Split Cane & Furled Leaders

News & Updates From Luke Bannister

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A Little Rusty

Most years my fishing starting in March, although only the occasional day or two. April sees a few more trips, so that when May comes around and the fish start to properly move I’m up to speed and every thing is working as it should. This year was slightly different, a very wet March, a very busy April meant that I had only been out a couple  times before the fish started to really look up. So when I fished a small tributary of the Wye in Md-Wales and the river was fully awake I wasn’t….it’s amazing how being just a little off can make a big difference. A good day on the water, but very much a case of what could have been. Rod used was a 7ft 4wt Superfast. https://www.bannisterrods.co.uk/products/superfast-7ft-4wt-1 The water is one of the Wild streams on The Wye and Usk passport. https://www.fishingpassport.co.uk/

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The workshop has now moved, physically and digitally. Details on the website.

Hand made split cane fly fishing rods and other fishing tackle

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A Livingston Rod Company 8ft 6in 5wt Western Glass finished and ready for the river.

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A Livingston Rod Co 8ft 6in 5wt Western Glass getting closer to the river.

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A pleasant few hours on a local river

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I think Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, USB charging in a van is pretty near the top.

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Looks like the season for trout is about to begin.

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A 7ft 4wt Livingston Rod Co blank starting to look like a fishing rod.

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A 7ft 6in 3wt Tom Morgan blank ready for the river

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It was an optimistic drive past Abergavenny, the Cherry blossom was out and many of the trees were in early green leaf.

As I drove up the valley of the Usk spring slowly rolled back and by the time I crossed over in to the valley Wye it was obvious that it does take about 2 weeks for spring to make it over the Epynt and in to Wye.

There were still some signs of spring though so it was well worth a fish,the early season in Mid Wales is an interesting time to fish, the briefest of hatches can bring good fish up, although at other time times you’d swear there wasn’t a living thing the whole river.

The valley of this particular stream is quite narrow and quite steep so it takes a while for the warming sun to have an effect.  

I was surprised and pleased to see nymphs moving in the margins and birds starting to mark their territories with song. 

A few small Olives hatched around mid day but the trout remained dormant.

I suspect that will change very soon when it does the river is looking in fine condition and I’ll look forward to being back on that beat.

I fished a 7ft 4wt cane rod with a 3ft mono furled leader then about 3ft of 5 pound mono going down to 2ft of 3 pound for the tippet.

For more information on fishing the streams and rivers of Mid-Wales and beyond 

https://www.fishingpassport.co.uk  

For information on what I do and the rods that I make https://www.bannisterrods.co.uk/ 

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Technique + Knowledge + Experience = Skill

Thank you to

@joanneryall_engraver

@vrreels

@ctsfishing

@perfect_agate_guides

It is a pleasure to work with people who have put in the considerable time and effort to develope the skills that make these rods possible.

A finished Atelier rod.

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Varnish on. Varnish off. Flattening the penultimate coat of varnish with fine wire wool.

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Rod tubes nearly ready for rods.

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Starrett 166A.

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A new build. Fiberglass 7ft 6in 4wt by Livingston Rod Co of Montana. Feels like a very nice blank.

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7ft 4wt fibreglass fly rod ready for the river.

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Trying to squeeze a few more trips before the end of the torut season. Thankfully the grayling are also starting to show.