Fly fishing in America and UK represents one of the most sophisticated markets for worldwide fly fishing tackle manufacturers there is. This is because together these countries provide millions of active anglers all with disposable income. As a result, there is a massive variety of tackle for the angler to choose from.
At a time when there are masses of cheap imports from China and other countries flooding the USA and the UK generally to the detriment of the respective economies, it is refreshing to see that these countries still lead the world at the top end of the high quality fishing tackle market.
In the UK trout fishing tackle has become a luxury item that is collected as much as it is used. Tiny brass fly fishing reels manufactured by Hardy of Alnwick in Northumbria in the North of England fetch prices in the region of £50,000 at auction. Hardy still produce high quality fishing tackle including trout fly reels every bit as good as those original Hardy Perfect models first manufactured in 1891 and still sell them through many hundreds of retailers world wide.
Fishing rods for trout manufactured by Sage and Orvis in the USA and by Hardy, Greys and Greys Limited in the UK are unsurpassed in quality and you only have to hold one on the river bank, loaded with the appropriate line on a Loop, Orvis or Hardy reel to realise why. The difference in response and performance can be likened to the difference between a true Scottish Malt whiskey and a blended import from Asia! Some things can not be copied.
Another area of trout fishing tackle of interest is that of trout fishing lures and flies. Trout flies have become a massive industry in one African country, Kenya. The biggest proportion of the world’s standard quality flies are produced by African workers and exported globally. The reason for this is the cost of labor in Kenya is so low. Creating an item by hand that is worth only a few pennies but takes several minutes to achieve could never happen in our capitalistic society. However, best quality flies costing a dollar or a pound or several times more for fully dressed salmon and sea trout patterns can be produced at home. Again fishing flies can become a collecting passion with many anglers amassing thousand’s of patterns – many more than they actually would ever need for fishing.
The fly fishing tackle market has become very competitive in recent years, as a result of the on line shops. However buying from the Internet does lose some of the pleasure of visiting the fly fishing tackle shop to browse the high quality items that are available. Most anglers will shop from both retail outlets and from the Internet ensuring they maintain contact with the knowledgeable shopkeepers and gain the best bargains at the same time.