Gamma and Pallatrax Products Have Been Good For My Fishing

I must make it clear I am not paid by Gamma Technologies, Pallatrax or any other UK company, whose products I use, discuss or write about. All fees from writing magazine features, newspaper articles, books, speaking engagements, guiding and attending shows are donated to my various charities. I just take my expenses for petrol and accommodation, where I produce a receipt. During my time in a wheel chair I got involved with Crossroad Carers and Multiple Sclerosis Society I soon realised that charities were giving many disable people a lot of help that wasn’t available from Government. In fact the royalties from my book Up Against It Crowood Press were donated to Crossroad Carers. The royalties from my forthcoming book will go to the Army Benevolent Fund. Having witnessed the antics of some people who get sponsorship I believe I done the right thing in staying off the payroll of tackle companies. It allows me to voice my opinion covering tackle and bait products available, and all aspects of the sport. Over the years my charity donations raise thousands of pounds.

Why I Use Products from Pallatrax

It all started some seven or eight years ago when I have started using Gamma products, I was attending the Somerset New Jersey fly fishing show, where I help anglers who visit the Thomas and Thomas booth where I am on their pro-staff, my job is giving advice about various rods and there uses, helping the prospective customers in choosing the correct model for their type of fishing and generally giving advice on all aspects of fly fishing, also helping out with some casting instructions, both indoors and outdoors. There have been times when the thermometer has been 15 degrees F below with two or three feet of snow. If the visitor wanted to try out a certain rod outside I would put on my heavy coat and face the cold weather. In my book the prospective customer’s wishes always come first.

During a lunchtime break I met Ron Carr of Gamma Technologies who had a booth across the aisle from my booth. After chatting for sometime Ron suggested I might like to try their Froghair leaders in the coming season for my trout fishing. I said "I would think about it" During the limited amount of free time during the three day show we discussed Gamma leaders and the benefits of using Froghair leaders. The upshot was I left with a bundle of leaders. The following season I gave those leaders a tough work out, for 90% of my fishing I found them perfect. I then received a pack of Deep Blue leaders for my saltwater fly fishing, again I was impressed. In 60 plus years of fishing I have always tried to use the best tackle available from hooks to rods and all the other bits and pieces we anglers collect and use.

A couple of years later at the Seattle Washington State show I was asked if I would field test some new spinning line from Gamma, I remember saying "I don't think the world needs another line" How wrong I was. At the end of the show I returned home with some 6 12 and 17 lb breaking strain lines. I tried to destroy them by fishing, not just in freshwater but from the shore line for bass and mullet. The abrasion and knot quality were better than any other line I had used. I am not saying I caught more fish by using the product but I reckon I had more confidence in the material. Though I probably didn't catch any more fish, I did save money. Usually I changed my lines every three months, with Gamma it was on my reels for approximately twelve months. Even then I was confident it was OK. I even used it in the tropics when spinning for jacks a fish that does know how to bend a rod and make the reel work overtime.

In the past three or four years I do feel I have caught a few bigger fish through the use of Gamma line, its also noticeable that many anglers who I have introduced the line too, have seen their personal best weights on some fish species increased. One fish that I have been successful with when using Gamma line are big perch, that's fish over 3lbs, in the past couple of seasons fishing some gin clear gravel pits I have had many perch over 3lbs the best at 3-13-0. Paul Smyth has had fish to 4-8-0 on Gamma line from the same waters. As we all know barbel are tough fighters, often living in snaggy weedy waters, I have found Gamma line has stood the test when fishing for these river fish, I often fish a big weir pool but I haven't noticed any deterioration of the line through abrasion.

I well remember when I was fishing for rudd with 4lb Gamma clear line, when I hooked a common carp which eventually went through a sunken bush. I thought all was lost. After some five or six minutes I somehow managed to drag the fish back through the branches. Eventually netting a fifteen pound common. After a picture and releasing the fish. I checked the line. It was virtually as good as new. There wasn't a single abrasion mark on the line. Now you must agree that's as good a test as any for a fishing line. Next time you need to fill your reels with some new line why not purchase a spool of Gamma. But don't do what one person did that's spool your reel with 3lb line then use a one and a half pound test curve rod then complain because the line broke on a big fish. Line has to be balances to the rod.

Hooks

We don't really realise how lucky we are with the great choice of hooks that are available today, when I started angling the only good hook available was the Alcocks Model Perfect and that's if you could find a stock of them. There were many occasions when I would visit six or more tackle shops in London before got what I wanted. Today you can visit most tackle shops and find a decent hook. For some thirty years I have used barbless hooks, and yes I have no doubt lost fish through this practise. I use them for ease of unhooking fish in the water, in many cases without even touching the species. You see apart from my family, my quarry either in fresh or saltwater are the most important things in my life. I don't want to struggle to take the hook from a fish. I have seen so many people squeezing fish, which of course damages the internal organs. Others just tear out the hook often with bottom or top lip attached to the said hook and other barbaric scenes.

I require a hook that is strong, sharp with what I feel is the right shape, having lost the choice of Model Perfect hooks I tried the B James Richard Walker range of hooks and other companies, one range of hooks that met my requirements were the Au Lion d'or hooks, I well remember visiting Peter Drennans factory where Peter showed me a special room where he kept all his fish hooks in a designated temperature. I was impressed at the quality control. Sadly these after some time disappeared. One choice of hooks for coarse and game fishing including the tying of salmon flies I used were from the Partridge range, made in the town of Redditch which was at one time the home of the British fishing tackle industry. Sadly destroyed by the importation of tackle from the Far East. On my dozens and dozens of visits to Partridge it was like stepping back in time. 'Dickensian Times'. Without a shadow of a doubt their hooks were the best and hand made by a team of dedicated workers many who were females that had followed there mothers and grandmothers into the trade which started off making needles in the town of Redditch. I certainly find the Pallatrax hooks most suitable for my coarse fishing needs.

Baits Paste or Bolies

A new name in the bait sales department is the name of Pallatrax; I must say I find their Jungle Paste baits are ideal for many of my coarse fishing needs, having said that I would like to see a soft paste in the Jungle formula, especially for chub fishing. I don't like to use a hair rig for chub, as I feel I have missed too many bites in the past. Lets be honest one missed bite is one too many. That missed bite could be your best ever fish. The company produce a great range of baits with one that should suit your needs and help you get more hook ups. Apart from Jungle paste, the company produce it in a stick form and of course the popular bolies. Some other flavours are Crave, Pomms-Pommes, Whisker, Elixir. Why not write for the Pallatrax catalogue you will find lots of items to benefit your fishing including the Stonze range and their method mix. Pallatrax, Higher Ashmansworthy, Woolsery, Bidworth, Devon EX39 5RE Tel 01409-240042 e-mail [email protected]