[Euan Innes]

Aye, John Dickson, that was it. 
Great shop! Still have the reel and the bag too.

Euan

[Mike Thornton]

The shop about forty yards below Browns on Belmont Street was Sharpes of Aberdeen.   They actually made Farlows tackle.
  You could get some  quality (seconds) on the Farlows gear if you were acquaint any of the staff, particularly those who worked in the Sharpes factory.

[Andrew Ashcroft]

Aye Redfish your right it was as you say, I knew Farlows came into it. John Dicksons came later.

[allabootthetroot]

A seem to remember woolies also had a fair old selection of tackle in the early 70s mostly sea stuff a think and it was right beside the pic and mix  Braw.

[Duncan McRae]

It was John Dickson and sons that was on Belmont street all top of the range stuff in there. I used to go in as a scruffy kid we ma mates and ask for for a spring for my Diana air rifle cause we knew they did not stock such rubbish air weapons.

But the response was always funny or at least we though so. We dont stock Diana with a look of disgust only weihrauch and feinwerkbau. A did go back letter when i up graded to a HW80  .

That said they had great flees and my Hardy fibalite was purchased from that shop.

Yes,they had great flees.

I particularly remember the Alex Martin 'Parachute' dry flies which were deadly for the late evening troot rises on the Don.
They used to come in a bonny wee tin with a picture of a troot on the front.

Browns were great for rod repairs especially for my cane rods which got broken quite regularly.They never charged much for the service.

Duncan

[Euan Innes]

Yes,they had great flees.

I particularly remember the Alex Martin 'Parachute' dry flies which were deadly for the late evening troot rises on the Don.
They used to come in a bonny wee tin with a picture of a troot on the front.

Browns were great for rod repairs especially for my cane rods which got broken quite regularly.They never charged much for the service.

Duncan

I think I have one of those tins in a drawer somewhere so I'll have a look later on tonight. Browns fixed my Grandads cane salmon rod a few times over the years - Sealy Octopus 10'6. Still have it but in my ignorant youth I fitted a Fuji reel seat...dick!
I may have to restore that when the price of oil goes up again.

Euan

[Mike Barrio]

Saw this on Facebook today

[facebook]https://www.facebook.com/orvisbanchory.flyfishing/posts/1856247391313057[/facebook]

[Rob Brownfield]

Spoke to the Manager on Sunday...Orvis have spent £50,000 on new display boards etc in direct response to feedback they received (possibly this website ) 

In addition, more control will be given back to the store managers. The UK senior management team appear to have had their knuckles wrapped and told that fishing IS the Orvis backbone and will remain that way.

People power!  Up the Revolution!   

[Iain Cameron]

i was in to the store last week for the first time in a while - and the fishing gear had a reasonable amount of space, perhaps not quite as much as previously, but a decent floor coverage.


Nathan (who i think is the new fishing manager) had ordered something in for me, and although he was not there, the other staff were good and helpful, pulling out socks and waders to help me with trying on & fitting wading boots, and checking if I needed new wading studs etc.

[Mike Barrio]

[facebook]https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1859100424361087&set=a.1389092674695200.1073741828.100007834417625&type=3&theater[/facebook]

[Mike Barrio]

Nipped across to Banchory this afternoon to support the event. The tackle section is back down to the left as you enter the shop, as it used to be ..... and is looking much better than on my last visit

[Hamish Young]

Unfortunately no way I could make it to that and the trip to see Allan today had to be aborted due to small child tantrums in the car - I was unamused. 
Never mind, might go casting tomorrow to make up for it 

[Peter Davidson]

It's time you realised - Hamish my boy - that everyone wears a seatbelt and does what their told in a car so please don't be influencing the younger generation with your small child tantrum😂

[Liam Stephen]

Back to how it was when Ben was there.  Good stufff 

[Mike Barrio]

I wouldn't say that Liam, but much better than recent visits ........ I hope it proves a success

[Andy Wren]

I have a gut feeling Orvis might just be waking up to the loyalty of their fishing customer base being severely dissapointed.
Yes i like banochry Orvis ,however its a every few years visit .My Local on regent st is run by one of  the I'm not really interested in fishing but clothes ,it shows ,
However Orvis recently has apointed a  reasonably attractive ypung blonde as fly fishing ambassador UK, she was present on the orvis Stall (big)at the first london flyfishing fair ,almost all tackle or fishing clothing .Richard head of retail for many years was there looking rather under the cosh.
Orvis are also running freee casting sessions in green Park .
I am "lucky" I now have access to Farlowes and Orvis ,30 years ago the choice was huge!

[Iain Stewart]

I agree I think too many are buying online to save £5 or £10 and loosing the local shops in the process. I really like going for a shop in Forfar at Angus Angling. Well worth a visit if you are into fly tying as they have a great range of stuff and can usually order in quickly if they don't. There is nothing beats getting up close with the items rather than hoping some spotty halfwit will pick a good cape for you on mail order!
Also seeing the same decline in the shooting world with big mail order stores sucking the life out of local dealers.

Tell the wife you are supporting the local economy and go out and spend the dosh locally.

[Mike Barrio]

Yes Iain, I think shops like Angus Angling that carry a good stock of quality gear with an equally good online service have a bright future

Best wishes
Mike

[Euan Innes]

Yes Iain, I think shops like Angus Angling that carry a good stock of quality gear with an equally good online service have a bright future

Best wishes
Mike

Aye they do. My visit today relieved me of £300 for a new pair of Guideline Laxa waders with free boots. I am much happier than my missus 

Neil is a top bloke and very cool to deal with. Just beware of his talent for selling stuff.....

Euan

[Ali Mcewan]

One tip for going to the shop, don't buy there nylon!!!!, it's crap, after being warned about its quality before we started fishing, it wasn't long till I was snapped by what could have been the best of the season..

[Liam Stephen]

I should have just been brutally honest with you. Sorry bud! 

 

[Mike Barrio]

Tippet and leaders is a funny subject ..... an excellent product for one person can often be rubbish for another

I haven't tried Orvis tippet, but their Super Strong tapered leaders are superb ..... at least for me anyway

Cheers
Mike

[Rob Brownfield]

Tippet and leaders is a funny subject ..... an excellent product for one person can often be rubbish for another

I haven't tried Orvis tippet, but their Super Strong tapered leaders are superb ..... at least for me anyway

Cheers
Mike

I have been using super strong on and off since Orvis opened in Banchory. I am convinced you get good and bad batches and I know this has been discussed before with others having a similar experience.

I currently have a bad batch...the last batch was spot on and I did not have an issue.

As for the leaders, again, good and bad. I bought new at the start of the season, and two Saturdays ago, set up a 4 weight and a 5 weight using 5x tapered SS leaders. One was fine, the other snapped at the knot on several occations when trying to tie on a fly. It got binned and a new one used..which was fine.

I am afraid I am about to bin £35 of tippet and replace with frog hair.....again.

Although I keep forgetting about your tippet Mike! 

I am a slow learner lol

[Euan Innes]

Although I keep forgetting about your tippet Mike! 

I am a slow learner lol

I haven't used anything else since Mike gave me a free sample  a while back. The salmon sizes are the dogs but we still need them heavier Mike (hint hint )
And I do like the Orvis leaders but now I'm concerned so back to the Hemmingway Furled for me

Euan

[Dave Robb]

I've only been out a few times with Mikes stuff and only had a couple of fish, but I'm happy so far.  My only addition would be an added elastic band or slider to hold the tipper in place on the spool as once the tape is off it can unfurl.  Even then though it's not bad to be honest and mostly stays on the spool.

The 4lb is maybe thinner than I thought it would be but the 6lb is great.  Need to order some 5lb.

I've pretty much always used Drennan Sub Surface Green.  Used it for over 20 years.  If spinning, it's Maxima Chameloen.

I've tried and failed with Flurocarbon.  Probably due to my knots.  I need to learn new knots but I've a habit of sticking with what I learnt as a kid.