Stalker Aire Fly Rod
Chris Wilson lands a trophy fly rod.
Pro-Angler’s Stalker Aire is without doubt a premier fly rod with a finish rivalling some pretty expensive competition, and I have to admit to owning most of them, being a self-confessed ‘collector’. My fly-rod cupboard is insured, my house listed in that policy as an extra!
The rod has the full list of features that you would expect in the high end department. There are two major differences with the Aire though, which persuaded me to buy one. For starters it comes with a spare tip, so if you’re in NZ and the double tungsten bomb or car door wrecks one, you’re still fishing for the remainder of the trip. The other advantage is a genuine lifetime guarantee. If the unfortunate happens, call in to the shop, and literally within minutes it’s replaced. I won’t even get started on some other company’s guarantees, or versions of—this is the real deal.
I have been using this rod for the best part of two years, in the 9ft 6-wt version, because I prefer a fast rod, but they also do a Presentation 6-wt model if you prefer a slightly softer action. I have landed trout over the magical 10 lb in NZ, over 5 lb in Tassie, sea runners in Patagonia that simply bottomed out the scales and pounders in our alpine streams. The beauty in the action seems to be the grunt in the butt, yet it has a progressively soft tip. So it will shoot a full line or turn a thumper mid-water, but more importantly turns over the leader on very short casts with a snap of the wrist. I don’t know how they managed it, but the action just seems to suit whatever you’re trying to do.
I have loaned the Aire to several friends and swear I could sell it over and over again! Which I can’t, after catching my best ever fish on it, it’s just like a trophy in itself.
The Stalker Aire is available from Pro-Angler stores, priced at $599. Whilst I am not telling you to rush out and buy it, because fly rods are a very personal extension, you are doing yourself an injustice if you don’t try one. They come in a range of weights from #10 salt water versions down to a 6'6" 2-wt which is the most amazing twigwater rod you can ever use, but that’s another story for another time.
www.proangler.com.au