to achieve maximum distance.
I do use Rio Outbound Coldwaters both normal and short heads when I need to cast far with biggish flies, and I’m very interested to see the similarities and differences between the two lines particularly in relation to grain weight and #’s and also in relation to the DC and low stretch of the lines too.
Looking forward to putting them up on both the ECHO3 and the TFO Ticrx this week, considering these are nearly 6’-0” shorter in the head than a traditional say outbound head (330 gr) it makes them close to the outbound shorts (315 gr) at #8.
Consider that Rio General coldwater saltwater fly line with a 39’-0” head weighs in at 285 gr for #8 – considerably lighter and longer in the head, a different kettle of fish altogether and a different presentation too!
I have just uploaded three of the submissions made by IFI to Government in respect of recreational bass angling and its protection / promotion in Ireland – they can be found individually at the links below or on the Scribd BASS DATA collection here
The Eastern region submission paper
The Western region submission paper
The South Western region submission paper
These were made under the older regional fisheries board designations during 2009.
Spending time on the ground (and /or in the water, sand, wind, rain, salt, sun as the case maybe) will over years reveal the strengths and weaknesses of fishing tackle. Time spent in a saltwater environment is no doubt a 
place where many items not up to the mark will find themselves in serious trouble.
After ten seasons of saltwater guiding and fishing on the Irish coast I have seen many rods and reels that claim to be suited to the Irish saltwater fishing environment – I will over the next few weeks take a look at some of these items and their performances over time. Looking first at saltwater fly reels the following items I have found to be excellent and are categorised under four headings tactical, functional, practical and optional!
The testing mix consisted of – the environment where we fish, the type of fish, price, functionality, longevity, personal experience over time, style and suitable application in a world where practicality is very important! We might all love to have an Abel but……
Tactical consider as my top recommendation, not necessarily the most expensive or indeed perfect solution but offering something truly special
Functional consider as an item that works, lasts and is not too expensive, and whilst it may not last forever it looks and feels a little different and gets the job done
Practical is a category that an item will fall under when it simply works, is very reasonably priced, will last but may not be the best looking item on the beach!
Optional looking for something different that works and lasts and is immediately recognisable through design and function then this is it – a perfect alternative at times to tactical!
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Saltwater Fly Reels
- Tactical Danielsson L5W – 6nine or 4seven
- The L5W series what can I say that hasn’t been said – I’ve caught bass, seatrout, bonefish, pike, mullet, barracuda, garfish, pollack. jacks, lemon shark, and dolphin fish – on a reel that refuses to fail year after year, with a minimum of maintenance superior build quality and drag mechanism the reel is now more than a fishing tool to me.
- Functional Loop exact 5/8
- The Xact reel is totally made from composite, except the reel foot, handle and drag knob these are made from aluminium. Replacing the CLW (an old favourite) this reel is simply made for tough conditions. Just like its big brother, and more expensive, Evotec G3, this reel is made for tough environments and is perfectly suited to the demands of Irish saltwater bass, pollack and sea trout fishing. I’ve even taken it further around the world, it looks smart too!
- Practical Okuma airframe af 7/9
- The Okuma like the Xact is a carbon composite reel that’s very very tough and saltwater resilient. If you are the kind of person that just wants something to work without being too concerned about aesthetics or maintenance then this is the reel for you. Low cost high longevity and deals with the environment month after month.
- Optional Ross evolution LT
- The Ross LT is light in the hand and beautiful to look, at this series of reels is designed for those anglers who appreciate both art and function. The cosmetic innovation and precision workmanship of the Evolution LT series is only surpassed by its drag system which is precise and sensitive – I love this reel so much.
THIRTYARDS 
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