Reel recommendation

[MichaelL]

Can someone recommed :
- a reel for 8/9 wt lines. I 'won' an 8wt Saltwater rod in the WTT auction, I've no real idea what to would match it and what would be required for Saltwater fishing

Also as I travel to Swansea fairly often (Ospreys fan!) can someone recommend good places (approximately) to try on the Gower or near there, is Loughor Estuary good for Bass?

Any idea on a good beginners book, I don't even know which species are available/times of the year.

[MJB]

Reels really need to be big enough to hold 100 yards of backing (in the unlikely event you hook something huge and angry......like a diver) and a functional drag. Don't know what your budget is but the Okuma Airframe fits the bill nicely as does the Vosseler DC4 and Okuma Helios. I would steer clear of die-cast reels. Saltwater will eat them for lunch if you aren't careful.

I can't help you on marks in the Gower Peninsula, but going to the final part of your question, get a copy of Lou Tabory's "Inshore Fly Fishing". Although it's based on the U.S. east coast, much - if not all - of it applies to the U.K. "Hooked on Bass" by Mike Ladle and Alan Vaughan is another essential read if you want to understand what will be your primary target species. I re-read both these books in preparation for the new season.

SWFF is primarily a summer/autumn occupation. Bass arrive around May and hang around in numbers well into early winter. Pollock/Coalfish vary by region and could be available year round. Mackerel and Garfish arrive around May/June and stay well into the Autumn. Scad tend to arrive a little later, in late July/August and leave in Octtober/November. Then there's the Mullet. Similar season to the Bass, but trickier to tempt on your fly ( or any method for that matter). There are other species, but these would be the 'big 6' for the U.K. based SWFFer.

[MichaelL]

mjb said:

Reels really need to be big enough to hold 100 yards of backing (in the unlikely event you hook something huge and angry......like a diver) and a functional drag. Don't know what your budget is but the Okuma Airframe fits the bill nicely as does the Vosseler DC4 and Okuma Helios. I would steer clear of die-cast reels. Saltwater will eat them for lunch if you aren't careful.

I can't help you on marks in the Gower Peninsula, but going to the final part of your question, get a copy of Lou Tabory's "Inshore Fly Fishing". Although it's based on the U.S. east coast, much - if not all - of it applies to the U.K. "Hooked on Bass" by Mike Ladle and Alan Vaughan is another essential read if you want to understand what will be your primary target species. I re-read both these books in preparation for the new season.

SWFF is primarily a summer/autumn occupation. Bass arrive around May and hang around in numbers well into early winter. Pollock/Coalfish vary by region and could be available year round. Mackerel and Garfish arrive around May/June and stay well into the Autumn. Scad tend to arrive a little later, in late July/August and leave in Octtober/November. Then there's the Mullet. Similar season to the Bass, but trickier to tempt on your fly ( or any method for that matter). There are other species, but these would be the 'big 6' for the U.K. based SWFFer.

Thanks for the info.