Category: Product Reviews

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Alan Bulmer, Fresh Water Fishing, Light Tackle, Lure Fishing, Product Reviews, Saltwater Fishing, Spin Fishing, Tackle, Techniques

Rod Review – Ocean’s Legacy Dream Cast DCL-S882L Spinning rod

Recently I was asked to test an Ocean’s Legacy Dream Cast DCL-S882L Light Shore Game spinning rod to see whether it was suitable for estuary fishing in NZ. I’ve used it now for over a month and to be honest it is a truly remarkable rod.   Before testing any spinning rod it is critically important to select a spinning reel that best matches the way … Continue reading Rod Review – Ocean’s Legacy Dream Cast DCL-S882L Spinning rod

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Alan Bulmer, Fresh Water Fishing, Lure Fishing, Product Reviews, Saltwater Fishing, Spin Fishing, Tackle, Techniques

HAIL THE EMPEROR!

About 18 months ago I was asked by Kilwell to field test a new Toby colour prototype that they had developed. It was code named Emperor as it looked vaguely like a penguin. Kilwell have been proudly making Toby lures in New Zealand on equipment originally specified by Abu for well over 50 years. Not copies of the Abu design but the real thing manufactured under licence, stamped … Continue reading HAIL THE EMPEROR!

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Alan Bulmer, Fresh Water Fishing, Light Tackle, Lure Fishing, Product Reviews, Saltwater Fishing, Spin Fishing

ROD REVIEW: LOX Ambassador 810MT-4 spinning rod

Regular AANZ blog followers will know that over the past few years I have completed the switch from short to long spinning rods, especially those over 2.6 metres in length, as they are ideal for shore-based estuary fishing. The main reasons for this are explained in: – THE BENEFITS OF LONGER RODS In New Zealand the issue, especially when fishing small hard bodied lures and … Continue reading ROD REVIEW: LOX Ambassador 810MT-4 spinning rod

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Alan Bulmer, Blogs, Fly Fishing, Fresh Water Fishing, Product Reviews, Saltwater Fishing, Tackle

ROD REVIEW – EPIC FASTGLASS 888 FLY ROD

Recently I was given the opportunity to test an Epic Fastglass 888 fly rod made by the Swift Fly Fishing Company. Swift is based in Wanaka New Zealand and sells premium quality fibreglass and carbon fibre rod making kits and studio built fly rods. The studio built rods are handcrafted and made-to-order. Like many anglers I learned to fly fish with fibreglass rods and while … Continue reading ROD REVIEW – EPIC FASTGLASS 888 FLY ROD

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Alan Bulmer, Fly Fishing, Fresh Water Fishing, Lure Fishing, Product Reviews, Saltwater Fishing, Tackle

GEAR REVIEW – SITKA STORMFRONT JACKET AND JETSTREAM VEST

Text: Alan Bulmer                    Featured image: Mark Hoffman There is no doubt that stalking fish is more effective when the angler is wearing camouflage clothing and the reasons why are covered in some detail in the following article:-. https://activeanglingnz.com/2016/03/21/does-camoflage-clothing-work/ However, it is not easy to find a camouflage pattern which allows you to blend in and remain unseen when you are stalking fish on the mudflats. … Continue reading GEAR REVIEW – SITKA STORMFRONT JACKET AND JETSTREAM VEST

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Alan Bulmer, Lure Fishing, Product Reviews, Saltwater Fishing, Spin Fishing, Tackle

ROD REVIEW – YAMAGA BLANKS BALLISTICK EVO 94/16

Text: Alan Bulmer                Featured image: Henry Gilbey Over the past few years I steadily have come to the realisation that long spinning rods, especially those over 2.6 metres in length, are ideal for shore based estuary fishing. The main reasons for this are explained in: – https://activeanglingnz.com/2015/09/24/are-longer-rods-better-on-the-flats/ In New Zealand the issue, especially when fishing small hard bodied lures and soft plastics, has always been finding … Continue reading ROD REVIEW – YAMAGA BLANKS BALLISTICK EVO 94/16

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Lure Fishing, Product Reviews, Spin Fishing, Tackle, Video

VIDEO – ROD TEST – AFAW LURE & BAIT 9FT MK2

Background: – I was asked by my fishing mate, Paul Smith, to independently review one of a new range of Anyfish, Anywhere (AA) lure rods that are being imported into NZ by Action Tackle Supplies. The brief was to provide an honest, “no holds barred” assessment of the rod that could be used to fine tune the rod for NZ conditions, if necessary. Most of … Continue reading VIDEO – ROD TEST – AFAW LURE & BAIT 9FT MK2

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Alan Bulmer, Product Reviews

KILWELL XANTU 9’6” # 8 WEIGHT ROD REVIEW

Recently I was offered the use of a Kilwell Xantu 9’6” # 8 weight, four piece fly rod to evaluate and review on behalf of Active Angling NZ. Kilwell has been making high quality rods continuously in New Zealand for a very long time and most anglers at one stage or another have cast, or learned to cast with, a Kilwell fly rod. The Xantu … Continue reading KILWELL XANTU 9’6” # 8 WEIGHT ROD REVIEW

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Alan Bulmer, Product Reviews

ROD REVIEW – LOOP BOOSTER PREDATOR 8’8″

I got a chance to play with the Loop Booster Predator 8’8″ # 9 weight fly rod on my favourite estuary this morning and was very impressed. For a low price point rod ($ 499) it represents excellent value for money. Initially I was somewhat sceptical that a comparatively short rod could cast a # 9 weight line with ease and this was further reinforced … Continue reading ROD REVIEW – LOOP BOOSTER PREDATOR 8’8″

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