INTRODUCTION TO M8 and SPITFIRE FLY RODS 

Thank you for showing an interest in my exclusive range of high quality fly rod designs.

I have been building quality fly rods for over 30 years and have seen all the changes in technology  from Fibreglass to Graphite to Boron to Kevlar and finally Carbon Fibre.

Today's modern, advanced Carbon Fibre "laminates" are derived from the aerospace, motor sports and hi-tech engineering industries.

All projects using Carbon Fibre technology require different "blends" of material to achieve the desired result i.e. Nose-cones from a Stealth Bomber need altogether different Carbon Fibres than the body panels from a Fl racing car. So, to be successful in our world of quality fly rods, one has to understand the qualities of many different Carbon Fibre "laminates", also the mechanics of "casting", to be able to build a rod that performs to the highest level attainable.

Specialist companies exist, building the rod "blanks" the tapered tubes which form the sections of a fly rod. To this end I have enlisted the help of a British company, Advanced Rod Technology (ART), specialising in top quality products with an excellent design team. We have worked together to produce a range of fly rods at the cutting‑edge of technology and as new, more exotic Carbon Fibres become available we harness them into our fly rod designs. Computer Aided Designs (CAD) helps us build fly rods that are light, strong and durable with casting actions that are easy to use.

My first fly rods utilising ART input appeared in 1999 and were called M8. The `M' from Mitsubishi, who produce expensive specialist Carbon Fibres and the `8' indicates a technical process in its manufacture.

These rods were an instant success, with a forgiving tip section, parabolic mid‑section and very high modulus (stifle butt/handle section, to give a pronounced `spring board' effect when executing the cast.

Everyone agreed that casting accuracy and distance improved with these new advanced fly rods.

CARBON FIBRE TECHNOLOGY MOVES ON

In early 2000 we further developed the M8 range, with 20% more power in the butt and middle sections, without adding extra weight in the overall `blank'. This development has given a stiffer more responsive fly rod, producing tighter `loops' and increasing line speed even further. These rods are the SPITFIRE range.

All fittings on M8 and SPITFIRE rods are also technically advanced, line guides being oversize single leg ALS, oversize twin butt guides and XL hayfork tip, all giving excellent line shoot with minimal friction  an improvement of approx. 7% over conventional snake guides.

Impeccably finished in rich burgundy with contrasting bindings and fittings, each rod has its own quality rod bag and protective rod tube.

Available in most rod lengths and line weights. Please feel free to discuss your specific requirements with myself, Colin Leatherbarrow (Rod Builder) at Manchester Game Angling Centre, 196-198 Church Road, Urmston, Manchester. M4l 9DX. Tel/Fax. 0161‑748 0959. or email  colin@customflyrods.demon.co.uk