Mackenzie double handed Spey rods

I became involved with the development and design of Mackenzie products a few years back, but I had used the equipment prior to this. I remember the first time I used one of Scott’s Dtx classic rods there was an immediate familiarity with the excellent balance and action in the rod. It reminded me of my thought process and the frustrations I experienced when trying many different rod actions while competing. Over time I had learned that not only the rod action, but also how the balance and weight were of equal importance. It was easily recognisable that all the other successful competitors seemed to be using rods with similar characteristics. The rods were not stiff and they flexed progressively and deep into the blank with fast recovery. These rods were naturally more efficient as more of the rod was working at an optimum. Similarly in Scott’s range of DTX Spey rods I had again noticed these similar characteristics. The rods were excellently balanced with a smooth progressive powerful action and very fast recovery, which generated excellent tip speed.

Rod tip speed is one of the most critical things in efficient Spey casting but tip speed is only efficient when mainly generated through from the action and balance of the rod. Tip speed is vital, but how it is achieved is equally important. When we make our casting movements and decelerate the rod in an attempt to stop it in the final stages of the cast, the energy we have created continues to thrust up from the bottom of the rod progressively throughout and finally resulting in tip speed. This is achieved as the weight and balance of the rod naturally contributes to its action. It is also no coincidence that we have chosen not to overly reduce the weight of the rod as this would also effect part of the rods own balance and performance. The Mackenzie range of Spey rods are carefully manufactured to our own specification with fibre type, tapering etc. all being controlled carefully by us. Making quality products is very rewarding and our samples and prototypes can be tested rigorously in the most challenging conditions over the course of many months with fine tuning and cosmetic detailing taking place before the completion of the product range.

Care & maintenance of your Mackenzie rod.

A good Salmon rod is an investment and taking care of it will not only keep it in tip top shape but extend its life and cosmetic appearance. Mackenzie rods are supplied with their own cloth bag and protective tube. It makes sense to replace your rod correctly within the tube at the end of your day, many people put there partially made up rod it the car while traveling to save time. This is sure to end in damage and even possible breakages. The rod blank will naturally pick up dirt and debris throughout its use. It is recommended that a wipe over the blank with wax based polish using a soft  cloth can remove this and restore the surface of the rod. Your rod will inevitably get wet during use. It is very important to not to store the rod when the handle has not been allowed to fully dry naturally as this will cause damage. You can restore the natural light colour of the cork by hand using mild soapy water only; do not use chemicals or solvent based products as these can cause damage.

For further information on the full range of Mackenzie fly fishing products please ask at your local retailer. Andrew Toft is a Aapgai and FFF master certified instructor who provides Spey casting Instruction, he can be contacted at www.andrewtoft-flysport.com