I think it was Nick who started the royal blue and silver trend that is happening at the moment! This is one of four such HT10/Comp5s builds that’s been making its way to Japan this year.
I think it looks very nice indeed and since we’ve just ordered more spools of this material you can feel free to order it for your custom-built Hot Torpedo!
For me personally it’s very exciting to see casting sport developing in Japan and when this pandemic allows I hope that we can set up a SE Asian casting competition either annually or on alternate years to the World Championships. Here in Malaysia we were planning an International competition this April but that has been postponed. Hopefully we can host it soon!
It’s great to have a Pro6 heading out to New Zealand this week, after all that’s what I had in mind when we designed it! I spent 25 years fishing a 9’ #6 as my go-to rod and some 3000 fishing days in NZ wielding one. So I had to get this one right!
This particular rod has gone out with a spare tip. It’s an option you can order with all HT rods. In the case of the HT6 a spare tip is £90 and we give you a 5-piece rod sock to go with it – or “rod pants” as my good friend, Ivica, in Croatia thought they were called! 😀
Superb rod build from out man, Lee, as always. Brexit resulted in a delay on our last blank delivery but we are full steam ahead now. We are building three Comp5s this week (two to Japan) and a 763. We also have a HT12 butt modification experiment to build for Tim in Australia.
There are currently two HT12s in existence. One is with Tim in Brisbane, Australia and the other is with Gary in Florida. It’s currently more of a Bluewater Beast than a Flats’ rod, although it’s certainly caught a few Tarpon! The current configuration comes with two butts. This is thanks to Sakari and the Finns testing some fibreglass ideas. The force that can be applied while fighting with the hybrid is really quite extraordinary.
I’m still not sure what to think. Gary finds the rod too powerful for his Tarpon fishery, particularly for dredging. Tim is happy with the stiffness/casting but would like another butt configuration for Bluewater…
Testing and development has been hampered due to travel restrictions of course, but it’s great to see Tim getting a work out! I really need to get my hands back on one of them again, but I suspect this will only happen when borders reopen and I have USA guests visiting. There is still more work to do, and I think what I will try next is a slightly softer action and compare results side by side. I have some other ideas as well…
Superb Black Marlin!
As always, if you have any questions about this, or any of the Sexyloops rods, you can write to me on paul@sexyloops.com
Minimalist and clean looking COMP5 (V2) build for Nick, who’s looking to build his championship stroke and has been working hard on his competition distance cast 🙂
Comp distance is actually a great way of working on casting technique in general, irrespective of whether you compete or not. In particular, it involves using the body effectively, straight tracking, high line speed, late (properly timed) force application and excellent timing. What I’ve always liked about it, is that the improvements are clearly measurable.
In this regards it’s not unlike cycling sport! Yesterday I took a FTP test here on the boat (Functional Threshold Power) and was pleased to find that my FTP has risen from 200 (last checked) to 244. It’s not exactly trained athlete status – and it was 6 months since I last checked (should do so every 6 weeks!) – but it’s a good improvement and puts me up a Zwift racing category. Casting down the tape measure does exactly the same thing for me, and tells me if my technique is improving. Also it’s fun and most of the people involved are actually a little bit mad.
Anyway I digress :p This was actually our last HT10 blank in stock. We have a new shipment of blanks arriving in the next two days. Which is excellent because this happens to be a very popular rod at the moment 🙂
As a comp 5 distance tool, what I like about it is that it is both light and fast, yet has feel even with the light line (obviously it’s a different sort of feel to having a 10WT line through the rings!). I believe it’s because it has this feel, that it is quite easy to adjust the stroke on the pickup cast, keeping the loop under control. This is important because if you can’t set the first backcast properly, then you are always going to struggle to control the later casts. I always use pull-back to set up this first back loop. Ok… here’s a page on Pull-Back https://www.sexyloops.com/flycast/pull-back/ (This is not a comp technique, but it is slightly advanced and well worth learning once your stroke is consistently good!).
I always go on “three” by the way. Pickup, forward cast, backcast, forward, backcast, Launch! This is the machine-gun approach I favour and I breathe around it. In – hold – out – in – hold – out! That way I’m exhaling on the Launch and not hyperventilating (or for that matter not breathing at all) during the casting sequence.
I can’t wait to see how Nick finds his new rod! I’m very curious to see how quickly he develops his stroke around it and it will be great to cast together at the World Championships 🙂
I’m on the lake full-time now but you can always get hold of me on paul@sexyloops.com
An HT10 that’s just left for Japan. One we actually had in stock! Nick’s just ordered one for himself too and maybe I’m about to sell two more. It’s been a while since we’ve sold four HT10s in one week, not since the Italian Team placed an order!
While the HT10 is really a go-to true-to-AFFTA line class 10WT bells and whistles fishing rod, it’s also a really classy 5WT distance comp rod. A significant number of the HT10s that we’ve sold have been for competition, including this one.
This is me casting one off a log
It’s a fun rod I have to say, particularly nice for fishing a 10 line. I spent one year fishing the prototypes on both coasts of Australia and chasing Snakehead first off a kayak and then with my small aluminium jungle boat/home. If you’re going to do something then you might as well do it properly!
If you are going to fish it, and I certainly recommend you do, then you want to go for a 10WT flyline that is actually a ten weight. If the line is “one line weight heavy for today’s fast action rods” then buy a 9WT line (which is really a 10 of course). If you are dealing with a line that is 1/2 line class heavier then I personally would use a 9 1/2 particularly for fast shots*. A good example is the SA Infinity Salt, or SA Redfish Line. Back when I was developing this rod I used a Technical Tarpon Taper long belly from RÍO that was bang on a 10. Sorry it’s a bit of a flyline minefield I know.
*there is a common misconception that you should upline for fast shots but this obviously incorrect. You wouldn’t for example recommend a softer rod for speed shots? Anyway you really should try it for yourself. 🙂
As always, feel free to write to me asking any questions you may have on paul@sexyloops.com I’m around most days at the moment. Sometimes I’m further down the lake fishing and I might take a couple of days to reply. it all depends on where the fish are most active! Sunday through Wednesday currently sees me anchored in Internet coverage.
This is very similar to our original Pro thread colour. A new rod for Darren. It’s going to be seeing a bit of New Zealand and has a spare tip for his adventures!
As you might already know this rod was primarily designed for NZ style fishing (backcountry) where I spent my summers for the best part of 20 years it 3000 days fishing!
Here my standard backcountry rig was three flies. You can see a video here where I actually describe the set up before drinking some water beer.
This was back in the days before I had the HT6 or hair for that matter. 🙂
Drop me an email on paul@sexyloops.com if you want to learn more about the HT6 or any of our flyrods.
Here is an HT4 that went out last week with a complimentary Sexyloops Face Sock. Here in Malaysia at least you can’t go anywhere without one, and what better way to look invisible than a camouflage face sock? 🙂
The HT4 is my go-to trout and streams rod. I fish it using an SA Mastery DT4. It fishes 7X tippets, has great feel at short range, can throw 100’ fishing casts when required and is just a great all-round fishing rod!
Our flagship Instructor rod which is on its way to the States. It’s a wonderful rod to teach with no least because students actually pay attention!
Available in both 6 and 7WT versions, I remember once overhearing that the HT6 made the AAPGAI exam “too easy”!! Well I took this as a compliment 🙂
Remember buying an HT Instructor rod enables you at any time to email me questions about the exams and I’ll even go through the theory with you via email. This is always fun!
Drop me an email on paul@sexyloops.com for more info!
This is undoubtedly my go-to trout rod nowadays. Really nice up close with a tip that allows you to fish .10mm/7X and flies smaller than 22 – we are talking technical river trout fishing here! But also with the backbone that allows you to throw a long line into the wind when you need it.
It was originally designed for fly fishing in the Balkans where long fine leaders are essential (and the trout and grayling a very respectable size) but it very quickly became my all-round trout rod.
I think where it really shines is for exactly the sort of fishing this rod is off to do; ie sight fishing for stillwater brown trout in Tasmania. On my last trip I discovered times when I needed to delicately fish leaders of .14mm, which is getting fine for stillwater trout fishing, particularly when the fish are of a decent size!
All in all it’s a really fun rod to fish! Email me on paul@sexyloops.com if you have any questions!
It’s that Autumn/Spring transition – as the Northern Hemisphere turns frigid, the Southern Hemisphere begins to bloom. November/December are my favourite months in New Zealand, there is usually plenty of water in the rivers and the Brown Trout can be numerous and in prime condition, having recovered from spawning which happened as long as six months before. I would always aim to be touching down in NZ by Guy Fawkes night (5th November).
I’ve heard that NZ is far busier nowadays, compared to when I used to fish there for six months/year. And I really noticed changes over the 20 year period that I made summer fishing there my home. In the end that became a real problem for me, because I almost always prefer my own company to others when fishing. Anyway this year one would expect the rivers to be far quieter than in normal years.
This rod, the HT6, was designed for New Zealand fishing. Typical set-up is three flies on an 18-22’ leader. Top dropper being an indicator style dry fly (like my RFU) and then the bottom two flies being nymphs, one with tungsten and the other a smaller nymph tied off the bend.
Fish are relatively big, particularly so in the backcountry, where they can average 5 or more pounds. 4lbs in the backcountry is small. It’s not even considered a big fish by NZ standards until it’s at least 8lbs.
The HT action is a fast rod that flexes to the grip and feels comfortable at all ranges from up close, poking through the trees, to longer shots. In NZ you often need high line speed to deal with the strong winds that pop up just as you are about to take your shot!
It is designed true-to-weight. In other words for a fly line that truly weighs 160 grains at 30 feet. If you want to fish a line that weighs 185 grains (7WT) then buy the HT7!
And very importantly, I think, is that it has a matte “no-shine” finish. Shiny rods spook fish in NZ; I’ve seen it with my own eyes.
Anyway, this one is in stock. If you order it today you will probably arrive by next week. Ooh – wouldn’t that be fun!!
