SKB Fly Fishing

SKB Fly Fishing

Just a wee pointer to let folk know that a company called  TroutfliesUK.com have recently amalgamated with SKB  fly fishing  and  SKB are offering some pretty good tackle, rods, reels, flies and lines etc,. at very competitive prices.

I can't actually claim to have tried out any of the gear myself and don't have any vested interests in the company but thought it would be  a good shout to draw attention to their wares as it does seem to be of a pretty decent standard.

Might be worth checking out their shop on e-bay too as there looks to be an opportunity of picking up a bargain or two.

SKB E-Bay shop.

Thermos Food Flasks

I bought one of the Thermos food flasks recently from Argos and thought I would just do a heads up on them. I got it for work and general outdoors use and unlike the older cheaper thermos model I bought for around a tenner, this one actually keeps food warm as long as you temper the chamber with boiling water properly before you fill it.

I paid £19.99 but if you're out and about in the sales I think Debenhams have them for £16 at the moment. They have a nice wide filling aperture for chunky soups and stews and come with a neat little folding spoon that fit's in the lid. Only criticism is that the lid/cup/bowl is a bit small and the flask would probably benefit from having the slightly extra capacity that the Stanley food flask has.

This is the blue enamelled version which was available from Argos but I reckon the Hammerite finished one is probably better.

Sistema Slimline Quaddie

I came across this piece of kit in my local Asda in Cumbernauld while looking for a lunch box that would do me for work and when fishing too.

Basically it's a compartmented plastic lunch box and pretty neat if you like to take a variety of things for lunch but prefer to keep them in different compartments in order that they don't get squashed and tainted by other foods.

The name for the " slimline quaddie ", comes, I take it from the fact that it has four separate compartments contained in a single box with an overall capacity of 1.5 litres. A novel feature of the unit is that it comes with an integrated 50 oz screw topped bottle which can be used on it's own or integrally with the quaddie, as it fits in one of the quaddie compartments.

What I liked most about the slimline quaddie is the fact that it's large enough to carry a more than adequate lunch for one or even two at a push but unlike it's big brother the " quaddie " ( with a capacity of 2.75 ltrs and a 93 oz drinks bottle ) it will do the job without impacting heavily on limited carrying space of a rucksack or fishing bag. I guess if I was taking the car or a boat and had the family with me the 2.75 ltr quaddie would have to be the choice for the day.

Sistema is a New Zealand company with a large range of innovative food storage solutions in addition to the quaddies which are now available in this country and quite a few of their products such as the " Klip It's " ,

one of which was sent to me by Helen from Sistema would double nicely as handy little bait, fly or tackle box too ! 

But don't tell your good lady that as you slip one into the shopping trolley !

Further details from those innovative Kiwi's at Sistema are available here

Sistema NZ

Sistema Products & Shop

Contact Sistema

Highlander Forces 44 Rucksack

This is a first of gear revues I'll be doing on equipment I've chosen for fishing and walking. On many occasions the equipment will not be the most expensive gear available but will be the best I can find within my budget.

I choose my equipment for functionality, looks and durability and reckon my choices are pretty good. Then again I would do.

The Highlander Forces 44 Rucksack which I purchased from " The Rod and Gun Shop " in Fort William cost around £35 and I selected the DPM / Camouflage model as I intend to use it for fishing and walking in remote places and didn't want some thing that would be more suited to a scene from K2. I've had loads of fancy poser rucksacks in the past but as I get a bit older am getting a bit more conservation. I don't mind being seen but I don't specifically have to be seen.





This is the manufacturer's specification on the rucksack and they're designed for comfort, durability, reliability, functionality and versatility.



FORCES 44 Rucksack
Available Colours: Camo (NRT44C)or Olive (NRT44)

Duraflex branded buckles and clips.
10 gauge self repair zips.
Shock cord top system.
XTP900 fabric for greater durability
Draw cord snow closure.
Ice axe loop.
Airmesh funnel back system.
Lid compartment.
2x2 litre side pockets.
Chest strap.
Waterproof transit case.
Utility chain.
Accessory D-rings.
Padded waist strap.
44 litre capacity.

For £35 this specification really did tick all of the boxes for me and some. Some folk may think a 44 litre rucksack is too big for day trips but I'm a firm believer in the fact that you can always carry a larger sack half full but you can't carry more than the capacity in a smaller sack. An argument against this may be that you'll be tempted to carry more than you need. To folk who would say this I would tend to agree but when wild walking or fishing in Scotland I'd always want to use a sack which could carry fishing gear together with a full set of waterproofs, thermals and enough food for a night out in the open.

My first use of the Rucksack was in the North West Highlands where I walked into a Loch around the area of Corrour. The walk in was approximately 1 hr and the walk out approximately 1hr 20 mins the distance is approximately 4km and according to the map there is about 300 ft of descent on the walk in but it did look like it was considerably more.

If I was to rate this bit of kit I reckon it would easily meet modern military standards with the only proviso that the side pockets are not detachable. From me it gets at least 9/10 for doing what it's supposed to do.

The ventilated and sculptured back together with all of the other features make it a " Ronseal " in other words it does exactly what it says on the tin and has features you would expect from a sack at twice the price.

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