HOBBIES

2011 Favourites

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With the 2011 season drawing to a close, for what its worth, here's my favourite products of this season.

These are products I've used for most or all of this season at least, that I can reccommend as the best I've found so far for the job they do.

Rod - Daiwa Morethan Branzino 80ML Seabass Quest Custom
Thanks Cian, we got there in the end  : )

Reel - Daiwa Certate 3000

Hard lures - Daiwa Shore line shiner SL17f - Innako
(more on my favourite lures in 2011 to follow)

Main Line - YGK Real Sports G-Soul WX8 Ultra PE Line

Main Pack - Vision Myket Bra

Summer wading Jacket- LL Bean Gortex PacLite

Soft lures - Wave Worm 5" Tikki Bamboo stick.

Jig heads - Zipper Worm Company

Best new accessory (To me) Simms Wading Staff

Best terminal tackle - Delande articulated ball head

Wading Boots - Simms Rivershed.

Waterproof pack for phone and car key - Aquapac

Fishing trips...

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Joy on a sunny day....

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I was delighted to land this 7lb 8oz beauty from an estuary a couple of weeks ago and its not difficult for me to remember the day as we've hardly seen the sun since! With a few exceptions, my normal size fish for this spot would be 2 - 3 lbs so I was thrilled to feel the power of this fish and pleasantly surprised to hook anything in the bright still conditions of that day. I really took my time landing this one as I'd opted for a 15lb flouro leader and a light wire Decoy Nail Bomb VJ-71 jig head on which to mount my Ayu pattern Xlayer softie to suit the calm clear open water I was fishing. As is often the way the fish was caught very early in the session and no further fish were landed. I never get bored with estuary fishing especially when the produce fish like this one.