Once in a while “Along comes a spider” (sorry ABU )……

 

 

Once in a while along comes a little gem of a reel. This ABU 5000 not an uncommon model (some would say it is an ABU 5000B, the B model meaning that it has a clicker). In mint condition it is a lovely reel. So what is special about this reel (other than the price of £80). Look at the number on the reel foot, 127100. This is a lot number (reels in the same batch will have the same foot number). The number means that the reel was made in December 1971 and has a version number of 00. This is unusual in that the ABU factory was I think closed at this time of year. Anyway, it is the lowest lot numbered 5000 that we have.

You may be thinking we need to get a life, but life would not be the same without ABU reels …….

Tight Lines (pun intended)

Paul

First of the new year ……

 

The Logie (The Salmon Fly, G M Kelson)

Two dressings for the Logie are given in the usual texts, this one is by Kelson.  I like the claret body and also the addition of Jungle Cock cheeks. the wing in this fly is Swan, as called for in the original dressing. the head looks quite nice (we always strive for a small neat head on a fly. the hook, a Ron Reinhold and it looks great. I have dressed the body short, I like the appearance it gives. Working with Bronze Mallard is fun, in this instance, the mount worked second time (were all human after all). my preference is for the Mallard to come short of the length of the wing, a transition topping being my preferred option for the tail. Again a simple fly, but still skill needed to execute the dressing well. Were I to dress the fly again, I would look for slightly smaller and narrower cheeks.

Happy New Year to all fly dressers out there.

Warm Regards

Paul