4-DAY SUMMER SALMON COURSE, RIVER TWEED 10th to 13th August 2015
Fish two of the middle Tweed’s most prolific salmon beats on a hosted course – at a 20% discounted price!
This superb four-day hosted course is ideal for anglers of all abilities and offers the chance to fish the prolific Boleside and Lower Pavilion beats with one instructor on each beat, working alongside the beats’ ghillies.
Original price per rod: £1,399 – Offer price: £1,119 per rod so you save £280 and, in effect, get your four days of tuition for FREE!
You will learn:
• The perfect balanced outfit
• Spey lines: shooting heads v Skagit heads
• Fishing with sinking and floating lines
• A variety of Spey casts
• Safety in the river
• Fly selection
• Leader set up
• Right and left hand bank fishing
• How to read a river correctly
Full package includes:
• Full board and accommodation at the Town House Hotel, Melrose
• Fishing for four days
• Riverside lunch
• All instruction
• One free casting lesson prior to your trip
• 10% off pre-trip purchases at Sportfish or Farlows
Hosts: Campbell Thomson S.G.A.I.C and Sean Clarke G.A.I.A, Farlows’ senior instructor.
For further information or to make a booking call: 0118 930 3860 or email: tuition@sportfish.co.uk or sean.clarke@farlows.co.uk
TOM FESTING’S ESSENTIAL SUMMER SALMON PICKS
Tom has selected some of his ‘must have’ kit for summer salmon fishing – and don’t forget if you book the summer salmon course you get a 10% discount on all pre-trip purchases!
Guideline LXi 13’ 9” #9/10
The temptation is to go light on big rivers such as the Dee or the Spey in summer conditions, however Tom’s advice is not to go too light, #7/8 or #8/9 rods simply struggle to deliver a long line if you have a breezy conditions. A #9/10 rod will still have enough flex to play grilse sensitively and by using the #9/10 lines you will help line turnover, even in a tricky breeze. For smaller rivers such as the Findhorn or the North Esk then look at the 12’ 9” #8/9 in the same range.
Shakespeare Oracle Scandi EXP 13’ 9” #9
If you are looking for a budget rod to do the job then Tom’s recommendation is for this great value-for-money 6-piece offering from Shakespeare, which is ideal for the travelling salmon angler.
Lamson Litespeed IV Reel
This iconic reel has been bought bang up to date with a new ultra-large arbor design giving an even faster retrieve rate. For salmon work the 4 model is the one to choose, unless you are using a RIO Scandi short (or similar) on an 11’ 6” – 12’ rod, where you would want the 3.5.
Sage 2200 Series Reel
A lightweight, large arbor reel with Sage’s SCS (Sealed Carbon System) drag system the 2210 model is ideal for summer salmon and delivers exceptional performance for the price.
RIO Scandi Kit
Tom says that, “Your fly line is the most important part of your summer salmon kit and the RIO Scandi VersiLeader kit is spot on for most of your fishing. The line performs fantastically with all actions of rod and the front taper of the RIO Scandi affords superb light presentation”. This kit comes with 10’ VersiLeaders, an intermediate, Sink 3 and Sink 6 giving you plenty of options to fish at the right depth for summer fish.
Englands Life Jacket
Rivers can be hazardous environments, even in summer, and a life jacket really is essential kit. Modern lifejackets such as these are armed with CO2 cylinders and are light and comfortable to wear.
Simms Hardbite Boot Studs and Simms Hardbite Star Cleat Boot Studs offer the ultimate traction and durability, whatever your choice of boot sole.
Costa Del Mar Jose Sunglasses
Combining serious cool with ultimate performance. Choose your frame to suit your style and face shape – but the lens is critical for optimising angling efficiency. Tom recommends the ‘sunrise’ variant that maximises available light in dull conditions.
Sharpes Spey Wading Staff
A wading staff is an essential safety pole, it allows you to find rocks and drop-offs in murky water and is your ‘third leg’ when crossing fast currents. This model is strong, heavy, reliable and perfect for summer use.
Simms Back Saver Wader Belt
Tom reckons, “Everyone who doesn’t have one should get one!” The Simms Lumbar Back Saver Belt gives you extra back support for long days on the water, you will certainly know it at the end of the day if you don’t wear one!