The best advances in fly fishing tackle?

[Paul Arden]

Hi guys,

I'm off down the lake for a few days and have been uploading Alex's page. Alex asks, "what are the best advances in fly fishing tackle in your opinion?"

Alex's page goes live on Thursday of course

Cheers, Paul

[Viking Lars]

I think we need a time frame for this discussion, because if we begin with greenheart and horse hair lines, it'll be a long one . Which of course could be very interesting, though...

[Thomas]

Yes a time frame would be nice..

[Paul Arden]

It's not my FP but I'd put it as the last 2000 years in which case the reel! But you might want to take it since the reel It's going to be the Hot Torpedo isn't it?

[Graeme H]

In order of best and down:

• Modern hooks.
  Fluoro leader material
  Modern coated (non-stretch core) lines.
  Draw-bar drag systems

For me, all the other modern stuff is fantastic, but I'd happily fish with gear that's NOS from 100 years ago - as long as my hooks were modern.

Cheers,
Graeme

[Viking Lars]

I'd argue that the best invention is the modern, PVC flyline - think of the possibilities it has to offer over "just" silk...

Lars

[t.z.]

The Internet ... I would not have learned what I know without it. Seriously ... internet and sexyloops

[Nick]

In my fishing career, so going back to 1979, I think that carbon fiber rods have been the greatest advance. Everything else is pretty similar to the stuff I started with, though there have been improvements all across the board!

[David Anderson]

I would say flylines are the biggest recent advancement.

Sure, rods are getting better as well, but it's a slower progression then the last couple generations of lines.
The low stretch ones like the RIO Perception are brilliant on the water.

[Paul Arden]

Hooks must be way up there. I've still got thousands of hooks that I was tying on as a boy. No way would I use them now. What has caused them to change? Not just chemical sharpening I'm sure.

Cheers Paul