Fishing styles
Rods, lines, reels and flies for trout and grayling on rivers and stillwaters. Straight-talking lowdowns, no pretend catch reports.
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Real kit we’ve dug into, each with our score out of 100 and a star rating. The same review can suit more than one style of fishing.
86%Snowbee
Classic Fly Box · 124 × 92 × 30 mm
A compact, double-sided fly box with slit foam, a bright white backing and room for up to 235 flies. Proper handy for keeping a useful spread of patterns close by — just leave your bushiest flies some breathing space.
86%Snowbee
XS weight-forward floating; Ivory and Hi-Viz Orange
A weight-forward floating fly line with a low-stretch core and a coating designed to keep things slipping through the rings. A sensible all-round option for trout fishing, provided you pick the right line weight.
84%Snowbee
13ft #8/9 and 14ft #9/10 double-handed models
The Spectre double-handers pair a powerful progressive action with a travel-friendly six-piece build. Pick between the 13ft #8/9 and 14ft #9/10 to suit your river, rather than simply buying the bigger stick.
85%Airflo
Sightfree G3 Fluorocarbon · 50m and 100m spool options
Airflo’s Sightfree G3 gives fly anglers abrasion-resistant fluorocarbon with a little stiffness to help turnover. A handy option for nymphs, buzzers and wet flies — just don’t confuse low visibility with actual invisibility.
87%Airflo
#7/9
A #7/9 cassette fly reel that makes plenty of sense for reservoir anglers juggling floating, intermediate and sinking lines. Just check the spool count before parting with your quid.
86%Airflo
Superflo 40+ Sniper · WF8–WF10 · Floating, Fast Intermediate, Di3 and Di7
A short-headed fly line for shifting bulky flies, with floating and sinking options to cover different depths. Just match the head weight to your rod before getting carried away.
86%Greys
Wing range overview: Stillwater, Streamflex and Double Handed
Powerlux carbon, four-piece convenience and some properly useful finishing touches. The trick is choosing the Wing that fits your fishing — Stillwater, Streamflex and Double Handed aren’t interchangeable.
86%Snowbee
Classic Fly Reel · #3/4, #5/6, #7/8 and #9/11
A lightweight composite fly reel with a large arbour, proper adjustable drag and useful everyday features. A tidy option for getting your fly outfit sorted without chasing showroom sparkle.
87%Airflo
Superflo Ridge 2.0 Universal Taper Floating
A versatile floating fly line with a longer rear taper, a textured finish and slim running line. A cracking fit for anglers who want control as well as shooting potential.
87%Greys
GR80 Streamflex range; length and line weight vary by model
A four-piece fly-rod range with thoughtful fittings and options for very different rivers. The trick is buying for your water, not just the name on the blank.
82 reviews to read here. More kit is being checked, one product at a time.
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