A common mistake we anglers make, is to assume, because we buy all the latest gear, in some way it's superior in design and performance to older tackle, due to modern technological advances.

In theory it should be, but in practice it’s not Modern rods are made from high modulus carbon fibre cloth, woven, baked and bonded in a particular way to give a light weight, to high performance ratio.

Originally Rod making materials were either wood ‘greenheart’, ‘tonkin’ bamboo cane, or fibre glass.

Reels to match modern rods are normally smaller and lighter, by comparison to the larger diameter reels needed to cope with bulkier lines used in the past.

Materials and manufacturing techniques, are also greatly changed, modern alloys giving big savings on weight with no reduction in strength.

New silent reels attract some anglers, while others prefer to hear that electrifying noise the ratchet makes as a fish runs, which I feel adds so much value to the experience.

The lines we fish with today are dramatically different from those used previously, the choices of size, weight, profile, colour, are seemingly infinite.

The ‘Flea’ we use at the business end of our cast, has undergone little change in so much that the construction is still based on single, double, or treble hooks.

The main change with the ‘Flea’ has been patterns and materials used in fly tying, just like ladies fashions they change rapidly.

Not such a bad thing if you’re a Toucan or a Great Bustard.In Victorian times almost every favourite ‘Killer Flea’ included feathers from birds like these, this must have made them ‘a tad nervous to venture out.’

Any reference to fishing rods, angling methods and practices would be incomplete without including reference to the world’s greatest fly caster, Alexander 'Battan' Grant who as well as being a Highland Fiddle Maker was also the inventor and maker of the famous “Grant Vibration Rod”. I would like to include some information for about this local hero, a muti-skilled, multi-talented and truly amazing man.

The following is an extract from 'The Inverness Courier Friday January 1st 1937'.

“It is interesting to note that Mr Alexander Grant the leader of the Highland Strathspey and Reel Society, who was honoured on Wednesday evening, has a very high reputation as an angler”

“His great personal friend, ”Jock Scott”, the famous angling writer wrote in his well known book, ”Game Fish Records” about Mr Grant who has an autographed copy in his possession. The fly leaf bears the following:- "To Battan, World’s record salmon fly caster", from “Jock Scott”. With best wishes and thanks .... October 1936.

“In all probability the reader has forgotten, or never heard of the salmon fly casting controversy of the *nineties. In which Mr Grant took a principle part, he was the inventor and maker of the famous “Grant Vibration Rod” and caused very considerable argument, culminating in a regular newspaper war ”. .......*1890's

“When experimenting making fiddles he discovered the principle of vibration frequencies. This he applied to the fly rod, very briefly Mr Grant discovered that by tuning each part of the rod to the same vibration frequency, a perfect balance and action was secured.”

"Another unique feature feature applied to the manufacture of the rod was the "non slipping splice" designed to be secured by a thin pliable leather thong that allows the rod to bend and flex without breaking". During my research I was able to get some photocopies of photographs (poor quality due to age) and a copy of Alexander Grant's patent application for Non-Slipping Splices for Fishing Rods, Golf Clubs, and other like Articles. Should the reader wish I could supply more information, alternatively the Inverness Museum & Art Gallery is a good source of information. 'Click on Alexander Grant here to view.'

“Mr Grant fished the Ness, on the 'Free Day' water, open to residents every eighth day, this was his principle fishing ground. This stretch is very wide, so the Ness angler became by necessity a long distance caster. Mr Grant became famous for hooking salmon at hitherto unheard distances”.

“At that time certain anglers made a hobby of looking for taking fish in far out lies and then bringing the word to ‘Battan.’ One day, a day of high water a local marked a fish at the “General’s Well”. ‘Battan’ was sent for and duly arrived, to find a few fishers who had tried for the fish but failed, as well as a large body of spectators”.

“The fish was still rising when he arrived, he was using a heavy line, strong cast, and a 2-inch 4/0 double iron, he had to cast downstream at an acute angle. The spectators burst into advice “ No use casting from there, you’ll never reach him”. 'Battan' commenced to cast gradually getting out line, before he hooked and killed an 8lb salmon.”

“The distance from Mr Grant’s stance to the lie was afterwards measured and verified as 47 yards. All things considered, this must be regarded as one of the most notable fly fishing feats on record, especially as owing to the high bank, Mr Grant was switching”.

Mr Grant afterwards in a casting exhibition from an anchored boat on the Ness cast the amazing distance of 65 yards verified by J. H Corballis author of “Forty Five Years of Sport” and a J. P. of Inverness.

Mr Grant journeyed south, and in the year 1896 and gave his celebrated casting exhibition in Kingston-on-Thames. Such well known judges as the late Mr R B Marston, Mr Crawshay, and Mr Wilson of ‘Rod and Gun’ and the angling editors of ‘Land and Water’, and the ‘Field’ attended. To everyone’s surprise Mr Grant used the 'Planet Cast', a pure switch, and shot no line. His figures when published in the ‘Fishing Gazette’ created a veritable furore.

Mr Grant cast on three separate afternoons;

1) Thursday, December 10; Mr Grant, steady breeze downstream, 15-inches above water level:

20-foot rod, 56 yards;

18-foot 5-inch rod, 54 yards;

10-foot rod, 37 yards.

2) Friday, December 11; Mr Grant,

19-foot rod, 53 yards 5-inhes;

16-foot 10-inch rod, 49 yards1-foot.

3) Saturday, December 12; Mr Grant,

20-foot rod, 54 yards 2-feet 6-inches;

18-foot 5-inch rod, 53 yards 1-foot;

Truly a great ambassador a local hero, alone in the heart of London taking on the might of the angling fraternity. What an amazing sight this must have been, especially since the records I have, show he was a small man, slightly built, confident in his ability, and like most ‘Highlanders’ I know content to let his actions do the talking.

It doesn’t matter how many times you read this, if you’re like me, you will still get a strange tingling feeling, a mixture of wonder, pride and awe.

At the same exhibition to prove that a rod which could lift 50 yards of line on water could lift a further 20 yards on grass. Mr Grant cast overhead 74yards, with the judges unable to pull any slack line.

And here is another extract about Alexander Grant and his style of casting called the “Grant Switch” from the book "Fine and Far Off" by Jock Scott.

"The delivery is most interesting and another infallible sign of the successful Grant switch. The final turn over of the line and fly is quite unique".

"If the cast has been correctly carried out, the fly, cast and last yard of line will turn over and fall in one piece, as though converted into stiff wire; but the fall is as light as a feather unless you are using too much force".

"This curious fall, in which the fly looks at you as it goes over... ~ 'cocking its e’e at ye'~ ... Has a fascination all of its own."

Bill Kerr a fellow angler who used a greenheart rod for years, used to amuse us all by saying “They were a tremendous weapon, the trick was to fish for an hour, then lie on your back on the bank for two hours, otherwise a hospital visit was required”.

In summary new equipment won’t make you cast any further, it’s just easier to use, and it costs a lot more, but assuming you are not too over enthusiastic a hospital visit shouldn't be necessary.

Back Home