[Mike Barrio]

Which brand marketed a special heavyweight, wide gaped hook in sizes 10 & 12 called the 'Hideoshi'?

I think I've still got a pile of them somewhere, left over from tying lures at the fishery

[Eddie Sinclair]

Would that be Sprite Mike?

I used to buy loads of Sprite hooks from Stevie Parton back in the day.

Eddie

[Mike Barrio]

Hi Eddie

Yes, I think I should give you that one .... well done

Hideoshi hooks were marketed by Steve Parton ( Sparton Fishing Tackle ) and were, I believe, manufactured for him by Sprite.

[Mike Barrio]

Steve Parton, a legend in the tackle business

I cherish a trade catalogue that he sent me many moons ago and will always remember our lengthy phone conversations, he was simply so much fun

I doubt we will ever see products like 'Mongolian Gremlin' and 'Steve's Dubious Paste'  again!

And another question for when we need one ......................... What did Steve call his fly floatant product? 

[Eddie Sinclair]

Ok on the subject of Steve Parton who as Mike said was a legend and left us too young and his catalogues always displayed his wicked sense of humour.

Which company did Steve consult for in rod design and which piece of fishing equipment was Steve pretty much responsible for taking to the UK market?

Quite a few of these innovations are still in use by several forum members that I have fished with.

Eddie

[Hamish Young]

Which company did Steve consult for in rod design....

I'm going to say Shakespeare, I'm pretty sure he had a hand in their gear for quite a while.

.... and which piece of fishing equipment was Steve pretty much responsible for taking to the UK market?

The float tube - or belly boat, depending on the terminology you prefer. Some might also say the 'Northampton style' fishing rudder as an off the shelf product was one of many innovations he brought to commercial success but - as this question was 'taking to the UK market' I'll plump for float tube.

H

[Hamish Young]

And another question for when we need one ......................... What did Steve call his fly floatant product? 

I think I may have some that dates back to Haddo days 

[Eddie Sinclair]

H, correct on both counts.

Eddie

[Hamish Young]

H, correct on both counts.

Possibly I am a geek...... 
I'm going to do one more then leave it for someone else to set a question or three 

So.... who am I

I'm one of the most successful casters and instructors ever to come out of the USA, but I'm not that well known in the UK by the majority of anglers unless you happen to own a rod I had a hand in developing.
My competition casting history with both single & double handed fly rods stretches back over 5 decades and I have successfully represented my country at world championship events at home but also in Europe, Japan and South Africa.
I'm probably best known to most as a rod designer and I have been with the same company since its inception.

If I add any more to this, it'll be too easy - although I expect this will be picked up quickly

H

[Eddie Sinclair]

H, is it a mannie from California called Rajeff?

Eddie

[Hamish Young]

H, is it a mannie from California called Rajeff?

Eddie

Aye Eddie, it is 

[Mike Barrio]

I think I may have some that dates back to Haddo days 

Found one, still in my fly vest pocket ..... Steve's sense of humour was legendary

[Mike Barrio]

It was the best floatant on the market too

[Hamish Young]

Agreed, all my dapping flies got used to being fluffed with Fliagra 

[Mike Barrio]

Apart from being smaller, neater and generally better fitting, what is the main difference between Roman Moser braided loops and others on the market?

You may not have even noticed, but it is the one feature that others have struggled to copy.

[Graham Ritchie]

They are double walled, so the line can thread through to the loop itself, minimising hinging.

[Mike Barrio]

They are double walled, so the line can thread through to the loop itself, minimising hinging.

Yep, good feature/benefit Graham but easy enough to copy and not the one that I was looking for this time I'm afraid.

Clue ...... it's not so much what they do, but rather what they don't do

Cheers
Mike

[Mike Barrio]

I was looking for 'they don't seem to fray at the ends' like others do.
Something that has often left me wondering how

NEXT:  Open to somebody to post a new question ..........................................................................

[Graham Ritchie]

They are coated in a thin layer of wax to stop them fraying at the ends.

[Mike Barrio]

I didn't know that Graham 

[Mike Barrio]

What is the northernmost river for grayling fishing in Scotland?
I don't actually know the answer to this one, so I will have to take your word for it 

[Steven Kidd]

The River Isla?

[Jim Eddie]

I think the Dean may be slightly further north. I am not 100% sure though.

 

Jim

[Allan Liddle]

Hi Mike
It's generally (and officially) regarded as being the Tummel as the most northern Scottish water with Grayling present, however unofficially i have heard they are also in the Garry after being introduced there a few years back.

Not sure if i've posted this question before:

How close to the Atlantic would you be if you were standing at the western most point of a water that would ultimately drain into the North Sea? 

[Fred Hay]

Alan

I would  guess you'd be on one of the feeder burns for Loch Shin which would put you 4 or 5 miles from the Atlantic.

Fred