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Dec 06 / Jan 07
Contents

News
December 2006

Features
At The Crack Of It Bruce Sandison considers the dawn rise

Celtic fly tying Traditions Lesley Crawford

Does size matter? Swithun Mason wonders if we all want a big one

Loch Profile Loch Killin: Fred Carrie hunts down some spectacularly small fish.

Wild rainbows in BC Steve Queen fishes for wild rainbows in British Columbia

Short Lines
Four Of A Kind John Cargill has salmon success on the Don

Nature Calls Sandy Birrell confronts the perils of wild camping

Back Casts
Piscatorial Past-Times Steve Sheppard looks at more of angling’s rich and varied history

Virtual Fly Box
The Black Ice Spider

Tackle Reviews
Shakespeare Expedition Float Tube A new float tube from Shakespeare

Book Reviews
The Loch Fisher's Bible Fish Wild reviews Stan Headley's book

Viewpoint
The Longest Apprenticeship Why does fly fishing takes so long to learn?

Last Call
Fishing and Religion John Gray ponders the parallels


Shakespeare Expedition Float Tube
A new float tube from Shakespeare
(click any thumbnail image for a larger version)

This new float tube, The Shakespeare Expedition V Boat, was designed for Shakespeare by Steve Parton, well known in fly fishing circles as an innovator, who is without doubt the Founding Father of British Float Tubing. For those familiar with these things, this is effectively a budget version of Steve's highly acclaimed Cruiser Style V Boat. For those not so familiar, it is a superbly designed, comfortable and very safe, piece of equipment.

The design has been developed on the back of 20 years float tubing experience and incorporates a triple-cell bladder system; this makes it the safest hull inflation system available, failure of any single bladder will not sink you. This is an important consideration if afloat anywhere at all, never mind on a large reservoir or on a wild and remote Scottish loch. In addition, there are two back bladders for added comfort and security.

The bladders are made from a 420 denier TPU: a polyurethane inner, thermally welded to a reinforced plastic fabric outer, and incorporate life jacket style valves / inflation tubes for safety. This is a more confidence building arrangement than the cheap PVC bladders with air-bed style values found on some tubes. Both the material and the valves are CE approved. The bladders can be easily and quickly inflated by mouth; there is no need to carry a pump which is an important weight consideration if hiking to some remote hill loch. While on weight, the Expedition weighs in at 4KG and packs down to a size that will easily fit into a large rucksack, leaving plenty of room for your other equipment. Hiking into the hills I managed to fit the tube and all my gear: flippers, life jacket, fishing tackle, spare clothes, the indispensable packed lunch – the lot – into an inexpensive 100 ltr rucksack bought on ebay for under £30.

The outer skin of the Expedition is two tone; blue above, grey below, with a high visibility red back panel for safety and is made from a strong, 1200 denier abrasion resistant material. For those who may be wondering what "denier" is: the number (1200) is the weight in grams of 900 metes of the yarn used to make the cloth – so the higher the number the heavier and stronger the material, very important for the outer skin. The design incorporates eight strong, double-stitched zip pockets, straps that allow the tube to be carried on your back like a rucksack and rod holders. The whole lot comes with a carrying bag.

The ease of getting in and out of the tube is one of its best features. Anyone with flippers on their feet who has struggled to get in, or out, of old doughnut style tubes or indeed U-hull or pontoon designs with a front crossbar will know what I mean. The Expedition has no front bar. You just step in, pull over the mesh stripping tray, secure it by sticking on the front Velcro strap, clipping on the rear strap - and away you go. The tube is designed to hold you in place and support you once in the water. A quick release Velcro safety feature lets you pull off the front tray and get out quickly should the need arise.

I always say that float tubing is a bit like being a penguin. You get the kit on and stumble around awkwardly when on dry land; once in the water you are instantly transformed and move with speed and grace. Anything that makes the transition quicker and easier is welcome.

Out on the water I found the Expedition comfortable, no slipping around in the seat, and very stable. The V-hull design is far easier to propel than any of the pontoon or U-hull designs I have used in the past.

All in all this is a superb piece of kit. Weighing in at only 4KG and with its safety and ease of carrying it really can claim to be a true piece of fishing expedition equipment. With a RRP of £130, it is quite simply the best combination of value, comfort and safety I have seen, and that includes imported tubes from the US and beyond. If you are looking for the best at an affordable price you could do far worse than consider this product. The Expedition is available from Shakespeare dealers and comes with a basic technique instruction leaflet.






For more information see www.shakespeare-fishing.co.uk/

Available now, on-line from the designer Steve Parton Sparton Fishing Tackle email Steve Patrton
Profile
Fred Carrie started fishing in the mid 1960's, hillwalking in the 1970's and has been combining the two on and off ever since.

Fred runs the successful Wild Fishing Scotland web site and enjoys the hike up to the wild hill lochs as much as the fishing itself. The more uncharitable members of his family and friends say that is perhaps just as well.

Fred lives in Donside, Aberdeenshire with wife Monika.

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